IN FLAMES - RIFF EVOLUTION (2021) Riffs From Each Album Since 1994

In Flames has put out a massive body of work - 13 albums over 25 years - and experimented with many different metal styles! Here is a compilation of riffs from each album to show their evolution. Which era is your favorite?
Artist: In Flames
Albums: Lunar Strain (1994), The Jester Race (1996), Whoracle (1997), Colony (1999), Clayman (2000), Reroute to Remain (2002), Soundtrack to Your Escape (2004), Come Clarity (2006), A Sense of Purpose (2008), Sounds of a Playground Fading (2011), Siren Charms (2014), Battles (2016), I, The Mask (2019)
Tuning: Drop C and Drop A#
Mixed by Richard Perdomo
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[@pikcy9545]

Jester Race, Whoracle, Colony, Clayman are all S tier metal albums and some of my favorites of all time 🤘peak melodeath

[@DelTremens]

Agreed 100%

[@romonhomin7367]

yup about right.

[@ericyip947]

Reroute is also great!

[@zeno6111753]

Totally agree Thats the In Flames I really like.

[@WatchUnwind]

Hard to beat those three . After that their sound changes. I still love all their albums but clayman to me might be the apex

[@upreydeen]

In Flames are riffs masters, I think many bands are influenced by their incredible way to write music, very fresh and innovative

[@ThomasHogue]

Definitely! I think of them as one of the main pioneers of that melodic metal riff style

[@ZephaniahDavis]

Jesper said that originally he wanted to play 'Maiden riffs but in a more death metal style. If you listen to the first part of the 'Maiden riff progression it fits perfectly. Really neat-o.

[@Pec3t]

The Jester Race - one of the best metal albums ever made.

[@ghostofmoredishesmorebitch1507]

Just after colony😊

[@Pec3t]

@@ghostofmoredishesmorebitch1507 Well, I dont like Colony. Jester Race, Whoracle, Clayman - this is my holy trinity:)

[@mehcazstedzip2525]

Totally agree

[@slicksmick89]

The old In Flames was so amazing and melodic. Listening to their entire discography, sounds like 3 completely different bands. Strange but I love them all, even the modern stuff.

[@mmoviefan7]

cus they are diffent members over the years

[@thomaskostoroski9985]

Lunar Strain and Subterranean are my favorite albums from them. Tough to sing tho

[@Kamil-mw9jw]

Have the same, I started listening to them around 2006 and I really liked all the stuff, to be honest. I had to get used to a new album every time, but I always ended up with loving new stuff.

[@Skiddlez3D]

Yeah it's all awesome, if you like old In Flames, go listen to The Halo Effect. They are all ex members of In Flames, truly awesome shit

[@johnyang799]

@@Skiddlez3D But honestly the holo effect is not anything more in flames than current in flames sounds a lot more like dark tranquility. I guess it's thr front man that have the most effect. In this video it's demonstrated that the riffs are not that different really. Don't get me wrong the holo effect is awesome just sounds more like dt than in to me.

[@DaniTheDawg]

This is why the old In Flames were the greatest influence for me. This also why I post Reroute to Remain IF... Don't get me wrong, the riffs played here were all phenomenal but I just can't compare the 2 eras. Totally different band.

[@mstrasser]

Colony and before...so melodic and awesome. There were some bangers after that, some I'm discovering more and more of recently (heck even "Stay With Me" is awesome) but the early stuff just hit different. And the fact that my favourite IF song "Goliaths Disarm Their Davids" isn't even on a proper album just shows how great that era was. Also, the fact that you included a bonus track for Colony echoes how their leftovers were stellar.

[@johnsummers7121]

I'm an old man now. My taste has been across the metal map. Still to this day artifacts of black rain has some of my favorite riffs.

[@prehistoricgentlemanbird9131]

Same. Also the first In Flames song I ever heard way back in like 2000, and they instantly became one of my favorite bands.

[@sirzechsazazel1150]

No one ever talks about Artifacts and the opening riff is probably in my top 5 favorite riffs of all time

[@Flazius]

I really like this type of video; a 5-8 minute length showcasing a song from each album by disctinctive artists, more of that please!

