In Flames

Biography

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In Flames (1990-present): a Death Metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden.

aking themselves one of the most recognized figures in melodic death metal, In Flames often would be referred to as the "Gothenburg" sound that they and others from their area sold. With the founding line-up of Mikael Stanne (vocals), Jesper Strömblad (guitar), Carl Naslund (guitar), Glenn Ljungström (guitar) and Johan Larsson (bass/backing vocals) their debut, Lunar Strain (1994), would perfect their style. Subterranean EP followed in 1995 with Henke Forss as guest vocalist, along with Daniel Erlandsson on drums. But only Strömblad and Larsson remained there-after to recruit Anders Fridén on vocals, and the string section now featuring Glenn Ljungström (guitar), Björn Gelotte (drums, but was also able to play guitar) for The Jester Race in 1996, and album that proved to be very successful and became a big hit across Europe and Japan. Several gigs and a festival tour with Samael, Kreator and Grip Inc. followed.

After the recording of the Black-Ash Inheritance EP (1997) and Whoracle in 1997 Larsson and Ljungström decided to leave, and Peter Iwers (bass) and Niklas Engelin (guitar) subsiquently replaced them. With a fresh line up the band headed off on tour with Dimmu Borgir, followed by a very successful European tour. Once back home in Sweden, Engelin left in order to focus on his other project Gardenian. In Flames was restructured completely, Gelotte switched from drums to guitar and Daniel Svensson (ex-Sacrilige) joined the band on drums, in time for their next release, Colony (1999). Colony got excellent reactions all over the world and In Flames sold out venues across Europe, USA and Japan. This line-up would last for their recordings of Clayman (2000), the live effort The Tokyo Showdown (2001), Reroute to Remain (2002), Trigger EP (2002) and Soundtrack to Your Escape (2004); the later albums showing the band making a move to broaden its sound without loosing their traditions, a move that has alienated a few older fans but otherwise has succeeded in increasing their popularity. In the case of Soundtrack to Your Escape, it scanned 10,660 copies in the first week securing the highest first week Soundscan number in the 'Century Media' and 'Nuclear Blast' label history; the album ultimately landing at #145 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart.

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In 2005, their self-produced album, Come Clarity arrived. That same year, the band released Used and Abused: In Live We Trust, a box set of material filmed and recorded throughout various live performances during 2004. A bonus DVD of In Flames playing all the songs in a rehearsal studio was also released.

In 2007, the band were featured on the Gigantour 3 North American tour with Megadeth, Children of Bodom, Job for a Cowboy, and High on Fire.

Their ninth studio album, A Sense of Purpose (2008), followed.

In February 2009, the band announced that Strömblad would not be participating in the Australia/South America/Japan tour in order to get treatment for his alcohol abuse; Engelin was announced as his replacement. The UK & Ireland leg of the tour was cancelled, however, due to Strömblad's on-going alcohol rehabilitation as well as the birth of Iwers's child. Strömblad would amicably quit the band a year later; Engelin took his place permanently.

Sounds of a Playground Fading (2011) followed, with the band signing to 'Century Media Records' shortly later.

On 10 April 2014, the band website appeared to have been hacked. The alleged hacker threatened to leak membership information the next day. The whole matter was a hoax and but not a funny one, nor was it a publicity stunt arranged by the band. It was a prankster because the site was not, in fact, hacked. The following day, the band's website was updated with a link to the supposed leak.

Siren Charms was released on 9 September 2014, via the band's new label, 'Epic Records' including vocals recorded by fans. Battles would follow in 2016.

On 7 November 2015, drummer Daniel Svensson announced his departure from the band to focus on his family life. September of the next year Joe Rickard, formerly of American rock band RED, would replace Svensson.

The next month, Peter Iwers announced that he would be leaving after the tour. Bassist Bryce Paul would stand in for their American tour.

In December 2017, Down, Wicked, and No Good EP that included three covers and a live performance. Their next full album would be I, The Mask (2019).

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