Jester Race

In Flames | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 11, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nuclear Blast Americ
• ASIN: B000000H1K
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (64 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #214,025 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant use of melodies., May 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Jester Race (Audio CD)

One of my favorite new school death metal bands. This band from Gothenburg, Sweden are one of the originators of the melodic black/death style (along with fellow Swedes: Dissection, Dark Tranquillity and the now disbanded At the Gates). In Flames are a little different to the aforementioned bands in their brilliant use of melodies. TJR is choke full of melodies, from the opening acoustic intro of opener "Moonshield", the beautiful instrumental "The Jester's Dance", to the last track "Dead God In Me", all the songs are rich with melodies. The two guitarists use a lot of twin harmonies, sometimes one guitar playing a slightly different riff, always doing interesting things with their instruments. "Lord Hypnos" is one example of the incredible dueling guitar work. The incredibly clear production captures this perfectly. The leads are also always pleasing, heavier on melodies than on flashiness or forced complexity. I have to admit that their musical style brings to mind Helloween and some Iron Maiden but done in a much more brutal way, carrying the intensity of death metal all the way. The vocals of new throat-man, Anders Friden (sang on Dark Tranquillity's debut - Ed) are a shrieky cry combining growling and black metal style shrieks. Very brutal, desperate and complements the music. This powerful vocal delivery is maintained throughout the album. In Flames' rhythm section is not too brutal or fast, just midpaced and quite standard fare. No fancy rolls and fills, just a steady rhythm as foundation for the rampaging guitars. Mind you, the drums and bass are not weak by any standard. I thoroughly enjoyed this album and this is definitely very high on my playlist. The combination of melodies and heaviness is just right. I have to admit that this is the first album I heard featuring Gothenburg melodic black/death and I was so impressed I practically sought after any album from bands playing this thrilling style.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quite simply a classic., August 1, 2003

By 

Tim "Yo" (Wellington, NZ.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jester Race (Audio CD)

This is one of the best albums I've ever owned and a pure, unadulerated metal classic to boot. From the opening acoustic medly intro of Moonshield you know that there is something special about this album. The following song consists of amazing melodic leads and tasteful growling (Anders used to be pretty good at it), as well as a gorgeous calm acoustic section in the middle. The next song, the instrumental The Jester's Dance, has mind-bendingly melodic guitar harmonies and it just beautiful. Artifacts of the Black Rain has amazing leads, as does Graveland, Lord Hypnos, Dead Eternity...there are no weak songs here.

December Flower...WHOA. This song is goddamn amazing. It goes at like 10x speed at the start then settles into an awesome groove with nice growling, then in the middle throws the most AMAZING solo ever recorded at you. This solo alone is worth buying the album before...it is my favourite solo of all time. The song The Jester Race is also a classic. A intensely catchy song, the intro is awesome and it has a nice little solo at the end.

Wayfaerer is the best instrumental that In Flames ever recorded, very heavy and groovy, and once again absolutely fantastic leads and even some mad keyboard action in there. Dead God in Me is also worthy for mention, for its dancing guitars and awesome riffage, as well as a midsection so groovy and awesome you can't help but tap your foot.

This album has it all. Spectacular guitars. Great Lyrics. Awesome songwriting. The Jester's Race is one of the first melodic metal albums I ever acquired and has since become one of those albums that just doesn't get old to me. The Gallery by Dark Tranquillity is one such classic as well, but whereas that album has weird song structures, The Jester's Race is easier to follow, but the riffs are just infectious. There are no things weak with this album.

Its a shame that In Flames started to slowly drift downhill...but I would also recommend the following three albums after this one. Get this album and learn the true beauty of metal.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the greatest melodic heavy metal albums ever., October 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Jester Race (Audio CD)

I first heard about this band when I was getting in to Dark Tranquillity. I really like them and I heard that former vocalist Anders Fridén is now with In Flames so I decided to check them out. And I am glad I did because this is one of my favorite melodic albums. Every song is brilliantly drawn out. Not many bands today come close to matching these guitar riffs. My favorite songs would have to be "Artifacts of the black rain", "Dead Eternity", "Moonshield", and "December Flower". When I first started to listen to this type of heavy metal I had to get used to the vocal style. I quickly grew to enjoy it. So take my advice. If you like heavy metal with a melodic edge, or even like other music, get this album.