In Flames - Whoracle
1997 Nuclear Blast America

Track Listing:
1.  Jotun
2.  Food For The Gods
3.  Gyroscope
4.  Dialogue With The Stars
5.  Hive
6.  Jester Script Transfigured
7.  Morphing Into Primal
8.  Worlds Within The Margin
9.  Episode 666
10. Everything Counts
11. Whoracle

Line-Up:
Vocals:  Anders Friden
Guitars:  Björn Gelotte, Jesper Strömblad
Bass:  Johan Larsson
Drums:  Glenn Ljungstrom

Website: www.inflames.com

Skin Splitter's Rating:  C-
Overall Rating:  C-

Also be sure to read:
In Flames - Clayman by Shev
In Flames - Come Clarity by Follow The Hollow
In Flames - Reroute To Remain by Skin Splitter
In Flames - Soundtrack To Your Escape by Skin Splitter

Skin Splitter's Review:
Because you asked for it and I suffered through it, you are now going to read about Whoracle from In Flames.  Using a style which is a combination of death metal and Iron Maiden guitar work, In Flames as a band creates some really melodic, good music.  The kind of music that should be in movies with dragon slayers and Scottish sheep hills.  Indeed the music rocks this much ass this side of a hayride.  How good is the guitar work?  Very.  It flows very well and both guitars work off one another.  As one lays down chords, the other follows suit with matching modes which almost has the guitars telling a story all their own.  The bass is pretty good and the drum work is basic, but acceptable, because too much drum work would take away from the beauty of the guitars.

So, why don't I love it?  As with any style of music there are two parts in my eyes, the music and the vocals, and there is the problem.  I can't make it through any In Flames CD (with the exception of Reroute To Remain in which guitar difficulty went WAY down) in one sitting, is because of the vocals.  They don't seem to go with the music very well and they just end up pissing me off.  With such melodic music, the vocals really rape my attention away from the good stuff and leaves me with more to be desired.  Why?  Well, my only guess can be that... as opposed to Arch Enemy, Soilwork or other bands of similar style, music speed must be the answer.  The slow melodic style of music laid down in Whoracle with grunt/screaming vocals only leads to the vocals standing out too much and takes away from the beauty of the music.  It's really sad.  The music really grabs your attention but the vocals take it all back.  Maybe I should be lenient on them because putting any vocals over music like this is tough, but then again they're professionals and get paid to do this, so nah......

Song summaries include:

1. Jotun - First song sounds like a combination of Iron Maiden and Megadeth.  Seems like it's gonna really be good.  Then comes the vocals...Shut up, you're not helping!  C

2. Food For The Gods - This song has more tempo so it's more tolerable with the vocals.  Drums pick up as well.  Getting Better. B

3. Gyroscope - One of those intros involving D&D characters and such.  Old 80's fist pumping fun, but once again the vocals come.  Since the vocals are shorter than usual, it's not that bad.  B

4. Dialogue With The Stars - Instrumental, and a very good one.  Possibly my favorite song on the album.  B+

5. Hive - An up tempo beat that really saves this one.  However, by this time, this song sounds like the three before it.  So, it's almost old hat.  C

6. Jester Script Transfigured - Good acoustic work (yes I like acoustic work you cynical bastard) and few vocal interruptions (the whispering style helps this song out).  B+

7. Morphing Into Primal - This one sounds very close to Food For The Gods.  So if you liked that song, you'll like this one.  B

8. Worlds Within The Margin - Slow song.  Grunting vocals, and some keyboards that really piss me off.  Oh, man...  D

9. Episode 666 - Try to tune out the singer.  Just try to listen to the music.  You can't do it can you?  Neither can I.  C-

10. Everything Counts - Really dig the intro on this one.  A simpler song for them but it's not half bad.  C+

11. Whoracle - Another instrumental so you know by now I'm going to love it.  And I do.  Not anything too difficult on the guitar, but better drum work and some choir singing make this one a good space out/relaxing song.  B (F if you hate relaxing music).

Skin Splitter's Rating:  C-

Discography (last updated 6.2.06):
Lunar Strain - 1994
Subterranean EP - 1994
The Jester Race - 1995
Black Ash Inheritance EP - 1997
Whoracle - 1997
Colony - 1999
Clayman - 2000
The Tokyo Showdown - 2001
Reroute To Remain - 2002
Trigger EP - 2003
Soundtrack To Your Escape - 2004
Come Clarity - 2006