IN FLAMES

Foregone (Nuclear Blast)

Forgone is In Flames’ 14th album and the Swedish death metal rockers may be showing signs of slowing down. Since vocalist Anders Fridén took singing lessons back in 2019, he’s continually added cleaner vocals to songs, and there is now more emphasis on the melodic than the metal. The album opens with the folky instrumental The Beginning Of All Things That Will End, with further folk elements popping up throughout; a tendency towards shorter, perhaps rock radio-ready songs, much of Foregone feels disjointed.

There are some solid guitar solos from Björn Gelotte, even if they sometimes feel tacked on, and heavy basslines courtesy of Bryce Paul; if Fridén’s ‘normal’ voice is a little gentle for the genre, his much-needed unclean vocals come into their own on the first segment of the two-part title track. As far as death metal goes, Forgone is on the lighter side but In Flames remain pleasant on the ear. 

words LYNDA NASH