[@ThomasHogue]

Definitely!

[@BrockOfBodom]

Clayman is a perfect album. They really hit the mark with that one

[@metlgawd]

Absofuckinglutely, solid front to back.

[@antoinej1554]

And I still don't understand why they felt necessary to re-record it with their modern standards.

[@OfficialXivil]

@@antoinej1554 tbh, I really like the re-recorded songs. Not as good and as epic as the originals, but still good!

[@antoinej1554]

@@OfficialXivil Well i'm not saying it's all garbage, but when you have such a perfect material... Just keep it the way it is, everyone enjoyed it like that. Though the new version of Only for the Weak is a failure

[@wanalqasam7377]

Jester race is

[@NicolasAlexanderOtto]

Colony really were the days of the classic dual lead I came to love. :-)

[@USALeonHeart]

They did it so much on that album with zero regard for good taste. I love it.

[@jacksonislegend]

Reroute to Remain, Colony, and Come Clarity are definitely my favorite albums from these guys but they don't really miss. I love that melodic style of riffing. People don't realize just how influential in flames have been

[@USALeonHeart]

I mean in terms of direct influence, Clayman is easily the most influential metal album from 2000-2010, think of how much metalcore sounded *and was recorded* like Clayman.

[@Stonesorrow]

@@USALeonHeart So what you're saying we should go back in time and kill baby-Clayman? :)

[@xalxfa]

yeah. On top of that i would put Clayman, Come Clarity and reroute to remain! these are awesome aswell.

[@jacksonislegend]

@@xalxfa oh definitely! Come Clarity is one of my favorite melodic metalcore albums of all time. Clayman was amazing and incredibly influential. I can't believe I forgot to include clayman. But yeah I definitely agree with your take. I just loved Colony too.

[@Paul_Ward]

Half the post hard-core scene were born out of these styles of riffs 🤘

[@slipknotmfkrlocust8843]

I adore the fact you put in December Flower as the Jester Race riff, and Drenched In Fear as the A Sense Of Purpose riff, such slept on songs

[@ozthewizard504]

I miss Jesper too much. He was the best thing happened to In Flames.

[@benjaminvasquez5826]

I think he created In Flames

[@charlieandersson5534]

look for the halo effect

[@Teocyn]

Agree. I always looked to Bjorn for the guitars in that band, which was my favourite for so long. Turns out it was Jesper all along.

[@user-fj2hn9ho5e]

Wait for halo effect)

[@RavensCore20]

@@benjaminvasquez5826 Yeah he did. Lunar Strain and Subterranean was just him and a bunch of other people doing some studio work if I recall correctly. I dont think any other In Flames members were a part of those albums. The Jester Race is really where the band was formed. I miss the hell out of Jesper in this band.

[@tikteetewon]

Nice, you made me remember how much I love In Flames! Keep up the good work!

[@ThomasHogue]

Great to hear! Thanks

[@Thrasher_Abbatoir]

Yeah. Good old IF

[@Some_Guy_87]

The Jester Race was a defining album for me as a guitar player - I still think the riffs there are the most fun to play along out of all their albums. Made playing guitar feel like singing Karaoke. It also was a big "aha" moment in utilizing harmonies in guitar playing to make lines sound great that seem rather boring on their own. Musically, I still loved everything up until Reroute to Remain (which wasn't very interesting from a guitarist perspective, but had a great soundscape. Always put that album out every winter for some reason, just went well with Christmas lighting and decoration). After that I was just burned out from them, not even sure if the music of the followup albums is to blame.

[@ThomasHogue]

Yeah, melodic riffs are definitely the most memorable! That is one thing I think is lacking in trending modern metal

[@romyrocks8862]

I never listened to In Flames before, but after this great compilation I surely will! It's awsome!

