Take This LifeIn Flames1rank/position

In Flames – Take This Life (Official Music Video)

Among the bands that infused the brutality of death metal with the aesthetic stylings of traditional heavy metal to create what would later be called melodic death metal, one of the most famous names in the Nordic melodeath scene is surely Sweden’s In Flames.

The style of melodeath they pioneered in the 1990s—known and beloved in Japan as the Gothenburg sound—went on to powerfully inspire American hardcore bands in the 2000s, sparking the so-called metalcore boom, a development that is highly significant in the broader history of heavy metal.

With that context in mind, I’d like to introduce Take This Life, the opening track from their 2006 masterpiece Come Clarity, a work born as In Flames themselves moved closer to modern metalcore, shifting from their traditional melodeath approach toward alternative metal.

It’s a classic that combines their early aggression with distinctly Nordic melodicism, fluid interweaving guitars, and modern heaviness.

The album’s release on the prestigious Ferret Music label—home to many American punk-affiliated bands—also helped the group break through in the U.

S.

, making this track a catalyst for their stateside success.

That unique sense of melancholy so adored by American bands is, after all, something quintessentially Scandinavian.

Behind SpaceIn Flames2rank/position

In Flames – Behind Space

A song by the Swedish melodic death metal band In Flames.

While it is death metal, its defining characteristic is a sound that reflects influences from Swedish traditional folk, such as harmonized twin-lead guitar phrases and the incorporation of waltz-like rhythms.

This melancholic yet not merely aggressive track was one of the catalysts for the genre’s boom in Japan.

Come ClarityIn Flames3rank/position

In Flames – Come Clarity [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

A fierce, heartrending, and grand track from In Flames, the Scandinavian melodic death metal superstars.

This band has had a tremendous influence on later scenes such as metalcore and screamo.

It’s a masterpiece that fuses the hard-edged elements of metal with the Nordic sense of desolation into a seamless whole.

In FlamesIn Flames4rank/position

In Flames – In Flames (Lunar Strain Track 06)

In Flames today is thoroughly alternative metal, but their first album, Lunar Strain, is a classic of melodic death metal.

Since they’ve moved away from death metal these days, I recommend their early albums for fans of the genre.

Man Made GodIn Flames5rank/position

In Flames – Man Made God

This is an instrumental track by In Flames, an outstanding metal band from Scandinavia.

Not only is the melodic lead guitar great, but the wistful acoustic guitar that comes in during the interlude is also really cool.

Highly recommended for rock fans.

Meet Your MakerIn Flames6rank/position

IN FLAMES – Meet Your Maker (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

In Flames are a Swedish metal band that pioneered melodic death metal and have continued to evolve their sound.

“Meet Your Maker,” a track from their 14th album Foregone, cranks up the tension with an aggressive ensemble that recalls the band’s roots.

Its striking riffs featuring a noisy guitar tone and melodies that move between clean vocals and death growls are impossible for metal fans to ignore.

It’s a gem of a metal tune, with a superb contrast between beauty and madness.