Battles Music

In a music scene full of seemingly endless subgenres and transient trends, In Flames are an example of what it means to steadfastly stay true to your vision. Since forming in Gothenburg, Sweden in 1990, the legendary melodic metal act has had six albums debut in the top ten in Sweden (including two #1 debuts), toured alongside everyone from Metallica to Judas Priest and influenced many of today’s biggest metal acts without ever ceasing to push their own signature sound forward. In that spirit, the band’s twelfth full-length Battles sees In Flames eschewing proven formulas in favor of trying new things, most notably finding a new collaborator in Grammy-nominated producer Howard Benson (My Chemical Romance, The Used), who was brought into the band’s coveted inner circle in order make Battles an album that will appeal to every type of In Flames fan.

The Umbra Lucis Ensemble present an intriguing disc portraying the Anghiari Battle in works by Byrd, Dowland, Andreuccetti, Dufay, de Victoria, Hume and others. The relationship between music and war bears witness to the ethical dimension of music and its impact on the human. But warfare is also a metaphor and sign of the battles to which the existence is voted: amorous disputes, moral duels … In a word: the dialectic between shadow and light that which incessantly beats life. Shadow and light that has marked, according to the contemporary chronicle, also one of the symbolic events of the Italian Renaissance: he Battle of Anghiari.

When a band changes their style and sound, it can be polarizing. Melodic death metal pioneers In Flames have experienced this with their fans, as their sound has grown more accessible over the years with fewer growling vocals. Their countrymen and contemporaries Opeth have drawn similar criticism, but their switch from death metal to prog seems to have been more easily accepted than In Flames’ evolution toward the mainstream. In Flames’ effort, Battles, has plenty of melody, but there are numerous intense moments, as well.
Battles is the first In Flames album recorded without drummer Daniel Svensson since 1997‘s Whoracle. The band traveled to Los Angeles to record with producer Howard Benson (Halestorm, Skillet, Papa Roach). Benson recommended using drummer Joe Rickard (Red) for the album, and he ended up joining the group permanently…