UMUR "Lunar Strain" is the debut full-length studio album by Swedish melodic death metal act In Flames. The album was released through Wrong Again Records in April 1994. In Flames was formed by guitarist Jesper Strömblad (also drums and keyboards on this release) in 1990 as a side-project where he wanted to explore a more melodic version of death metal. Something he wasn´t able to do in his then main act Ceremonial Oath. After leaving the latter in 1993, he started assembling a lineup for In Flames, but initially wasn´t able to find a suitable vocalist and therefore Mikael Stanne from Dark Tranquillity sung on the 1993 demo. An arrangement which was continued on "Lunar Strain".

The music on the 10 track, 36:43 minutes long album is indeed melodic oriented death metal. Loads of harmony guitar themes, leads, and an overall epic atmosphere. There are also quite a few folk elements featured in the music like the occasional use of violins and acoustic guitars. The vocal style is an aggressive and relatively high pitched growling type of vocals, and they provide the music with just a slight touch of black metal (there are a few female vocals featured on the album too). A track like "Upon an Oaken Throne" even touches thrash metal territory, so In Flames are relatively eclectic on "Lunar Strain". Artists like Necrophobic, Dissection, and Unanimated aren´t completely wrong as references, although In Flames doesn´t embrace blasphemous/anti-Christian lyrics, but instead opt for a fantasy universe.

The quality of the material is very high throughout and "Lunar Strain" overall features a relatively good flow too. The sound production could have been better, but the album is still relatively well sounding, and the sound suits the music pretty well. The band is well playing too, and upon conclusion "Lunar Strain" is not only a promising debut release by In Flames, it´s also a very high quality release in it´s own right. Especially considering that it´s a debut release. A 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is deserved.

The Angry Scotsman When I hear In Flames I think of generic mainstream metal. Which is a shame because after daring to explore their older stuff I realized that they produced some great music! Shame they sold out, but that is for later....

This is the debut album from In Flames and it is quite an interesting one! A melodic death metal album, (one of the earliest examples I know of) this album has the drop C crushing guitar, growling and portions of double bass drumming of death metal, but overall less intense and well, melodic.

The song writing is quite good, and while has a death metal feel does not sacrifice musicianship for brutality. This album used 3 guitarists which, one (very heavy one) playing rhythm while the other 2 weave in an out playing lead. Sometimes playing in harmony as well. The solo's are melodic (but with some touches of shred), and there is a decent bit of folk music on here, which really makes the album unique.

There is a good amount of acoustic guitar on here, which will kick in on the stop of a dime. It is some beautiful musicianship. In fact Hårgalåten is a purely acoustic song with female vocals and a chilling solo! You'll also hear some violin on here! It gave my friends quite a surprise to hear a "celtic folk song" as one said LOL then it bursts into death metal. One song is purely violin and is brilliant. You'll just have to listen to find it though!

A great album! Only draw backs is Everlost, part 1 and 2 which are a bit boring and uninspired. Weak tracks. However, outside those all the rest is great. Death metal, but with musicianship over brutality. May be a turn off to some but for the rest there is some unique, and well crafted music here!

Four Stars