It would have been so easy for In Flames to ride the wave of popularity they enjoyed as one of the trailblazers of the Gothenburg melodic death metal sound but instead they allowed their music to evolve. By 2002’s ‘Reroute to Remain’, their sound had gravitated from early melodic death metal towards more alternative metal, a move that alienated some of the older fans while boosting album sales and allowing them to break into the mainstream. On ‘Sounds of a Playground Fading’ (2011) the unclean vocals had all but gone and the tracks themselves were clever, bite-size servings that appealed specifically to the young(er) metal fans that were now their main demographic. On their 12th studio album ‘Battles’ (2016), Anders Fridén & friends once again explore virgin territory with modern, groove-laden metal tracks, thanks in large part to the singalong choruses and the stellar, genre-defying solos. Inciting and infectious as hell, their heaviest album in years steers the band along a very promising and commercially viable path that illustrates why In Flames started to land headlining slots usually reserved for the likes of Maiden, Metallica or Slipknot. Their new album ‘Foregone’ dropped in early 2023 and was the first to feature former Nevermore and Megadeth guitarist Chris Broderick. #GMM25
