IN FLAMES

Formed in 1990 in the city of Gothenburg (SWE), In Flames was conceived by guitarist Jesper Strömblad, who had left Ceremonial Oath in search of greater creative freedom. The project began as a bold underground initiative, blending the aggressiveness of death metal with melodic harmonies inspired by traditional metal. This fusion would soon become the foundation of the so-called Gothenburg Sound, a style that would define an entire generation of Scandinavian melodic metal.

The debut album, Lunar Strain (1994), introduced the foundations of this sound, though the band still lacked stability. Things began to change when Anders Fridén (vocals) and Björn Gelotte (drums) joined, resulting in The Jester Race (1995), which solidified In Flames’ identity and was followed by Whoracle (1997), a landmark in melodic death metal.

After this phase, lineup changes led Gelotte to switch from drums to guitar, and the arrival of Daniel Svensson (drums) established the formation that would release Colony (1999), the album that presented the characteristic Gothenburg sound to the world. The momentum continued with Clayman (2000), which expanded their reach even further. In the following years, In Flames began exploring new sonic directions, incorporating modern elements, electronics, and clean vocals.

Reroute to Remain (2002) marked the beginning of this transition, while Soundtrack to Your Escape (2004) and Come Clarity (2006) cemented their global success. Even with stylistic shifts, the band has maintained its relevance over the decades, releasing consistent works such as A Sense of Purpose (2008), Siren Charms (2014), I, The Mask (2019), and Foregone (2023), the latter praised for balancing the heaviness and melody that have always defined their trajectory.

Currently led by Anders Fridén and Björn Gelotte, In Flames continues its world tour promoting Foregone, celebrating more than three decades of career and a discography that shaped melodic death metal. The band’s presence at Bangers Open Air 2026 reinforces its historical importance as one of the pillars of melodic death metal and the Gothenburg Sound.