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In Flames

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Gothenburg institution who helped write the melodic death metal template in the early nineties, then spent decades restlessly pulling it toward melody, electronics and stadium-sized choruses.

In Flames formed in Gothenburg in 1990 when Jesper Strömblad set out to write more melodic material than his death metal band at the time allowed. He recruited guitarist Glenn Ljungström and bassist Johan Larsson in 1993, and the band became central to the melodic death metal sound emerging from Gothenburg alongside local contemporaries such as At the Gates and Dark Tranquillity.

The debut album, Lunar Strain, was recorded in 1994 at Studio Fredman. Lacking a vocalist, the band brought in Mikael Stanne of Dark Tranquillity for session vocals. A self-produced EP, Subterranean, followed later that year and drew enough attention to secure a deal with Nuclear Blast.

Anders Fridén took over vocals in the mid-nineties, first appearing on The Jester Race, and Björn Gelotte moved from drums to guitar to become the band's main writer. Fridén and Gelotte have been the only constant members since 1995, and no original member has remained since Strömblad left in 2010.

Albums such as Whoracle, Colony and Clayman codified the twin-guitar harmonies and folk-tinged melodies associated with the style. From Reroute to Remain onward the band moved toward cleaner singing, electronic textures and more direct song structures, a shift that divided long-time listeners but widened their audience considerably.

In Flames has released fourteen studio albums, most recently Foregone in 2023, and has sold more than two million records worldwide. The band has won seven Swedish Grammis awards, including three for Hard Rock/Metal Album of the Year, for Soundtrack to Your Escape, Come Clarity and A Sense of Purpose.

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