Всё началось в 1990 году, когда Jesper решил распрощаться с группой Ceremonial Oath, где он состоял в то время, вместе с Anders Friden и Anders Iwers( Tiamat) Он хотел играть музыку несколько другого направления, и пригласил в новую команду, которую назвали In Flames (Во Пламени), Johan Larsson и Glenn Ljungstrom.
Группа записала демо-сингл и отправила его в звукозаписывающую компанию Wrong Again records, в надежде получить контракт на запись альбома. Владелец компании немедленно дал команде номер своего телефона и предложил обговорить детали. На следующий день они сели и написали альбом Lunnar Strain (1994 год), который был выпущен через некоторое время, и завоевал большой успех среди андеграундной публики. В записи приняли участие несколько музыкантов из других групп ( Mikael Stanne и Anders Jivarp (Dark Tranquillity), Anders Iwers ( Tiamat), Henke Forss (Dawn), Daniel Erlandsson (Eucharist, Arch Enemy), и некоторые другие)
.В этом же году группа выпустила мини-cd «Subterranean», который стал переходным для In Flames, в том смысле, что команда несколько отдалилась от андеграундной сцены, и подписала сделку на запись следующего альбома с немецкой звукозаписывающей компанией Nuclear Blast, специализирующейся на записи металлических групп.
После записи альбома группа несколько раз меняла свой состав: регулярно приглашались новые люди, чтобы записать появившийся звуковой материал или дать небольшие живые выступления, наконец, в группу были приглашеныи Anders Friden (бывший вокалист Dark Tranquillity и Ceremonial Oath ) и Bjorn Gelotte (ударные). В 1995 году ребята записали и выпустили следующий альбом «Jester Race», завоевавший огромный успех среди любителей подобной музыки по всему миру, и группа приобрела фантастическую для группы подобного класса известность во всей Европе, а также и в Японии.
Первым, довольно значительным событием, случившимся в истории In Flames, стал их совместный тур с такими группами, как Samael, Grip inc. и Kreator. После проведения грандиозных выступлений и записи самого «мощного» альбома «Whoracle» In Flames неожиданно покидают Johan Larsson и Glenn Ljungstrom, оставшиеся участники коллектива остаются с завершенной записью и неполноценной «половинчатой» группой. К счастью их хорошие друзья Peter Iwers и Niklas Engelin, прекрасно управлявшиеся с басом и гитарой заполнили вакуум состава в конце работы над записью альбома, чтобы сделать мини-путешествие с Dimmu Borgir.
Прекрасно поработав вместе c In Flames Peter и Niklas попросили, чтобы их включили в состав группы, так они и вошли в неё. Вместе группа продолжила успешный тур по Европе и провела неделю в Японии, где они дали свои два своих первых концерта. Япония приняла горячих шведских парней с распростертыми объятьями. По возвращению в Швецию, Niklas покидает группу, из-за некоторых разногласий, а также по той причине, что он уделял большее внимание группе Gardenian, в которой он также принимал участие. Поворотный моментом для In Flames стал приход Daniel Svensson (ударные) и «переквалификация» Bjorn с барабанов на гитару, ( изначально он был гитаристом). Дела пошли замечательно, и они записали новый альбом «Colony»,который на данный момент считают наиболее успешным.
In Flames — шведская метал-группа из Гётеборга, исполняющая мелодический дэт-метал.
История
Группа была основана в 1990 ударником и гитаристом Джеспером Стрёмбладом из группы Ceremonial Oath. К нему присоединились гитарист Гленн Люнгстрём и басист Йохан Ларссен. In Flames заключили договор с компанией Wrong Again Records и в 1994 выпустили на этом лэйбле дебютный альбом Lunar Strain. Вокальные партии были записаны Микаэлем Станне из Dark Tranquillity, но для живых выступлений группа пригласила Андерса Фридена. В новом составе осенью 1995 In Flames записывает второй альбом The Jester Race, который увидел свет летом следующего года, обложку к нему делал Андреас Маршалл. Продюсером группы, начиная с этого альбома, стал Фредерик Нордстрём. В поддержку альбома группа провела тур с группами Dimmu Borgir, Samael и Kreator.
Этим альбомом они привлекли внимание как в Европе так и в Японии, получив контракт с японским лейблом Toys Factory. Быстро растущая популярность In Flames и многочисленные гастроли позволили группе подписать новый контракт с крупнейшим немецким металл лейблом Nuclear Blast. Затем в феврале 1997 года был выпущен мини-CD «Black-Ash Inheritance», предварявший выход большого альбома. Таким образом в 1997 году In Flames выпускает подряд мини «Black-Ash Inheritance» и полный альбом Whoracle, который выдержан в стиле «The Jester Race».
Параллельно Джеспер вместе с Оскаром Дроньяком создал пауэр-метал группу HammerFall, где играл на ударных. Туда же перешли Гленн Люнгстрём и Йохан Ларссен, а вокалистом первое время был всё тот же Станне. С 1993 по 1997 годы составы HammerFall и In Flames практически совпадали. Однако после записи дебютного альбома Джеспер покинул HammerFall и сосредоточился на работе в In Flames, где теперь играл только как гитарист, найдя постоянного ударника.