[@AdamB12]

Colony, Clayman and Whoracle are the 3 best imo. Used to listen to these all throughout high school. Wish I could've seen them live at that point in the bands career

[@jessepalmateer9127]

Bet the hardest part of making this video was choosing which ONE song to play from each album. Kudos for making the hard decisions for us. Heat covers. Cleeeean

[@ThomasHogue]

Definitely. So much second guessing 😂

[@CannonFire]

Dude you are about to kill it on KZbin. SUBBED.

[@NickRiffs]

Sense of Purpose is a criminally underrated album. Drenched In Fear is an amazing song

[@VeritabIlIti]

Every song on that album has amazing riffs and the whole thing has this strangely tortured but uplifting tone. Def underrated

[@projectzed5766]

It's my favourite album by them

[@billpolman9175]

Absolutely agree, the verse riff from Drenched in fear is one of my favorites. The album needs more recognition.

[@zombiemachinery4868]

That was their last good album, that was In Flames in their prime.

[@HiyaahLord]

Agreed

[@christophersanzo1833]

Awesome video! I love ALL eras of In Flames and you did a really great job representing that. \m/ :) #INFLAMESFOREVER

[@siphoningstrike2248]

Love how IF change in every album but keep the same sound It's a strange way to explain it, but any album of them are similar but if you listen to them you know that is IF.

[@wheelsofmercury]

Sounds of a Playground Fading! It came out when I was in high school and I loved it then and love it now!

[@OfficialXivil]

Come Clarity introduced me to In Flames, so it will always have a special place in my heart. But Colony/Clayman was peak In Flames in terms of riffs and melodies.

[@DarkTrailsExplorer]

The fact that the whole mixing and guitar tone is the same across all of the video really takes away the prejudice regarding the old and new material. Thanks

[@TorahGonzalez]

I listened the crap out of the first 8 albums in my early 20s. When Sense of Purpose came out I started to get into heavier metal and stopped listening to In Flames's new stuff, but always held those first albums close to heart. I think is time I catch up with them

[@user-fj7vl7si9r]

とても、楽しく拝見させていただきました。 素敵な動画をありがとう。

[@wojodojo8365]

This was the best, thanks for the trip down memory lane of why i picked up a guitar.

[@WrathOfLayla]

Love "borders and shading" such an underrated song

[@prehistoricgentlemanbird9131]

Indeed. Soundtrack is an underrated album as a whole.

[@shawnm1144]

this just popped up on my feed and man, this is amazing! instant sub! keep up the good work homie!

[@ThomasHogue]

Thank you!

[@vincentlow_relief1485]

Love the riffs you have chosen ! Really solid picking hand !

[@AustinIsTheGreatests]

Come clarity speaks to me every time i listen to it. So good

[@TheVralapa]

Never appriciated the newer songs until I heard your versions. Keep it up.

[@PhlegmBoHiggins]

We all know this is Ola in disguise. Either way. Well done man. I've always over looked this band. I now see the error of my ways.

[@ThomasHogue]

Haha. I will take that comparison :) Thanks man!

[@PhlegmBoHiggins]

@@ThomasHogue haha I legitimately thought this was him accept you're recording space looks better 😂 also I'd love to see you do some insomnium riffs

[@noisemakerstudios5540]

I really enjoyed watching! This band was/is such a big influence on me and the style of music that I play! Great job!

[@diegoornelas4948]

Great detail to play almost every riff with downpicking!

[@erdoganzorlu3092]

Here before 1k subs ? We shall watch your career with great interest my dude ! Keep up the good work love how clean your picking hand is !

[@Mayheml]

Em’ downstrokes!

[@victormaslyaev1525]

Thanks, man! Nice video, one of my favorite bands of all times! 🤘🔥

[@mobeenrehman2379]

Very nicely done. You chose almost all the songs that smoothly transition from one to the other.

[@LouisianaSpey]

Love how December flower is just crazy, then the song actually starts and it just groves and the solo is killer

[@i.m.les-dim5039]

He really picked all of my album - favs! How is that even possible???

[@kr4nium92]

This was absolutely fantastic well done!

