Album Review: In Flames – Forgone (Nuclear Blast)

Swedish melo-death pioneers, In Flames will release their 14th full-length album ‘Forgone’ on February 10th, 2023, via Nuclear Blast.

In Flames have had an incredible musical career to date, even when they have put out less than stellar stuff, they have always garnered attention. Being one of the mainstays of melo-death but always doing exactly what they want. Their dedicated fanbase has been along for the ride throughout.

This new album finds In Flames reenergised, imaginative, and more than willing to dip into their rich history to compliment their new ideas. Simply put, you won’t mistake what you hear on this album for any other band, but you will find a surprise or two as well. A lot of which can fall at the feet of recently joined guitarist, Chris Broderick.

A motivated In Flames is always going to be a good thing.

An acoustic and melodic intro called The Beginning of All Things That Will End leads into the first proper banger of the record, State of Slow Decay. An aggressive, punchy, and heady In Flames experience that moves at a frenzied pace and features a big chorus. Before In Flames takes us back to the late-90s with Meet Your Maker. A track that leans into their more traditional sound, albeit less effects heavy. Vocalist Anders Friden’s clean singing sounds immense here.

A touch of synth, a thumping drumbeat, some soaring melodies, and growly vocals make Bleeding Out one to remember. Followed then by the two-parts of the title track. The first of which is In Flames at their most brazen sounding on this album. Whereas the latter is slower, darker, melodic, and has a few more effects layered over the vocals. An interesting tone shift, even if it has plenty of heaviness to it still, and one of those ‘surprises’ mentioned at the start.

Keeping melody at the forefront, we have the solid Pure Light of Mind, a track that keeps the album sounding fresh. Before In Flames return to their heavier side with the thrashier, head-banging inducing, rager that is The Great Deceiver. A real gut-punch of a track, it’s one of the highlights of the record and shows how good an inspired In Flames can be.

Consistently enjoyable, the latter portion of the album sees In the Dark deliver some meaty riffs, a stonking guitar solo, and dramatic vocals. Followed by A Dialogue in B Flat Minor, a track that, once again, sees In Flames look to their past to deliver a striking experience. Before Cynosure showcases ringing bass lines, eerie vocal effects, and a big chorus. Which leaves End the Transmission with the job of closing out the album. Done with heavy aplomb, especially with different layers of vocals. It’s not the most spectacular of closers but it delivers crunchy heaviness and that’s never a bad thing.

The best In Flames album in the modern era? The argument for it is certainly strong.

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