С 1997 года состав заметно поменялся. Ударные стал играть Даниэль Свенсон, новым басистом стал Петер Иверс. В этом составе были записаны альбомы Whoracle, Colony и последующие — с 1998 состав больше не менялся. Группа завоевала известность среди поклонников тяжёлой музыки, провела успешный тур по США и Японии. Называется дата 6 августа 2001 года, как дата релиза первого концертного альбома группы «Live in Japan». Концертный альбом «The Tokyo Showdown» был записан в ходе турне в Японию в 2000 году, проводившегося в поддержку альбома «Clayman». В одном только 2000 году In Flames отыграли более 150 шоу, прежде чем в следующем засели за написание песен для этого самого альбома. Японский журнал «Burrn! Magazine» признал Джеспера лучшим композитором года.
Весной 2002 года они уже в студии и записывают очередной альбом «Reroute to Remain». Дело было в Dug-Out Studio в г. Упсала в Швеции с продюсером Даниэлем Бергстрандом (Daniel Bergstrand). Альбом вышел в сентябре — 2-го в Европе, 3-го — в США. В июле 2002 года было снято также видео для композиции «Cloud Connected».
В 2004 году в Швеции In Flames завоевала награду P3 Guld Award Show в номинации «Лучший альбом 2004 года».
In Flames is a melodic death metal, or Gothenburg metal, band from Gothenburg, Sweden founded in 1990. Along with Dark Tranquillity and At the Gates, they pioneered what is now known as melodic death metal. They have released nine albums since 1994.
Background
1990–1996
In Flames was founded in 1990 as a side project of Jesper Strömblad who was at the time in a death metal band called Ceremonial Oath. Jesper formed In Flames with the purpose of writing songs with a more melodic musical direction, something which he was not allowed to do in Ceremonial Oath. In 1993, Jesper decided to quit Ceremonial Oath due to musical differences and began focusing more on In Flames. That same year, Jesper (guitar, drums, keyboards) recruited Glenn Ljungström (guitar), and Johan Larsson (bass) to form the first official In Flames line-up.
The trio recorded a three song demo and sent it to Wrong Again Records. In order to increase their chances of being offered a record deal, the trio lied to the owner of the record label by telling him that they already had 13 songs done.The owner of Wrong Again Records, seeing promise in the band, offered In Flames a record deal over the phone.
During 1993, In Flames wrote, recorded, and self-produced their debut studio album, Lunar Strain, in Studio Fredman. Since In Flames did not have a vocalist yet, Jesper asked Mikael Stanne of Dark Tranquillity to provide session vocals. In 1994, Lunar Strain was released.
During 1994, In Flames recorded and self-produced their first EP, Subterranean, in Studio Fredman. In Flames still did not have a vocalist yet, so session vocals were provided this time by Henke Forss. In 1995, Subterranean was released. Subterranean allowed In Flames to break out of the underground scene and led them to acquire a record deal with Nuclear Blast.
In 1995, In Flames finally got tired of using session musicians to record an album or to do live shows, so the trio asked Björn Gelotte to join the band as the full-time drummer, and 6 months later asked Anders Fridén to join the band as the full-time vocalist. That same year, the new line up recorded the band's second studio album, The Jester Race. This album was recorded once again in Studio Fredman, but unlike previous albums, it was co-produced by the studio's owner, Fredrik Nordström. In 1996, The Jester Race was released. Afterwards, In Flames toured with bands such as Samael, Grip Inc., and Kreator.
1997–2001
In 1997, In Flames recorded and released their third studio album, Whoracle. This album was recorded once again in Studio Fredman and co-produced by Fredrik Nordström. After the album was recorded, Glenn Ljungström and Johan Larsson unexpectedly announced that they were leaving In Flames.[4] Niklas Engelin (guitar) and Peter Iwers (bass) were recruited to fill in the vacant spots during a tour with Dimmu Borgir.After the tour both Niklas Engelin and Peter Iwers were asked to join the band permanently, and they did. With the new line-up, In Flames then proceeded with a European tour and played their first two shows in Japan.However, by the end of that tour in 1998, Niklas Engelin quit In Flames.
In 1998, to fill the vacant guitarist spot, the band decided to switch Björn Gelotte from his position as drummer to guitarist, and they recruited Daniel Svensson to take over as drummer. That same year, the new line-up recorded the band's fourth studio album, Colony. This album was recorded once again in Studio Fredman and co-produced by Fredrik Nordström. In 1999, Colony was released. Afterwards, In Flames toured Europe, Japan, and played their first show in the United States during the Milwaukee Metal Fest.
In 2000, In Flames recorded and released their fifth studio album, Clayman. This album was recorded once again in Studio Fredman and co-produced by Fredrik Nordström. Afterwards, In Flames did some tours with bands such as 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.
2002–present
In 2002, In Flames recorded and released their sixth studio album, Reroute to Remain. Unlike all previous albums, Reroute to Remain was not recorded in Studio Fredman or produced by Fredrik Nordström. The album was recorded in Dug-Out studio and produced by Daniel Bergstrand. That year the band toured with bands such as Slayer, Soulfly, and Mudvayne.