[@TheLastCrankers]

When I first heard in flames, I heard Soudns of the playground fading and I, the mask, they are still some of my favourite albums on my playlists

[@buffalo666]

This band held/holds such a special place in my heart. I never listen to them anymore but I just can't bring myself to delete them from my library. Such great early records.

[@MrGiuliom]

Oh man sometimes I almost forgot how tasty In Flames are. Thanks for this

[@cynicald380]

01:23 that's some fecking epic down picking mate!! 🤛🤛🤛

[@C-LOS420]

Great work! I love all the riffs so well in changes

[@faba9999]

That's just so great. Awesome job dude!

[@LeChampignon69]

yooooo, awesome work man! I’ll always have a soft spot for IF no matter what.

[@Robster881]

The Jester Race is absolutely un-fuck-withable - stone cold classic album.

[@darrengaffy8436]

probably the best video ive ever seen on youtube accurate well played , great editing , gopd song choices time for a carlsberg :) , thanks that was joyful to watch

[@ThomasHogue]

That's what I love to hear!! Thanks, glad you enjoyed

[@itsdokko2990]

man i sure love In Flames many of their songs have the power to shake you to the very core

[@jake.the.riffer]

I love all In Flames, but this really showcases how modern IF still writes killer riffs.

[@johnyang799]

Very true. It's the mixing and the singing changed the feeling of the newer songs.

[@RafaelCDet]

They write great metalcore riffs but they don't write melodeath riffs or songs.

[@DANCEDWAT]

Call My Name is an excellent riff, I felt I, The Mask a return to form of sorts.. but my all time favourite is December Flower (and love Dialogue with the Stars and Man Made God). It all changed when the wrote songs to fit a twin guitar live setting instead of twin lead plus rhythm, but I still like them.

[@ThomasHogue]

Agreed, I, The Mask had some good moments and felt more true to form than the previous few!

[@kaptain_karma2839]

I, The Mask got me back into In Flames for sure. I actually think it is one of their top 5 albums. Love this video.

[@gustavogrosso6638]

Wow awesome video! Nice selection of songs, not everyone would have chosen those, I like them all anyway. I believe In Flames never disappoints delivering goof riffs. In Flames we trust!!!

[@IKilledTheDodo]

Man, this was a trip down memory lane! Haven’t listened to them in years, but I still love them.

[@mattmcgrath6848]

Haven't listened to these guys in years, you smashed it! I noticed you missed embody the invisible though

[@pikcy9545]

aye, best in flames song

[@wonderkenny9919]

You even picked the one that makes Battles sound like old In Flames xD nice one

[@Cihan350Z]

Food for the gods is my fav.Awesome work.Congrats

[@jaimecomamala1561]

You have no idea how much i enjoyed this video... !!!

[@resurrectionfitness5711]

So fun to watch man!!! keep this content coming

[@thegodphreaker]

EPIC RIFFAGE BROTHER 1:13 IS MY FACE RN STUNNED

[@kyleklyn]

Awesome idea, love the tone

[@thehermanli]

the december flower solo and man made god still blows my mind.

[@moongurd20]

Oh this was nice! brings back memories and chills, i love this band!

[@12breacher82]

Nice! Great run through of the history or their riffs.

[@sebastianheiderer3993]

The riff to darker times was spectacular my dude 🔥

[@phillipgraf5917]

Always loved IN FLAMES.you def got my subscription outta this lethality BRO 🤘

[@ThomasHogue]

Hell yeah! Thanks for the sub!

[@sostekai]

Love every single In flames album, old and new era In flames, makes me laugh when I see people hating on them for their newer albums.

[@TheAndresOpeth]

Great video. It reminded me the dates when I listened In Flames on a daily basis. I don't know why, but I disconnected from them after Come Clarity. Thanks to this video I will start paying more attention to their most recent efforts.

[@WatchUnwind]

Good compilation. To me old in flames will always be the true and most pure in flames with clay man being the point it all started to change but I love the new stuff as well.

