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Rating: I won't give you the usual encyclopedic spiel on Göteburg's Melodic Death, because you already know everything, right? There are quite a few reviews on the topic on this site, but I was a bit stunned to see that no one had thought of this album yet.
In Flames are well-known in the metal scene and are considered among the leading exponents of the Swedish school of the '90s. However, apart from this first album (and the subsequent EP), I believe that their sound, alongside their cousins Dark Tranquillity, is a bit distant from certain death-based canons, which are much more pronounced in bands like At the Gates or Unanimated. With a more accurate analysis, let's say that a certain black influence prevails in these latter two and more distantly thrash, which elevate them a step above. But wanting to break a lance in favor of In Flames, it must be said that they have had a longer career, and, by force of circumstances, have necessarily changed and experimented with their sound over the years. I must clarify for the record that the lineup that contributed to this release actually featured Mikael Stanne (later the singer of Dark Tranquillity) behind the microphones, and the band was still seeking stability regarding the lineup. The debut of the Nordic combo in the version reviewed by me here is a reissue including their EP "Subterranean" released some time later, but in the same year, 1994, a period when the other bands I mentioned already had a decent curriculum, and from here my preference for the others actually derives (and is partially influenced) to be honest. However, "Lunar Strain" remains a milestone for all genre lovers. Coincidentally, today, with the arrival of the first cold (at least around here), I listened to it while going to work and needed something to wake me from the morning torpor of the gray sky that dominated. The intent was perfectly achieved through those melancholic riffs and the melodies (a term to always handle with care) appealing of the guitar counterparts that perfectly marry the folk elements: there are no songs to fill dead spaces on this record, everything is excellently composed, and it feels spontaneous. After all, it was at the origins of a certain musical movement, and therefore all the compositional freshness can be felt, and the album even after years shows no sign of giving way. There are many fascinating songs, and in particular the "Everlost part. I" - "Everlost part. II" pair of rare beauty. The first, a sort of ballad in mid-tempo where what stands out most is Mikael's voice. The second, a beautiful piece made only of acoustic guitars, and in the finale some electric ones, with a female voice (Jennica Johansson) not excessively high but seductive and romantic in its angelic gait.
This is followed by the classic death tracks, such as the self-titled "In Flames" and "Lunar Strain," and the folk reminiscences of "Starforsaken" and "Hargalaten," the latter a single piece in classical style, played solely by strings. Influences that we will never find so marked in their later works. Regarding "Subterranean", it must be said that musically it remains on the same standards as the album that preceded it and contains absolute musts for any fan or non-fan who nonetheless likes a certain type of sound. In particular, the experimental "Stand Ablaze," and "Ever Dying," which remains one of their best compositions ever, blending great acoustic/melodic parts with distorted riffs that sustain a vocal style where the boundary with black is very thin. The title track "Subterranean" instead foreshadows what their way of playing will be in later albums ("Whoracle" above all). Then follows the acoustic "Timeless" (this one a bit filler) and "Biosphere."
Everything is closed by two demo tracks that we will find on the next album "The Jester Race". As far as I know, this CD is the only way to listen to the EP "Subterranean" as well unless you appeal to San Download, as it has been sold out for a while and obviously has never been reprinted. Besides, (interesting fact), the Asian edition also contains a cover of Metallica's ("Eye of the Beholder"), strange record choices, who knows why. Happy listening to all interested.
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