Every Friday I turn the blog over to Dan Marsicano for his Retro Recommendation, giving you a chance to learn about underrated and overlooked gems from metal's past. This week, In Flames is in the spotlight.
In their first few years of existence, In Flames and Dark Tranquillity had a strong connection. The latter featured vocalist Anders Friden, who would go on to join the former band in 1995. Not only do they have that connection, but In Flames used Dark Tranquillity guitarist Mikael Stanne as a vocalist for their debut Lunar Strain. The album is unlike anything In Flames would do in the mid-to-late '90s, but it's an overlooked gem worth giving space to in this column.
In Flames has never been afraid to experiment, but no other album reaches Lunar Strain. The album feels like a group of friends were messing around and throwing everything they knew about music into a disorganized pile. There are violin breaks, lengthy acoustic outros, female vocalists, and a folksy turn on several songs. For most new fans who believe Come Clarity is the most amazing album ever, Lunar Strain will come as a surprise.
If an album could be judged on variety alone, Lunar Strain would get a 10/10. Two instrumentals, "Dreamscape" and "Hårgalåten," are sandwiched between the two-parter "Everlost." The first part is almost doom-like in its pace, while the second part is an acoustic ditty featuring average female vocals. "Behind Space" is washed in triple-guitar glory and keyboard swipes. Speaking of guitars, this is the only In Flames album with three primary guitarists. It allows for tight harmonies, though it seems like this potential is underutilized.
Being so young and inexperienced as musicians, some of the ideas seem forced. The strings opening "Starforsaken" don't make sense with the rest of the song, not to mention their use on the torturous "Hårgalåten." The acoustic ending on "Behind Space" has a transition that is more jolting than Orchid-era Opeth. "In Flames" is the only track that fits the acoustic work in with poise.
Stanne had only done backing vocals for Dark Tranquillity at this point, so Lunar Strain was the first real exposure of how powerful his voice was. He didn't have much range yet, but his growls had some bite to them. He hit his stride near the end with the back-to-back "Upon An Oaken Throne" and "Clad In Shadows." The simplest songs on the album, they are an early taste of what would come on the band's sophomore album in 1996.
In Flames's second album The Jester Race was the band's big break. While their sound became more conventional and modernized, their first few albums are still remembered for being something special. Lunar Strain is as good, if not better, than much of their '90s material. It's full of variety and folk musings missing from The Jester Race and Whoracle. For being a major part of the uprising of the Gothenburg melodic death metal scene, Lunar Strain gets the nod for this week's Retro Recommendation.
Comments