In Flames is a Swedish heavy metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1990. They are considered pioneers of the Gothenburg metal scene, which also includes bands such as At the Gates and Dark Tranquillity. Their lineup has changed several times. Vocalist Anders Fridén and lead guitarist Björn Gelotte are the only consistent members since 1995. Since the departure of Jesper Strömblad in 2010, no original members remain with the band. The band has sold over two million records worldwide.
During the band's early years, In Flames had a varying group of recording musicians, including many session musicians. By the release of Colony (1999), the group had a stable lineup. Their sixth studio album, Reroute to Remain (2002), moved toward a newer style further away from melodic death metal and closer to alternative metal. Fans of the group's heavier sound criticized this shift; however, it increased the band's mainstream audience and bolstered album sales.
Since the band's inception, In Flames have released fourteen studio albums, three EPs, and two live DVDs. Their latest release was their fourteenth studio album, Foregone, in 2023. In Flames has been nominated for ten Swedish Grammis Awards winning seven of them, including "Hard Rock/Metal Album of the Year" category in 2005 for Soundtrack to Your Escape, 2007 for Come Clarity, 2009 for A Sense of Purpose, and most recently in 2024 for Foregone.
History
Formation and Lunar Strain (1990–1995) Drummer Jesper Strömblad founded In Flames in 1990 as a side project from his then-current death metal band, Ceremonial Oath, in which he was the bassist. He intended to write more melodic songs, which Ceremonial Oath did not allow him to. In 1993, Strömblad quit Ceremonial Oath due to musical differences and focused on In Flames. That same year, Strömblad recruited guitarist Glenn Ljungström and bassist Johan Larsson to form the first official In Flames line-up.
The trio recorded a demo in August 1993 and sent it to Wrong Again Records. To increase their chances of being signed, the group said they had recorded thirteen songs when they only had three. The owner of the label enjoyed the music and signed them.
After signing, the band began working on their debut album, Lunar Strain, recorded in Studio Fredman and released in August 1994. Since the band did not have a singer, Strömblad asked Mikael Stanne of Dark Tranquillity to provide session vocals. Many session musicians participated in the recording, including guitarists Anders Iwers, Karl Näslund, and Oscar Dronjak (the latter of which provided backing vocals), vocalist Jennica Johansson, and violinist Ylva Wåhlstedt.
During 1994, In Flames recorded and self-produced the EP Subterranean in Studio Fredman. In Flames still did not have a singer, so Henke Forss provided session vocals. In 1994, the band covered "Eye of the Beholder" for the Metallica tribute album Metal Militia: A Tribute to Metallica. In 1995, Subterranean was released. Subterranean garnered attention and led to a record deal with Nuclear Blast.
The Jester Race (1996) In 1995, In Flames tired of session musicians and asked drummer Björn Gelotte to join the band full time. Strömblad became the rhythm guitarist. Six months later, they asked singer Anders Fridén to join the band permanently. That same year, the new line up recorded the band's second studio album, The Jester Race (released in 1996). This album was recorded in Studio Fredman, co-produced by the studio's owner, Fredrik Nordström. Gelotte provided some lead and acoustic guitars. Afterwards, In Flames toured with Samael, Grip Inc., and Kreator.
Whoracle (1997–1998)
In 1997, In Flames recorded and released their third studio album, Whoracle. This album was recorded in Studio Fredman and co-produced by Nordström. Gelotte provided lead and acoustic guitars. Ljungström and Larsson announced that they were leaving In Flames after recording the album. Niklas Engelin and Peter Iwers were recruited to fill in the vacant spots on guitar and bass, respectively, during a tour with Dimmu Borgir. After the tour, Engelin and Iwers joined the band as permanent members. The new line-up toured Europe and played their first two shows in Japan. By the end of that tour in 1998, Engelin quit In Flames. The band switched Gelotte from drums to lead guitar and recruited drummer Daniel Svensson.
Colony (1999) In 1999, the new line-up recorded and released the band's fourth studio album, Colony. This album was recorded in Studio Fredman and co-produced by Nordström. The second solo on "Coerced Coexistence" was recorded by Kee Marcello. Afterwards, In Flames toured Europe, Japan, and played their first show in the United States during the Milwaukee Metal Fest.
Clayman (2000–2001) In 2000, In Flames recorded and released their fifth studio album, Clayman. It was recorded in the same studio and co-produced by Nordström. In Flames toured with Dream Theater, Slipknot, and Testament. In August 2001, In Flames released The Tokyo Showdown, a live album recorded during the Japanese tour in November 2000.
Reroute to Remain (2002–2003) In 2002, In Flames recorded and released their sixth studio album, Reroute to Remain. The album was produced by Daniel Bergstrand and recorded in a rented house in Denmark, except for the drums, which were recorded at Dug-Out Studio. Reroute to Remain was stylistic shift, adding clean vocals, catchier choruses and less growling. It was also their first album to have official singles released from it. That year, the band toured with Slayer, Soulfly, and Mudvayne.
