The early 2000s was was a big time for metalcore here in America, and one of the big inspirations behind that sound was that of Swedish melodic death metal act In Flames. Along with acts like At The Gates and Dark Tranquility, In Flames helped introduce to the world to melodic death metal (also known as Gothenburg melodic death).
During a recent interview with Blabbermouth, ex-In Flames guitarist Jesper Strömblad (who is now the guitarist for The Halo Effect), was asked about what has kept Gothenburg melodic death relevant to this day; he is also interviewed alongside The Halo Effect guitarist Niclas Engelin. Jesper and Niclas speak to the modern Swedish melodic death metal bands who are super popular today, like that of Arch Enemy, Amon Amarth, and Soilwork. Eventually though, the interviewer then brings up American metalcore bands of the early 2000s that pulled inspiration from Gothenburg melodic death. This is the interviewer’s exact question:
“Another component here is all the American bands who popped up 20 years ago and used your melodic ideas. Did you see that as thievery or take it as an honor?”
Jesper is the only one who replies to this question, and shares the following: “It was more of a tribute. It was amazing you could hear it and the members of the successful American bands who mentioned Swedish bands as their influence. From little Sweden, we have been part of creating this genre of metalcore, like Killswitch [Engage] and As I Lay Dying. It’s an honor to be a part of creating this.”
What are your thoughts on the early 2000s metalcore scene here in America? What bands of that era do you think pull the most inspiration from Swedish melodic death metal?
Starting in September, The Halo Effect will be embarking on an European and U.K. tour with Amon Amarth and Machine Head. In Flames will also be hitting the road – with that of Orbit Culture, Vended, and Fit For An Autopsy – for a North American tour soon. You can find all the dates and locations associated with the In Flames tour below.
9/6 — Boston, MA – Big Night Live
9/7 — New York, NY – Webster Hall
9/8 — Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom
9/9 — Alston, VA – Blue Ridge Festival**
9/10 — Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore
9/12 — Quebec, Quebec – Theatre Capitole
9/13 — Montreal, Quebec – Corona Theatre
9/14 — Toronto, Ontario – Danforth Music Hall
9/15 — Ft. Wayne, IN – Piere’s Entertainment Center
9/16 — Milwaukee, WI – The Rave
9/17 — Minneapolis, MN – Skyway Theatre
9/19 — Pontiac, MI – Crofoot Ballroom
9/20 — Green Bay, WI – Epic Event Center
9/22 — Chicago, IL – House of Blues
9/23 — Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life**
9/25 — Birmingham, AL – Furnace Fest**
9/27 — Sauget, IL – Pop’s
9/28 — Lawrence, KS – Granada Theater
9/29 — Wichita, KS – The Cotillion
930 — Lincoln, NE – Bourbon Theatre
10/2 — Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium*
10/4 — San Francisco, CA – Warfield Theatre*
10/8 — Riverside, CA – Riverside Municipal Auditorium*
10/9 — Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium*
10/10 — Tempe, AZ – The Marquee*
10/12 — Dallas, TX – The Factory Deep Ellum
10/13 — Houston, TX – Warehouse Live*
10/15 — Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live*
10/16 — Atlanta, GA – The Tabernacle*
*With Meshuggah
**Festival Date