IN FLAMES — The Jester Race (review)

Album · 1996 · Melodic Death Metal

3.5/5 · 2011-01-29
The Angry Scotsman

One of the crown jewels of melodic death metal.

This album is regarded as one of it's seminal works, and with good reason. It cemented the classic In Flames sound for years to come and is the definition of melodic death metal.

Built around its triple guitar act, (with harmonized lead guitars over a rhythm guitar), simple yet effective drumming, raspy growls, and overall melodic songwriting writing, while maintaining death metal heaviness and often it's intensity. The riffing is fast paced but more melodic and "groovy" than technical and mindblowing, owing more to Iron Maiden than Death.

The solos are almost entirely melodic, opposed to shred, and the songs are quite different from your standard death metal. The production is airtight, allowing you to fully hear the intricate guitar work, and there is quite a lot of acoustic guitar, and even some sections that sound absolutely happy! The songs are obviously much more varied, and while the album never feels very "brutal" it can be quite intense. Drumming is fairly straightforward but at least gets the job done. Vocals are raspy screams though there's a good bit of dramatic talking (nu metal style?) Note: This album has a new vocalist, Anders Fridén from fellow melodeath founder Dark Tranquility. In Flames' first album had more a growling vocal style, while this one uses a more screaming one. They are decent, but can be pretty difficult at times.

The album starts off strong with the classic "Moonshield". Play this song to anyone who knows modern In Flames and they will probably refuse to believe it at first. Awesome song, best on the album.

The disbelief will really kick in with "The Jester's Dance" an instrumental song that is borderline beautiful.

"Artifacts of the Black Rain" is one of the better songs on the album, and a bit more intense. This continues with "Graveland" which is a good bit more intense. Still maintains melodicism of course.

"Lord Hypnos" is an interesting one. Starts off awesome, and continues to be so, but the second half is a bit of a curveball.

"Dead Eternity" and "The Jester Race" are both good songs. The latter being a bit better, the former a tad uninteresting at times.

"December Flower" is the most intense song on the album, and a very good one. Probably my second favorite on the album.

"Wayfaerer" is another instrumental and this one will really test the limits of a death metal head.

"Dead God in Me" ends the album on a good note. Not the best song, but one that grew on me. Has some movement, and a perfect example of melodic songwriting mixed in with very heavy guitar, and intensity peppered with melodicism.

Very good album. At times I lose touch with the songs and get tempted to hit next, but luckily they aren't too long. There is no doubt the straight up death metal fan may struggle to enjoy this, and maybe some regular metal heads. These songs are certainly a bit out there for the style. The production is good, maybe too good, since sometimes the album gives me a strange vibe. The vocals are fine but I am not a real big fan of them, definitely can be a but rough at times. Regardless, a classic and influential album, and a good one at that.

Three and a Half Stars