Soundtrack to Your Escape (2004–2005) In 2003, In Flames recorded their seventh studio album, Soundtrack to Your Escape, and released it in 2004. Most of the album was recorded in the house that the band rented in Denmark, with the drums recorded in Dug-Out Studio. This album was produced by Bergstrand. Soundtrack to Your Escape increased the band's popularity, selling 100,000 copies in the United States and yielding a No. 2 single on the Swedish charts with The Quiet Place. Four music videos were filmed: "The Quiet Place", "My Sweet Shadow", "F(r)iend" and "A Touch of Red", all of which were directed by Patric Ullaeus. The ensuing world tour included the band's first trip to Australia, where they played to mostly sold-out crowds. Afterward, In Flames toured with Judas Priest, Mötley Crüe, and Motörhead. In Flames was featured on the main stage at Ozzfest 2005.
Come Clarity (2006–2007) In 2005, In Flames recorded and self-produced their eighth studio album, Come Clarity, in Dug-Out studio. That same year, In Flames released Used and Abused: In Live We Trust, a box set consisting of material filmed and recorded throughout various live performances during 2004. The DVD was filmed, edited and directed by Ullaeus. Also in 2005, In Flames signed with an additional record label, Ferret Music, so future releases could have better distribution in North America. In 2006, Come Clarity was released in North America through Ferret Music and elsewhere through Nuclear Blast. It became the band's first No. 1 album on the Swedish charts. A bonus DVD of In Flames playing all the songs in a rehearsal studio was released. Ullaeus directed their music video for "Take This Life". That same year, In Flames toured with Sepultura, co-headlined a U.S. tour with Lacuna Coil, joined The Unholy Alliance Tour, was one of the headliners on the Sounds of the Underground tour, and played on the main stage at Download Festival. In 2007, the band played in Dubai for the annual Dubai Desert Rock Festival. In Flames played at Bloodstock Open Air festival in August 2007. They played Wacken Open Air that month.
A Sense of Purpose (2008–2009)
In October 2007, In Flames finished recording their ninth studio album in IF Studios, their own studio in Gothenburg, Sweden (formerly Studio Fredman). During the recording sessions, the band released studio diaries documenting the recording process. On 23 January 2008, the band confirmed that they had recorded a video for the single "The Mirror's Truth", and posted photos from the video on their official Myspace profile. In Flames were featured on the Gigantour 3 North American tour with Megadeth, Children of Bodom, Job for a Cowboy, and High on Fire.
On 4 April 2008, In Flames released their ninth studio album, A Sense of Purpose. The first single from the new album was "The Mirror's Truth" and was released in Europe on 7 March 2008. In June 2008, In Flames performed at Metaltown Festival, Metalcamp, Graspop Metal Meeting, Nova Rock Festival, Rock am Ring and Rock im Park, Gigantour and Download Festival. In late August 2008, In Flames filmed a video for the second single, "Alias", directed by Ullaeus. From January 2008 to December 2009, In Flames toured on the A Sense of Purpose Tour.
On 3 February 2009, the band announced that Strömblad would not participate in the Australia/South America/Japan tour in order to get treatment for his alcohol abuse problems. Engelin was announced as his replacement for the tour. On 18 February, the band announced their United Kingdom and Ireland tour would not go ahead as planned due to Strömblad's alcohol rehabilitation and the birth of Iwers's child. On 4 March, the band announced that the third single from A Sense of Purpose was "Delight and Angers". The video premiered on the band's Myspace on 25 March. It was directed and produced by Ullaeus. Alex Pardee did the artwork for the song like he did with all of A Sense of Purpose.
The band joined Killswitch Engage, Dead by April, Every Time I Die and Maylene and the Sons of Disaster for the UK leg of the Taste of Chaos 2009 tour in November 2009.
Sounds of a Playground Fading (2010–2012) The amicable departure of rhythm guitarist and founding member Jesper Strömblad was announced on the band's MySpace on 12 February 2010. Strömblad stated, "I'm determined to fight and defeat my demons once and for all...", with the remaining band members backing his decision, though in a more recent declaration Fridén stated that their relationship with Strömblad was not going well. On 28 February 2011, it was announced that Engelin had rejoined the band to replace Strömblad.
In early 2010, In Flames collaborated with Pendulum on their third studio album, Immersion. The song "Self Versus Self" is one of three collaborations on the album.
On 11 October 2010, In Flames entered IF Studios in Gothenburg to start recording their new album, tentatively titled Sounds of a Playground Fading. On 25 January 2011, the band announced that they had finished recording the album and it was being mixed. Roberto Laghi produced the album.
To support the album, In Flames performed at the Sonisphere Festival in Knebworth, and alongside Megadeth, Trivium, Machine Head, Godsmack, and Disturbed at the Mayhem Festival 2011. They played at Hellfest Festival 2011, headlining the second main stage, and Nova Rock Festival in Austria.
In March 2011, In Flames signed with Century Media Records. On 6 April 2011, In Flames announced the single "Deliver Us" was slated for a May release. For part of the European tour, Jonas Ekdahl of DeathDestruction filled in for Svensson on drums, after Svensson remained in Sweden following the birth of his child.
Sounds of a Playground Fading was released in Sweden on 15 June 2011, on 17 June 2011 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Norway, on 20 June 2011 in the UK, Benelux, France, Greece, Denmark and Portugal, on 21 June 2011 in North America, Spain and Italy, on 22 June 2011 in Finland, Hungary and Japan, and on 24 June 2011 in Australia and New Zealand. A video was made for "Deliver Us". It was filmed in Gothenburg, and was again directed by Ullaeus, who also directed the second video from Sounds of a Playground Fading, "Where the Dead Ships Dwell".