In Flames are ready to restore their reputation

Foregone

NUCLEAR BLAST

Gothenburg’s melodeath pioneers make their way back to their roots

FOR A BAND who are considered a genuinely classic metal act, the last decade has not been creatively bright for In Flames. With albums ranging from the dull (2014’s Siren Charms), to the plodding (2019’s I, The Mask), to the outright woeful (2016’s Battles), they’ve spent way too long, in the words of cult UK comedian Stewart Lee, gradually decreasing the quality of their own obituary. It’s been so long that fans could be forgiven for giving up on the idea of a glorious comeback. But if you’ve adopted that mindset, then hold up for a moment, because with 14th album Forgone, In Flames are definitely showing signs of recovery.

THE RETURN OF MEMORABLE HOOKS IS A REVELATION

After a fairly forgettable instrumental acoustic guitar intro, first track proper, State Of Slow Decay, comes in on a stompy groove, before shooting straight into fifth gear as In Flames turn back the years with a Claymanstyle melodeath riff, while Anders Fridén bellows a hugely catchy chorus among some guttural barks. It’s a promising start, which is then brilliantly built upon with Meet Your Maker. A stalking, snaking guitar line gives way to a bright, euphoric and instantly hummable chorus, which in turn is discarded for a flurry of double bass kicks and thrashing guitars. So far, so “Bloody hell! In Flames are back!” One of the strengths of In Flames at their best has been Anders’ ability to pen a memorable hook. Those hooks have been glaringly absent for the last few albums, but here their return is something of a revelation. The chorus to Bleeding Out is just the most fantastic earworm – even if it overshadows the rest of the song. The melodeath ballad Pure Light Of Mind is far from the band’s finest moment musically, but Anders saves it from the skip button with a swaggering, chestbeating performance. It’s a man-of-thematch display from a vocalist who had appeared to have lost his mojo, and it’s great to hear him back on form.