In Flames's Reviews
The Jester Race (Average Rating: 9.30 out of 10)
Next To My Heart (Rated this album with 10 out of 10)
Reviewed by
child_of_the_jester_race
from Atchison, KS
In Flames is one of the world's best bands straight up. I have been listening to all sorts of heavy metal for since I can't remember and after exploring every single metal scene in the world, as small as they might be, the one that creates the most beautiful music and that fascinates me the most, is the European Metal Scene, in particular the Gothenburg Metal Scene that was created partly by In Flames. In Flames plays a type of metal that has plenty of rhythm which creates the headbanging atmosphere, without ignoring other essential components that make up songs, like harmony and melody. In Flames has a lot of melody. But neither component in their songs is taken to point that it becomes annoying. What I'm saying is that you get death metal bands that have plenty of palm muting and rhythm in their songs but nothing else while other bands have too much melody. In Flames has plenty of both but not too much. I like to call their style of music "Melodic Death Metal". In a way it is much closer to black metal than to death metal but I don't care. In Flames after releasing what might be metal's greatest debut album "Luna Strain", came up with what for me is their greatest piece of work, "The Jester Race". This album is responsible for opening up a whole new world of Heavy Metal for me. It is the reason why I love music so much. In my mind In Flames' greatest masterpiece of them all. I keep it next to my heart. Opening with a strong track "Moonshield", the album hits you and keeps on beating you to the point that you cry throughout. I'm not kidding, one of the only 2 albums that has ever made me cry. I totally love this album so If I were to review each song, I would give them all 10/10. However I will not do that. I will start by saying that "Moonshield" is one of the only songs from this album that the band usually plays live. In Fact the only song featered in the Tokyo Showdown from "The Jester Race". A pity I say since all these songs deserve to be played live all the time. However when you have so many amazing songs it is difficult to chose. The secong track "The Jester's Dance" is by far the best instrumental song In Flames has ever composed. "Artifacts Of The Black Rain", "Lord Hypnos", "Dead Eternity", "The Jester Race", and "Dead God In Me" however are the best songs on this album. "Lord Hypnos" and "The Jester Race" being my favourite. They are so powerful, beautiful, and outstanding I couldn't believe my ears when I first heard them. I was totally blown away. "Dead God In Me" which is the same song from their first album "Lunar Strain" except with different lyrics, has one of the best riffs ever 1:22 minutes into the song. There is no weak song in this album. However just like every other album it has a weakest song. In This case it is the instrumental "Wayfarer" which is a strong track but it does not come close to the rest of he tracks on this album especially if you are to compare it to the other instrumental song "The Jester's Dance". If you have never heard of In Flames, I would recommend you start by bying this album, eventually you will want to own all of them trust me.
Buy this album on Amazon at $14.99
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