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In Flames: Lunar strain

19/02/09 || Smalley

Ah, 1994… the Gothenburg sound was still fresh, metalcore was but a gleam in melodeath’s eye, and the birth of the kindler, gentler In Flames that we now know (and loathe) was still over half a decade away. Any experienced metalhead just coming to this disc will probably experience two very different emotions while listening to it; joy at hearing music so distinct and just plain vibrant, and misery that this group would pathetically imitate the same metalcore bands that originally imitated them. Despite that sad fact, “Lunar Strain”, while a tad rough around the edges, is a very compelling, well-done debut, and remains just as fresh today as when it first came out…

From the first moments of “Behind Space”, with it’s relentless riffing, low-fi guitar tone, and almost incomprehensibly rough vocals (courtesy of future Dark Tranquility singer Mikael Stanne), you’ll realize right away that this isn’t the In Flames you thought you knew. The uniqueness of “Space” is demonstrated even further in it’s gorgeous, all-acoustic outro that lasts for over a minute, and is far closer to Ennio Morricone than to anything melodeath! If all of this makes “Space” sound a little schizophrenic in it’s approach, it is to a certain extent, but it is this reckless energy and creativity that serves as the main strength of “Lunar Strain”, and prevents the album from being another half-assed debut.

But not to imply at all that every track on “Strain” is quite as lively as that gut-punch of an opener; like most albums, there are certain songs that aren’t quite as compelling or enjoyable as they should have been, and thus, won’t stay with the mind as well. Still, Flames keeps the basic energy level rather high for most of the album, with the riffs coming fast, thick, and catchy, some fantastically expressive guitar solos, and a strange appeal lying within Mikael Stanne’s garbled ranting about astronomically-related nonsense. And even though certain instruments do get neglected under the unrelenting avalanche of sound, namely the bass and drums, what can you do? Slowing down to let those instruments shine some more would have certainly put a cramp on In Flames’ amazing style anyway…

Ahem, but I don’t want to forget about the many classical instrument interludes that are sprinkled throughout “Strain”. These moments are without a doubt the record’s most memorable, with the Celtic-tinged opening of “Starforsaken”, the synchronized electric guitar/violin playing in “Hårgalåten”, the aforementioned outro of “Behind Space”, and other acoustic sections all proving that In Flames weren’t just another set of meatheads with some heavy riffs to play. In fact, my very favorite track on the album, “Everlost Part II” (which oddly shares nothing in common musically with Part I), isn’t metal at all, but rather has nothing more than a pair of acoustic guitars providing for it’s music, barring a short electric solo towards the end. Also, Stanne actually doesn’t sing at all on “Part II”, but steps aside to allow the haunting, melancholy vocal work of Jennica Johansson to completely take over! It comes as a hell of a shock, and is very different from anything else on “Strain” (hell, it’s very different from anything else In Flames ever did) but that’s what I love about the track, the sheer, unadulterated guts Flames showed in recording something that far out of left field.

Ironic though, that every other appearance of guest vocals on the album, all of them provided by Hammerfall’s Oscar Dronjak, come off as rather pointless. Dronjak’s occasional, distorted shout is one cook in the broth too many, and his histrionic proclamation of “We are entering dimensions behind space!!!” on the album opener may lead to actual laughing out loud. And that little miscalculation isn’t the only error on “Strain”: Stanne’s vocals get to be almost dog-yip harsh at times (about a seven on the Dani Filth scale, I estimate), the album’s overly-gritty guitar tone robs the riffs of some of the punch they could have had, some tracks are cut short before they’ve quite reached their prime, etc.

Oh, and I shouldn’t forget, the lunatic energy that propels this record forward could potentially alienate fans of the more passive, Fridén-fronted In Flames, but hey, you’re getting to hear a classic band at what is perhaps their most creative; just suck it up! “Lunar Strain” ultimately falls short of being a great record, but it’s sheer energy, creativity, and uniqueness make it a must-listen for any metalhead, and also makes me weep whenever I remember that these are the same guys who would give us “Reroute to Remain” and those other three over-priced drink coasters. Somebody build me a time machine so I can escape back to 2001 and wallow in sweet, blissful ignorance, pretty please? As for anyone reading this right now… show some respect to your metal elders and go check this bad boy out soon as ya can.

8.5 eulogies for old In Flames out of 10.

Information
Released: 1997
Label: Wrong Again/Regain/Candlelight
Website: www.inflames.com
In Flames
Mikael Stanne: vocals
Carl Näslund: rhythm guitar
Glenn Ljungström: lead guitar
Johann Larsson: bass
Jesper Strömblad: drums, keyboards

Tracklist
01. Behind Space
02. Clad in Shadows
03. Lunar Strain
04. Starforsaken
05. Dreamscape
06. Everlost (Part I)
07. Everlost (Part II)
08. Hårgalåten
09. In Flames
10. Upon an Oaken Throne
11. In Flames (1993 promo version)
12. Upon an Oaken Throne (1993 promo version)
13. Acoustic Piece (from promo 1993)
14. Clad in Shadows (1993 promo version)

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