In 2003, In Flames recorded their seventh studio album, Soundtrack to Your Escape. The majority of the album was recorded in a house that the band rented in Denmark, only the drums were recorded in Dug-Out studio. This album was once again produced by Daniel Bergstrand. In 2004, Soundtrack to Your Escape was released. The ensuing world tour saw the band make their first trip to Australia, where they played to mostly sold out crowds. Afterwards, In Flames toured with bands such as Judas Priest, Mötley Crüe, and Motörhead. In Flames also played on the main stage during Ozzfest 2005.
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. Also in 2005, In Flames decided to sign with an additional record label 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. That same year, In Flames toured with Sepultura, toured on The Unholy Alliance tour, and played on the main stage at Download Festival.
In Flames finished recording their ninth studio album in October 2007 in their own studio, IF Studios, located in Gothenburg, Sweden; originally Studio Fredman. Alongside the recording sessions, the band released studio diaries documenting the recording process.
It has been reported that In Flames will be featured on the Gigantour 3 North American tour with Megadeth, Children of Bodom, Job For A Cowboy, and High on Fire.
On April 4th, 2008, In Flames released their 9th studio album, A Sense of Purpose. The first Single from the new album is titled "The Mirror's Truth" which was released in Europe on March 7, 2008.
On January 23rd the band confirmed that they had recorded a video for the upcoming single release of The Mirrors Truth, and posted photos from the video on their official Myspace profile.
In Flames will be performing at Metaltown Festival Graspop Metal Meeting, Nova Rock Festival, Rock am Ring and Rock im Park, Gigantour and Download Festival in June 2008.
Melodic death metal
Background
In Flames, along with Dark Tranquillity and At the Gates, pioneered what is now known as melodic death metal. The founding members of all three bands all lived in Gothenburg, Sweden and they were all friends who shared the same musical interests. Eventually, that group of friends branched off into three bands with the same musical direction, In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, and At the Gates.
Jesper Strömblad formed In Flames to write music that combined the guitar style of Iron Maiden with the brutality of death metal, something which Jesper stated he had never heard any band do. In writing songs, Jesper also decided to make use of keyboards, something which is uncommon in death metal. Ever since In Flames' debut studio album, Lunar Strain, the band has made use of keyboards, but has refused to this day to recruit a full-time keyboardist.
Musical style
In Flames' musical style is characterized by the constant use of harmonized lead guitar melodies. In early albums such as The Jester Race, In Flames would many times employ two harmonized lead guitars playing over a rhythm guitar. However, since the band only has two guitar players, they found it hard to reproduce those songs during live performances and ever since Reroute to Remain they have focused on writing songs with the intention of playing them live.
In Flames' vocal style is characterized by the use of growled vocals complemented at times by clean vocals. In more recent albums such as Come Clarity, the band makes more prominent use of clean vocals, especially during choruses. In Flames' lyrics have also varied during their career. In early albums such as The Jester Race and Whoracle, In Flames' lyrics focused on astrology, mankind, and other global themes. In later albums such as Soundtrack to Your Escape and Come Clarity, In Flames' lyrics focus more on personal issues, thoughts, and other introspective themes. In Flames have, since the release of Reroute to Remain, started to incorporate many influences from modern metal genres - the later albums have had a strong alternative metal, nu metal and metalcore influence on them.
Influence
In Flames, being one of the pioneers of a new music genre, have influenced many bands and most notably they were a direct influence on the new wave of metalcore. Many metalcore bands such as Darkest Hour,As I Lay Dying, and Still Remains name In Flames as one of their biggest influences. In Flames is also a direct influence on many of the melodic death metal bands that have followed. Melodic death metal bands such as Insomnium, Omnium Gatherum,Blood Stain Child, and Now Until the Hour name In Flames as one of their biggest influences as well.
Miscellaneous
Awards
In Flames has been awarded three Grammis awards (the Swedish equivalent of the Grammy Awards) to date. In 2005, In Flames won their first Grammis award in the category of Best Hard Rock/Metal Album for Soundtrack to Your Escape. In 2006, In Flames won the Swedish Export Award, their second Grammis award. In Flames was the first metal band to ever win that award and the Swedish economy minister at the time, Thomas Östros, was quoted as saying "Thanks to In Flames, Sweden now have a metal band in the absolute world elite."] In 2007, In Flames once again won the category of Best Hard Rock/Metal Album for Come Clarity.
When In Flames was recording their second studio album, The Jester Race, Anders Fridén and Niklas Sundin came up with an idea to create a symbol/mascot for In Flames. The result was the Jester Head. This symbol made its first appearance in the cover artwork of The Jester Race and ever since, the Jester has been featured in various forms somewhere on every studio album that In Flames has released, either as a song title or on the album artwork. The Jester Head is also featured in many of In Flames' merchandise and has been featured in banners as part of In Flames' live set. In anticipation of their ninth studio album, A Sense Of Purpose, an official In Flames fansiteis being launched, featuring the Jester Head as the site's symbol (and domain name).
