Where To Start With In Flames?

BassGod · #1 04-02-2005, 08:55 PM

My bass teacher has been talking about In Flames a lot lately, calling them melodic, aggresive, heavy, and he says they are absolutely amazing. Always wanting to listen to new bands, I decided to search for some internet CD reviews to see which In Flames CD I would buy first. Every CD review site I have seen always gives 'The Jester Race' and 'Whoracle' a 10/10, and so I can't decide between these two. So which one of the two would you reccomend for someone who is just starting to listen to In Flames?

Thanks,
Graeme

msquared · #2 04-02-2005, 09:16 PM

In Flames is amazing. Get "Whoracle".

I have a cover of Depeche Mode's "Everything Counts" that they did several years ago that's hilarious.

Tash · #3 04-03-2005, 09:25 PM

"Jester Race" slightly edges out "Whoracle" in my opinion, but only slightly. Both are superb examples of the Gothenburg sound and melodic metal in general.

If you like this style you should definately get Dark Tranquility's "The Gallery" as well. I will vigorously argue that it's superior to "Jester Race" in every respect (the first track, "Punish My Heaven" is a perfect example of what metal SHOULD sound like), though many will disagree with me. Still its impossible to ignore that Dark Tranquilty did at least as much as In Flames in driving this brand of metal forward. Regardless of which band you prefer not owning this record should be a mortal sin among metal heads! It is that f*cking good!

Another of my favorite melodic metal albums from cold northern countries is "North From Here" by Sentenced. Despite the fact that they aren't from Sweden (they're Finnish) its still incredible. Not quite the same vein as either DT or In Flames, more melodic black metal, harsher, darker, more menacing. Incredible playing by all 4 members, and Taneli Jarva (bass/vocals) does some jaw dropping bass work on it.

invisiman · #4 04-03-2005, 09:29 PM

Don't start with Soundtrack To Your Escape. Other than that, they're all good, but some people feel Reroute to Remain was a weak effort.

Schwinn · #5 04-03-2005, 10:01 PM

I don't have Whoracle...forgot to get that one

But I have Jester Race and think it's great. I don't really like the direction In Flames went so I don't buy their newer stuff.

I also like Dark Tranquility alot. I just got Character but I need to listen to it a little more. It didn't grab me like Damage Done did. I don't have The Gallery yet but its on my list of CDs to buy next.

I also like Soilwork. Try Natural Born Chaos first. I got Stabbing the Drama and it hasn't made an impression on me yet, just like the latest DT.

Puarija · #6 04-03-2005, 10:49 PM

+1 on Soilwork. Natural Born Chaos and Predator's Portrait I dig a lot.

Jake

Suckbird · #7 04-03-2005, 11:21 PM

In flames are great, on of those bands that makes proud of sweden

Other good swedish metal bands is At the gates and the haunted.

Puarija · #8 04-04-2005, 02:12 AM

Drain STH is from Sweden, aren't they?

Jake

43% burnt · #9 04-04-2005, 07:55 AM

Colony & Clayman...are my personal favorite In Flames albums. The live in Japan is pretty rad too. I dont care for the 2 newer ones very much. Sounds like their trying to hard to fit in with the heavier mainstream metal bands.

+1 for At The Gates, and The Haunted.

Don W · #10 04-04-2005, 11:25 AM

I'd go for Clayman first (that was the first album of theirs I bought). But Jester Race and Colony are good albums IMO as well.

Also I'm really digging Soilwork's Stabbing The Drama right now. I don't think its as good as Natural Born Chaos but there are some really good tunes on it.

BassGod · #11 04-04-2005, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suckbird

In flames are great, on of those bands that makes proud of sweden

Other good swedish metal bands is At the gates and the haunted.

Ah yes, At The Gates... I have 'Slaughter of the Soul', it's a very good album.

Thanks for the replies everyone. Any more opinions?

Graeme

Tash · #12 04-04-2005, 08:06 PM

At the Gates are one of the more overrated metal bands around. Their early stuff is pretty lackluster death metal, Slaughter of the Soul was the only album that really shined.

The Haunted are another story, basically what AtG might have grown into had they continued. Good stuff.

While we're talking about good swedish metal acts what's everyone think of Dissection?

**Josh Ryan** · #13 04-04-2005, 11:05 PM

I really did not get into Soundtrack to your Escape much. I much prefered the Jester Race, Whoracle, etc. basically up through Clayman. Reroute was OK, it had it's moments.

The Haunted are excellent, pick any album.

Dark Tranquility are good, but to me some albums are a lot stronger than others.

madthumbs · #14 04-07-2005, 01:08 AM

In flames are great, an awesome live band IMO aswell, i saw the in melbourne last year. Peter Iwers is a terrific bass player and i love his ESP's. My brother has all their albums. Reroute to Remain is one of their best IMO. Great album, if your looking for a good taste of what they sound like i think that would be the way to go.

Tash · #15 04-07-2005, 04:24 AM

All of you need to go out and buy "The Gallery" right now! I'm not trying to hack in Flames, but nothing in thier catalog is as good as Gallery. Its the epitome of the entire Gothenburg sound: tight, technical, brutal and haunting all at once. Dak Tranquility's latter work branched out in a lot of different directions, much like In Flames did, but Gallery just packs all of the purest elements of what makes them such a cool band into 11 amazing tracks.

As for live I think DT is better as well. I've only seen them once, caught In Flames twice and DT was more intense than either show. Actually I'd have to rate DT as the most intense act I've ever seen live, with Cruelty era Cradle of Filth in second.