Foregone

On 13 June 2022, In Flames announced they were re-signing with Nuclear Blast and released the single "State of Slow Decay";{{cite web |website=Blabbermouth.net |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/in-flames-releases-new-single-state-of-slow-decay-announces-re-signing-with-nuclear-blast |title=IN FLAMES Releases New Single 'State Of Slow Decay', Announces Fall 2022 North American Tour |date=13 June 2022 |access-date=13 November 2022}} the song was noted for having a sound similar to the band's earlier melodic death metal tracks.{{cite web |website=Revolver |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/hear-flames-new-melodeath-rager-state-slow-decay |title=Hear In Flames' New Melodeath Rager "State of Slow Decay" |date=13 June 2022 |access-date=13 November 2022}}{{cite web |website=Wall of Sound |last=Aarons |first=Ricky |url=https://wallofsoundau.com/2022/06/13/in-flames-returns-with-blistering-state-of-slow-decay-single/ |title=In Flames Returns With Blistering 'State Of Slow Decay' Single |date=13 June 2022 |access-date=13 November 2022}} On 1 August, the band released the single "The Great Deceiver".{{cite web |website=Revolver |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/hear-flames-crushing-new-song-great-deceiver |title=Hear In Flames' Crushing New Song "The Great Deceiver" |date=1 August 2022 |access-date=13 November 2022}} On 15 September, In Flames announced their fourteenth album, Foregone, would be released on 10 February 2023.{{cite web | title=IN FLAMES - announce new album Foregone! | date=15 September 2022 | url=https://www.nuclearblast.com/eu/band/news/in-flames-announce-new-album-foregone-31699 | access-date=15 September 2022}} The same day as the album's announcement, the band released a visualizer for a third single, "Foregone, Pt. 1".{{cite web |website=Consequence |last=Hadusek |first=Jon |url=https://consequence.net/2022/09/in-flames-new-album-foregone-part-one-stream/ |title=In Flames Announce New Album, Unveil "Foregone Pt. 1" |date=15 September 2022 |access-date=13 November 2022}} "Foregone, Pt. 2" was released as the album's fourth single on 7 November along with a music video.{{cite web |website=Blabbermouth.net |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/in-flames-releases-music-video-for-foregone-pt-2 |title=IN FLAMES Releases Music Video For 'Foregone Pt. 2' |date=7 November 2022 |access-date=13 November 2022}} On 16 January 2023, one month before the album release, they unveiled the fifth single "Meet Your Maker" and its corresponding music video.{{cite web |website=Blabbermouth.net |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/in-flames-shares-music-video-for-new-single-meet-your-maker |title=IN FLAMES Shares Music Video For New Single 'Meet Your Maker' |date=16 January 2023 |access-date=17 January 2023}}

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/foregone-mw0003816237|title=In Flames Foregone|work=AllMusic|last=D. Buchanan|first=John|accessdate=26 February 2023}}

| rev2 = Blabbermouth.net

| rev2score = 8.5/10{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/reviews/foregone|title=IN FLAMES Foregone|website=Blabbermouth.net|first=Dom |last=Lawson|date=10 February 2023|accessdate=26 February 2023}}

| rev3 = Distorted Sound

| rev3score = 9/10{{cite web|url=https://distortedsoundmag.com/album-review-foregone-in-flames/|title=ALBUM REVIEW: Foregone – In Flames|website=Distorted Sound|first=Graham |last=Ray|date=7 February 2023|accessdate=10 February 2023}}

| rev4 = Kerrang!

| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/album-review-in-flames-foregone|title=Album review: In Flames – Foregone|website=Kerrang!|first=James |last=Hingle|date=13 February 2023|accessdate=15 February 2023}}

| rev5 = Metal Injection

| rev5score = 9/10{{cite web|url=https://metalinjection.net/reviews/album-review-in-flames-foregone|title=Album Review: IN FLAMES Foregone|website=Metal Injection|first=Max |last=Morin|date=8 February 2023|accessdate=10 February 2023}}

| rev6 = MetalSucks

| rev6score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2023/02/08/review-in-flames-foregone-sparks-a-new-fire/|title=Review: In Flames' Foregone Sparks a New Fire|website=MetalSucks|first=Jakk |last=Mylde|date=8 February 2023|accessdate=10 February 2023}}

| rev7 = Rock Hard

| rev7score = 8.5/10{{cite web|url=https://www.rockhard.de/reviews/in-flames-foregone_599294.html|title=IN FLAMES Foregone|website=Rock Hard|first=Marcus |last=Schleutermann|date=10 February 2023|accessdate=13 February 2023|quote=Melodic-Death-Metal-Nummern wie 'State of Slow Decay', 'Meet Your Maker', 'Foregone, Pt. 1' oder 'The Great Deceiver' machen mit ihren Qualitäten nachdrücklich klar, warum IN FLAMES zu den Gründern des typischen Göteborg-Sounds zählen. Tempo, Härte, Riffing und Melodie stehen hier in einem perfekten Verhältnis zueinander und wecken wohlige Erinnerungen an die frühen Zweitausender, die einige Folk-Schlenker noch verstärken.}}

| rev8 = Rock 'N' Load

| rev8score = 8/10{{cite web|url=https://rocknloadmag.com/news/in-flames-foregone-album-review/|title=In Flames // Foregone // Album Review|website=Rock 'N' Load|date=10 February 2023|accessdate=10 February 2023}}

| rev9 = Rock Sins

| rev9score = 7/10{{cite web|url=https://www.rocksins.com/2023/02/in-flames-foregone-album-review-53229/|title=In Flames – Foregone|publisher=Rock Sins|first=Tasha|last=Brown|date=9 February 2023|accessdate=12 February 2023}}

| rev10 = Wall of Sound

| rev10score = 9/10{{cite web|url=https://wallofsoundau.com/2023/02/03/in-flames-foregone-album-review/|title=In Flames – Foregone (Album Review)|website=Wall of Sound|first=KJ |last=Draven|date=3 February 2023|accessdate=10 February 2023}}

