Foregone: CD

In Flames represent the best of metal’s past, present, and future. In Flames are as vital and even more energized today than when they unleashed classics like Come Clarity and Clayman in decades past.

The band built a stunning reputation with devastating, crowd-moving, inspired performances around the world at every major rock and metal festival imaginable, headlining multiple treks, and touring with the likes of Slipknot, Megadeth, Judas Priest, Killswitch Engage, Within Temptation, and Lamb Of God. They regularly headline some of the biggest stages and festivals in the world.

Foregone, the furious fourteenth studio album, combines the greatest aggressive, metallic, and melodic strengths of their landmark records with the seasoned songwriting of their postmodern era.

The melodic guitars, crushing riffs, and high-speed tempos that define much of the In Flames catalog first crystalized on their second album, The Jester Race (1996), complete with hints of the catchy choruses to come. Whoracle (1997) is the rawest and arguably heaviest In Flames album from the 90s. Metal Hammer declared melodeath masterpiece Colony (1999) “an undisputed fireball of an album.”

Clayman (2000) introduced synths and more prominent clean vocals, without sacrificing the band’s intensity. Reroute to Remain (2002) took the groove element further. Soundtrack to Your Escape (2004) expanded the rock bombast. Come Clarity (2006) is a perfect metalcore slab. A Sense of Purpose (2008) delivered some of the band’s best and most eclectic songs. The gothic groove metal of Sounds of a Playground Fading (2011) paved the way for the unapologetic Active Rock hooks of Siren Charms (2014) and Battles (2016). Fans of the aggressive side of In Flames praised I, the Mask (2019). Foregone masterfully, if improbably, manages to serve all sides of the In Flames fanbase, with powerful force.

A sense of pride, accomplishment, and continued vitality are evident every time the band takes the stage, and all over Foregone. Melodic death metal pioneers and innovative purveyors of groove, the artistry, influence, stature, and future of In Flames loom as large as the heavy metal horizon itself.