Jester Race: Reloaded [Enhanced, Extra tracks, Original recording remastered]

In Flames | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 10, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced, Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
• Label: Nuclear Blast Americ
• ASIN: B001EG4T24
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,522 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

IN FLAMES THE JESTER RACE / BLACK-ASH INHERITANCE

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive In Flames album, re-reissued, June 18, 2010

By 

Justin Gaines (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jester Race: Reloaded (Audio CD)

Originally released in 1995, The Jester Race was the third album from Swedish death metal band In Flames. If you only know the band from their recent work, you may be surprised to hear what they sounded like back in the 90's, when they played melodic death metal and were regarded as one of the best at it.

I actually enjoy the band's newer albums, but they don't remotely compare to the perfection they unleashed in the few short years between The Jester Race, Whoracle and Colony. Devastating rhythms were paired with Maiden-esque melodies for a completely accessible, but completely heavy brand of death metal. These are melodies that will be running through your head days after you hear the album, and not in an annoying way.

The Jester Race is really the point where what you'd consider the Gothenburg sound was crystallized. The album is just a level beyond where In Flames was at with Lunar Strain (Dig) and Subterranean, in terms of melodies and songwriting as well as the vocals. Anders Friden was one of the best death metal vocalists because he never really had that Cookie Monster sound. It's less brutal than those first two albums, but I still think what the band was doing at this point is legendary.

Even though I prefer Whoracle (it was my first death metal album), The Jester Race really is the definitive In Flames album, and has to be considered the benchmark for melodic death metal (at least post-Slaughter of the Soul). It's a must-have In Flames album, a must-have melodic death metal album, and one that most metal fans really need to own.

Edition Notes: Nuclear Blast reissued The Jester Race in 2002, adding the Black Ash Inheritance EP as bonus tracks and remastering the sound. Other than the very cheap-looking digipack, it's an ideal reissue.

Edition Notes 2: Nuclear Blast reissued The Jester Race yet again in 2009 as part of their Re-gouged, sorry - Re-loaded, series. It's essentially the same as the 2002 reissue, only now it comes in one of those weird "super jewel cases" instead of the digipack. If you already have the 2002 reissue, there's no reason to replace it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dont believe the 1 star review!, May 4, 2011

By 

TheFreakofMetal - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jester Race: Reloaded (Audio CD)

This is a great example of melodic death metal at it's finest! The only people who could be pissed off by such an album are those who think that black metal is the best thing since sliced bread. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up!

5.0 out of 5 stars InFlames CD - Jester Race, January 17, 2012

By 

divinebee - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Jester Race: Reloaded (Audio CD)

The CD was a purchase for my son for Christmas. As far as I know he is enjoying the CD.