[@robertogarciagallardo229]

I love In Flames ❤, Man Made God its one of the best metal instrumentals ever made

[@kuroinamida4630]

Personally Lunar Strain to Clayman are their Glory Days. Reroute till Come Clarity/ASOP were the Transition Years Playgrounds is an album that has a few good moments Siren Charms actually grew on me but still on the fence with their latest stuff

[@Donasaur7734]

I've been a fan of them for as long as I can remember and Voices and I Am Above might actually be my favorite songs from them. I don't know what it is about them but I can't get enough

[@DigitalBrain-op7zm]

great job!

[@memor1481]

the soud of your guitar is amazing, aggresive but stetic, so good man

[@KhaosKontroller]

You should totally do one for Sylosis.

[@ThomasHogue]

Never heard of them before but I just checked them out. Sick band!

[@KhaosKontroller]

@@ThomasHogue Fantastic band!

[@pikcy9545]

yes!!! Conclusions on an Age is the best thrash album of all time imo :D

[@MrThePessimist]

@@pikcy9545 their latest album is really great too !

[@AaronMorgan666]

@@ThomasHogue if you didn't already hear it, listen to teras kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpOqf5mAgpqqr9k

[@collinsanders4540]

Been needing to add a Warlock to my collection for years 🙏 killer stuff

[@EmYush]

IN FLAMES is the riff legend of all time. from time to time, different style of riff still impress every kind of human. Björn is simply too underrated.

[@toddf5492]

Wow outstanding man!!!

[@ThomasHogue]

Thanks!

[@wolfgangkoch1247]

that's a degeneration. the early albums were masterpieces. great video.

[@lordg13m]

So good. Just wow on your talent!

[@dmphax]

This video makes me so happy.

[@vittoriorondino3236]

Great job man! In Flames rulez! 🤟🏻😉

[@adamfellegi8448]

nice job!

[@brood7007]

nice video, love In Flames....that Jackson guitar is gorgeous.

[@danielwiebe2123]

In Flames We Trust 🔥

[@websta72]

Excellent!!

[@carlosrelampago2279]

Great work you've done Thomas. Yeahhh🖤🤘🤘🤘

[@ThomasHogue]

Thank you!

[@imilegofreak]

You have an amazing guitar tone!

[@christoffersjostrom4555]

I believe you can hear that the biggest evolution is from Lunar Strain to The Jester Race. Best tone in Colony. A Sense of purpose has maybe the best riffs tbh, great sound imo. But I think you were a bit hard with using Darker Times as an example of "Sounds of a playground fading", that album actually has some great riffs.

[@erichchiarelli4377]

The Call My Name Riff is amazing

[@liamfuchs4176]

This is EXACTLY what I was looking for

[@eddiewatersjr8133]

There are always people who bash whatever sound they don't enjoy. Sense of purpose was my last IF album. But if you enjoy the new albums, great. There are always those people that seem to think Jester Race is the only album worth anything, and that's sad. Thank you for picking Borders and Shading. Nice video sir👏

[@Foxywaterable]

Man this band has some sick riffs god damn. I had no idea.

[@scg81790]

I was really hoping to see Ropes, March to the Shore, Enter Tragedy, Alias, Condemned, My Sweet Shadow, The Quiet Place, and many others. This should be a 20 minute video of riffs.

[@ThomasHogue]

They do have so many great riffs. Maybe an extended version is called for. 😁

[@MaelstromTheDemon]

In Flames We Trust!! 🤘 I happen to love just about every era of this band, the only album I honestly don't like is Siren Charms. Literally every other album has at least 1 song on it I love. I'm a huge fan of their 2000s output, and A Sense Of Purpose is my all-time favorite.

[@LordofDiamondsMetal]

It's so cool hearing this medley of different eras of In Flames, pieced together seamlessly! I have one point of contention, though. For the later albums, particularly Soundtrack to Your Escape and Battles, you picked riffs that are kinda anomalies in the album in that they resemble the traditional In Flames style of riffing, whereas the albums around them are largely nu-metal inspired chugging (Soundtrack) or alternative rock strumming (Battles). Otherwise, I loved hearing your interpretation of all these songs.

[@rafazantis9160]

dope video dude

[@ThomasHogue]

Thanks!