I had always tried to stay away from death metal. The vocals just didn't work for me, and as a progressive/power metal fan, the death metal genre didn't hold a lot of appeal. That all changed for me when I saw In Flames perform live in 2001. They played with so much power and intensity, and the crowd was so involved, that I couldn't help but be impressed. So when I ran across a copy of their 1997 Whoracle a few weeks later, I decided to give it a try.

Whoracle was the band's fourth album, and is arguably their best work. The melodies are just insane, and combined with the thrashing riffs and Anders Friden's growls (man, I miss when he used to sound like this) just dominate the listener. You can't - not - get into this album. I had Whoracle on permanent rotation for the longest time, so I'm absolutely enthralled by every single track (yes, even the Depeche Mode cover), but my favorites are "Jotun," "Episode 666" and the ungodly stomping monster that is "Worlds Within the Margin."

Needless to say, Whoracle made me an In Flames fan and kicked open the door to many (many) future death metal purchases. Years later, I know there are bands that are more influential (At the Gates), more talented (Insomnium), or that I just plain like better (Dark Tranquillity), but if you were to ask me to name the perfect melodic death metal album, Whoracle is the answer I would give.

Edition Notes: Nuclear Blast issued a Deluxe Edition of Whoracle in 2005, adding the bonus track "Clad in Shadows `99" as well as the "Jotun" video clip and some additional multimedia content. European versions had an easily scratched foil cover, while the eventual US version did not.

Edition Notes 2: Nuclear Blast reissued Whoracle yet again in 2009 as part of their Re-gouged, sorry - Re-loaded, series. It's essentially the same as the 2005 reissue, only now it comes in one of those weird "super jewel cases." If you already have the Deluxe Edition reissue, there's no reason to replace it.

Another great album from In Flames. I would suggest this to any In Flames fan. Good stuff. Enough said. Yada Yada.Yada

Although it is probably impossible to top the heights reached on sophomoric "The Jester Race" in 1996, In Flames' third full-length, "Whoracle," is darn great. The band's now legendary status built on records like this one. (It is every-bit-as-vital to the extraordinarily popular status that they currently enjoy.) Why? Because (not counting anything in their own discography), this 1997 release is one-of-a-kind. Originality, inventiveness, technicality, hooks, musicianship...it's got it all! It is a rare bird that is able to perfectly balance heaviness and melody as successfully as In Flames do, here. Indeed, brilliant songwriting is every-bit-the integral and prominent in this showcase as impeccable performances. Hence, there are more really memorable and individually-distinguishable moments, present in "Whoracle", than I care to ever count. Soaring keyboard and wonderful guitar-fueled melodies are not only always prominently pronounced and propulsive, they are also often the main attraction. This reviewer could go on for pages gushing about these guitar solos. They are about as infectious as you can come by. And you will never hear the same one twice. Furthermore, the band's unique Iron Maiden-derived harmonic twin guitar leads and dogfight soloing would go on to inspire (read: Spawn) an innumerable legion of imitators. Sigh, Cradle Of Filth, Children Of Bodom, God Forbid, Arch Enemy, and Himsa are a handful of examples from the 1990's. And As I Lay Dying, All That Remains, The Black Dahlia Murder, Threat Signal, Bullet For My Valentine, and Dragonforce are some new millennium copycats.

Beginning on a subdued note, "Joturi" traffics in a great, and very rich and lush-sounding guitar line laid over a puddle of thud and increasingly momentous speeds. Hence, it does a swell job at contrasting the band's ample back-up propulsion -- including Anders Friden's signature mean, dissonant, vocal rasps, stop-start time signatures, heavy, lurching rhythms, and thunderous breakdowns - with beautiful guitar textures. Most of the rest of the record is more progressive and melodic; but in no way does this mean it ever skimps on heavy stuff. That is the patented genius behind In Flames - the ability to gradually shift the record to a restrained and pretty-sounding overall mood while at the same time remaining true to their death metal roots.

