Lunar Strain

Lunar Strain is a vivid debut on which In Flames, layering beautiful folk-like melody and delicate acoustic shading onto death metal’s sharp aggression, early drew the sure outline of the later melodic death metal. The vocals in this period were handled by Mikael Stanne, later known from Dark Tranquillity. Still rough, it already clearly holds the band’s own sure musical character. From the power of the speeding opening classic “Behind Space” and the drama of the title track “Lunar Strain” to a cut like “Starforsaken,” every song is engaging, while cuts like “Dreamscape” and “Hårgalåten,” covering a traditional folk song, convey the work’s originality. Beautiful, lyrical phrases that suddenly appear from between the rough riffs create a cold, beautiful lyricism wholly different from mere violence. A record in which a rough, powerful heat particular to a young band is firmly kept even in the delicate connection between fierce parts and quiet acoustic guitar. This new talent, emerging from the Gothenburg scene, would later grow into a band representing the genre itself. A powerful, ambitious debut announcing the dawn of melodic death metal — the band’s origin here.