}}

The album has received critical acclaim from numerous publications. AllMusic gave the album a positive review saying, "Foregone [...] has a raw, bass-heavy, crunchy sound, with their usual highly melodic lines and harmonic solos present and correct, and a philosophical tone engendered by the imposed isolation of the COVID-19 lockdown." Dom Lawson from Blabbermouth.net gave the album 8.5 out of 10 and said: "Foregone is the finest album to bear the band's name since at least Come Clarity. Don't be surprised if they make an ambient jazz record next, but right now this sounds like the best of all possible worlds and a late-career triumph." Graham Ray of Distorted Sound scored the album 9 out of 10 and said: "In Flames have finally created an album that mixes their old and new styles together organically. Nothing sounds forced and everything works to almost perfection. Foregone is the best album the band have produced in the last 15-20 years and it's a pleasure to see them back with a fire well and truly lit beneath them." Kerrang! gave the album 4 out of 5 and stated: "Foregone is a reminder that when In Flames are at the peak of their powers, they really are untouchable. This is a record that will see them finally reassert their dominance, and ring in their next colossal era." Metal Injection rated the album 9 out of 10 and stated, "Foregone is a gift to fans who have stuck it out with In Flames all these years, as well as the new fans they've picked up along the way who might be ready for something heavier. It covers every genre and style the band has ever messed around with, bringing them into one cohesive whole. Don't skip any songs on Foregone. There aren't any bad tracks. The album's second half is marginally better than its first, but both are so good it feels unfair to compare them. It will all depend on which era of the band the listener prefers."

MetalSucks rated the album 4.5 out of 5 and said: "While the last few years have been turbulent for those waiting for In Flames to reclaim their mojo, they needn't worry any further. Foregone is a stick of dynamite with a first-place ribbon attached; a sensational rejuvenation that even the staunchest doomsayers will have a hard time picking apart. Even with the faults present, it blends what made the band so good in their prime with the unique components of the current line-up to make an album that stands well within the territory of the best they've put out before it. Rejoice, people, for In Flames have returned – and how." The reviewer for Rock Hard wrote that "Melodic death metal tracks like 'State of Slow Decay', 'Meet Your Maker', 'Foregone, Pt. 1' or 'The Great Deceiver' emphatically point out with their qualities why In Flames are counted among the founders of the typical Gothenburg sound. Tempo, heaviness, riffing and melody are perfectly banlanced here and invoke some cozy memories of the early 2000s, which is even enhanced by a few folky excursions." Rock 'N' Load praised the album saying, "Foregone is a high-class album that might not bring anything new to its discography, but what it does do is show others just how good an album can be from front to back. I'm not convinced that this album falls into the Death Metal arena, more of a Metal offering for the masses to enjoy." Tasha Brown of Rock Sins rated the album 7 out of 10 and said: "Foregone may well become one of those cult albums for some and remain a point of vexation for others. For the moment, however, we fall tentatively within the latter." Wall of Sound gave the album a positive review saying: "The balancing act In Flames have pulled off is pretty impressive, giving just enough of the 'old In Flames' while continuing their evolution beyond the confines of generic death metal. The fact is the band have consistently delivered albums, even with lineup changes, that are damn heavy and progress their connection with their audience."

{{Track listing

| headline = Foregone track listing

| all_lyrics = Anders Fridén and Björn Gelotte

| all_music = Anders Fridén, Björn Gelotte, and Howard Benson

| title1 = The Beginning of All Things That Will End

|note1=instrumental

| length1 = 2:13

| title2 = State of Slow Decay

| length2 = 3:58

| title3 = Meet Your Maker

| length3 = 3:57

| title4 = Bleeding Out

| length4 = 4:01

| title5 = Foregone, Pt. 1

| length5 = 3:24

| title6 = Foregone, Pt. 2

| length6 = 4:30

| title7 = Pure Light of Mind

| length7 = 4:26

| title8 = The Great Deceiver

| length8 = 3:45

| title9 = In the Dark

| length9 = 4:17

| title10 = A Dialogue in B Flat Minor

| length10 = 4:28

| title11 = Cynosure

| length11 = 4:05

| title12 = End the Transmission

| length12 = 3:42

| total_length = 46:46

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Box set edition bonus track & bonus edition

| title13 = Become One

| length13 = 3:28

| total_length = 50:14

}}

In Flames

• Anders Fridén – lead vocals
• Björn Gelotte – guitars
• Chris Broderick – guitars
• Bryce Paul – bass
• Tanner Wayne – drums

Additional personnel

• Howard Benson – production
• Joe Rickard – mixing
• Ted Jensen – mastering
• Mike Plotnikoff - engineer

{{reflist}}

{{In Flames}}

Category:2023 albums

Category:In Flames albums

Category:Nuclear Blast albums

Category:Albums produced by Howard Benson