"Food For The Gods" which comes next, and song number seven, "Morphing Into Primal" are two explosively brutal and rip-roaring death-thrash blitzkriegs that summon Slayer and Kreator influences. And both of these tracks catch the listener completely off-guard. Things briefly ease back so Stromblad can throw in a gorgeous clean guitar solo, but blistering riffs, fast drumming (including the use of some undeniable blast beats at the beginning), and visceral bellowing are the primary fuel for the former. And the latter is backed by similarly frenetic speeds, turbo-charged picking, blazing soloing, and powerful, blast-fast drums. Starting down the other (polar-opposite) path, "Gynoscope" is a lovely, blues-inflected acoustic string arrangement. This, then, flows right into "Dialogue With The Stars" which, in addition to being a fantastic, spell-binding, and epically epic instrumental, is a huge standout, and the possible highpoint and pinnacle of the whole set. And as soon as it is over, it practically begs you to press the "REWIND" button at least once. The fluid, docile, jazzy, docile, and distinctly classical-music-influenced soloing that abounds throughout is just heavenly. So trust me when I say, this: Music do not get much more contagious than this. The same can also be said about the equally-as-great and b-e-a-utiful eponymous piece. This is one more prog-happy instrumental interlude/closer, and a stunning combination of stellar melodic guitar and atmospheric backgrounds with the occasional use of cool, backing clean singing from orchestral/symphonic-like female voices.

Working your way through the rest of the songs, "The How" and "Goliaths Disarm Their Davids" (a bonus track that is included only on the Japanese reissue) again shift In Flames' efforts back to brutal, driving death metal. They are both intent on getting everybody's blood riled-up, again. These two modern thrashers hit hard with fiery, chug-and-churn riffs, heavy bass lines, pounding skins, and deep, propulsive speed metal grooves. It is not uncommon for Anders to drop a nearly monstrous scream, here, too. But, as always, the band is sure to remember and include their typically strong tuneful awareness, thus streaking the arrangements with effective melodic flourishes. True, the latter song does have a lot of delicious shredding, but the wailing, Megadeth/Metallica-by-way-of-Queensryche-ian technical soloing makes "The How" the better of the two. The aforementioned "Morphing Into Primal" not withstanding, most of the album's mid-section again takes on a concertedly more progressive approach. On that note, "Jester Script Transfigured," begins very similarly. It is one part head-trip (with pretty, futuristic, Isis-inspired ambiance and ethereal acoustic strumming), and one part crunchy and bullying Swedish death metal. Next, by falling into a very mid-tempo dirge, After "Morphing," the listener is dealt "Worlds ensures that everything is completely settled way down. And it is also noteworthy for clocking in at the rather lengthy playing-time of five minutes, meaning its scope is sprawling, and its arrangements possess a space-y and laid-back feel. But, immediately after this, the momentum level rockets straight up by the time "Episode 666" and "Everything Counts" roll around. They are similar to "The How" and "Goliaths Disarm Their Davids" (noted above) in that they form a strong pair of brisk, industrial-strength, death-tinged chuggers. The listener is periodically allowed to catch a breath, though, because In Flames, once again, make room for even more well-placed melodical solos and nice, clouds-parting leads.

What is "Whoracle"? Well, it is (to date) the penultimate piece of music ever that these (Gothenburg-based) Swedish/Gothenburg-ian metal mastershave ever written and recorded. It is an iconic melodic death metal milestone -- and one of the best pieces of death metal to see the light of day in the Nineties, too. Hence, it may seem a little obvious to say, but I feel like no review would ever be complete without making sure to note that this is one of the absolute best and most important and timeless melodeath albums in history.

I can't say for certain that this is In Flames' best album, as I'm still making my way through their discography after discovering them in 2008. What I can say is that it has the reputation of being one of their best, and I can see why. I don't find it quite as consistent as The Jester Race, but it does have some higher highs than The Jester Race, particularly the song "Jotun". "Jotun" is my favorite In Flames song right now.

If you like metal at all, I'd seriously recommend this album. I listen to very little that falls anywhere under the death metal banner, but In Flames has quickly become one of my favorite metal bands of all time.