Sounds of a Playground Fading

According to Anders, this album features increasingly wide vocal registers and reduced growls.{{cite web|author=Kim|title=Sounds Of A Playground Fading|url=http://kimkahn.blogspot.com/2011/01/sounds-of-playground-fading.html|publisher=Kim bloggar|accessdate=1 February 2011|date=14 January 2011|archive-date=8 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708045157/http://kimkahn.blogspot.com/2011/01/sounds-of-playground-fading.html|url-status=live}} In addition, some of the album's songs "pretty much go against the hard rock formula."

The entire album was written by Björn Gelotte. The guitar solos, unlike most other albums, were able to be pre-planned out and worked much better according to the in-studio report.

The band revealed the cover art, track listing and first single, "Deliver Us", on their official Facebook page in April and May 2011. Then on 3 June 2011, aol.com streamed the entire album on their music network.{{cite web|author=Kim|title=In Flames - Sounds Of A Playground Fading - Streaming|url=http://www.metalcallout.com/metal-news/in-flames-sounds-of-a-playground-fading-streaming.html|publisher=Metal CallOut|accessdate=3 June 2011|date=3 June 2011|archive-date=2 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902195211/http://www.metalcallout.com/metal-news/in-flames-sounds-of-a-playground-fading-streaming.html|url-status=live}} In Flames performed the album on their European tour with support from Noctiferia,{{cite web |url=http://www.rocbloc.com/2011/05/19/in-flames-announces-fall-european-tour/ |title=RocBloc | News: In Flames announces fall European tour |website=www.rocbloc.com |access-date=30 June 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120908123935/http://www.rocbloc.com/2011/05/19/in-flames-announces-fall-european-tour/ |archive-date=8 September 2012 |url-status=dead}} as part of the "Defenders of the Faith III" tour, with bands Trivium, Rise to Remain, Ghost and Insense,{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/metal-hammer|title=Metal Hammer | Louder|website=Metal Hammer Magazine|access-date=13 November 2019|archive-date=24 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090724101234/http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/john-bush-rejoins-anthrax-for-sonisphere/|url-status=live}} and with Trivium in their North American Tour.{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/in-flames-trivium-north-american-tour-dates-announced/|title=In Flames, Trivium: North American Tour Dates Announced|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105005744/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/in-flames-trivium-north-american-tour-dates-announced/|website=Blabbermouth|date=7 November 2011|archive-date=5 January 2015|access-date=4 July 2021}}

Four music videos were filmed including the lead single "Deliver Us"{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTiQ75HY0DA | title=IN FLAMES - Deliver Us (OFFICIAL VIDEO) | website=YouTube | date=20 May 2011 }} and "Where the Dead Ships Dwell"{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylfn0o66jwM | title=IN FLAMES - Where the Dead Ships Dwell (OFFICIAL VIDEO) | website=YouTube | date=28 October 2011 }} both released in 2011 while "Ropes"{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDexCGGuIs0 | title=In Flames - "Ropes" | website=YouTube | date=30 May 2013 }} and "Sounds of a Playground Fading"{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CLA2M54gtw | title=IN FLAMES - Sounds of a Playground Fading (OFFICIAL VIDEO) | website=YouTube | date=19 September 2013 }} were also filmed but not released until 2013.

The track "Deliver Us" was featured in the soundtrack to the 2013 video game Saints Row IV.

Sounds of a Playground Fading received generally positive reviews. Review aggregate website Metacritic gave the album a 68 out of 100 based on six professional critics.

Sounds of a Playground Fading debuted at number 27 on the US Billboard 200 album chart, number 2 on the Top Hard Rock chart, number 7 on the Top Rock chart, and number 5 on the Top Independent chart. It also debuted at number 1 of the Media Control German Albums chart, and at number 12 of the Billboard Canadian Albums chart.

All music written by Björn Gelotte and all lyrics by Anders Fridén. All songs arranged by In Flames.{{cite web|title=In Flames - In The Studio Episode #2| date=28 April 2011 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2vbxZMS6Uo&feature=feedu|publisher=In Flames Youtube Channel|accessdate=5 May 2011|archive-date=24 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140624184253/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2vbxZMS6Uo&feature=feedu|url-status=live}}

{{track listing

| title1 = Sounds of a Playground Fading

| length1 = 4:44

| title2 = Deliver Us

| length2 = 3:31

| title3 = All for Me

| length3 = 4:31

| title4 = The Puzzle

| length4 = 4:34

| title5 = Fear Is the Weakness

| length5 = 4:07

| title6 = Where the Dead Ships Dwell

| length6 = 4:27

| title7 = The Attic

| length7 = 3:18

| title8 = Darker Times

| length8 = 3:25

| title9 = Ropes

| length9 = 3:42

| title10 = Enter Tragedy

| length10 = 3:59

| title11 = Jester's Door

| length11 = 2:38

| title12 = A New Dawn

| length12 = 5:52

| title13 = Liberation

| length13 = 5:10

|total_length = 53:58

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Japanese edition

| title14 = Deliver Us (Instrumental Version)

| length14 = 3:31

|total_length = 57:29

}}

{{track listing

| headline = iTunes deluxe edition

| title14 = Darker Times (Eagleclaw Remix)

|note14=

| length14 = 5:45

| title1 = Deliver Us

| length1 = 3:31

| note1 = music video

|total_length = 59:43

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Deluxe edition DVD

| title1 = Recording 'Sounds of a Playground Fading{{'-}}

| length1 = 27:28

| note1 = studio report

}}

{{track listing

| headline = 2014 reissue

| title14 = Darker Times (Eagleclaw Remix)

|note14=

| length14 = 5:45

| title15 = The Puzzle (Big Chocolate Remix)

|note15=

| length15 = 3:43

| title16 = Where the Dead Ships Dwell (Casper Remix)

|note16=

| length16 = 4:05

| title17 = Where the Dead Ships Dwell (The Qemists Remix)

|note17=

| length17 = 5:12

| title18 = Where the Dead Ships Dwell (Kristof Bathory – Dawn of Ashes Remix)

|note18=

| length18 = 4:46

|total_length = 77:29

}}

;In Flames

• Anders Fridén – vocals
• Björn Gelotte – guitar
• Peter Iwers – bass
• Daniel Svensson – drums, percussion
• Niclas Engelin – guitar (credit only)

;Production

• Anders Björler – filming, editing and directing ("In the Studio"/studio report)
• Johannes Bergion – cello on "A New Dawn"
• Roberto Laghi – producer
• Örjan Örnkloo – keyboards and samples
• Dave Correia – album cover art

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite web| title = In Flames Signs with Century Media Records| work = Blabbermouth.net| publisher = Roadrunner| date = 28 March 2011| url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=155956| access-date = 28 March 2011| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110810135527/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=155956| archive-date = 10 August 2011}}

{{cite web| title = In Flames: New Album Artwork, Track Listing Revealed| work = Blabbermouth.net| publisher = Roadrunner| date = 13 April 2011| url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=156750| access-date = 13 April 2011| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110417015541/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=156750| archive-date = 17 April 2011}}

}}

{{In Flames}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2011 albums

Category:Century Media Records albums

Category:In Flames albums