Whoracle
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Whoracle
| type = studio
| artist = In Flames
| cover = In-Flames Whoracle.jpg
| alt =
| released = 18 November 1997{{Cite web|title=Whoracle - In Flames {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/whoracle-mw0000035899|publisher=AllMusic}}
| recorded = 1997
| venue =
| studio = Studio Fredman, Gothenburg, Sweden
| genre = Melodic death metal{{cite web |title=Sputnikmusic review |url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/54748/In-Flames-Whoracle/ |accessdate=8 February 2019}}
| length = 42:29
| label = Nuclear Blast
| producer = Fredrik Nordström and In Flames
| prev_title = The Jester Race
| prev_year = 1996
| next_title = Colony
| next_year = 1999
}}
{{Music ratings
|rev1 = AllMusic
}}
Whoracle is the third studio album by Swedish heavy metal band In Flames, released on 18 November 1997. The title of the album is a portmanteau of the English words "whore" and "oracle".
Apart from "Everything Counts", which is a cover of a Depeche Mode song, all songs were composed and arranged by In Flames. The lyrics were translated by Dark Tranquillity guitarist Niklas Sundin, after Anders Fridén had written them in Swedish.
Whoracle is the final In Flames album to feature Johan Larsson and Glenn Ljungström. It is also the last release with Björn Gelotte playing drums, as he permanently switched to lead guitar in future releases. Fredrik Nordström noted that it was not easy to record at times, since the band members usually preferred drinking beer and playing Tekken 3.At the Gates – Flames of the End DVD Fredrik Nordstörm interview{{better source needed|date=October 2020}}
In 2020, it was named one of the 20 best metal albums of 1997 by Metal Hammer magazine.{{cite web |title=The Top 20 best metal albums of 1997 |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-top-20-best-metal-albums-of-1997/2 |website=Metal Hammer |publisher=Future plc |access-date=6 March 2021 |date=2 December 2020}}
Concept
Whoracle is a concept album which describes the past, present, and a hypothetical future of the planet Earth. "Jotun" is a foreshadowing of the main concepts where a society is crushed and broken after an apocalyptic event. "Episode 666" seems to be the narration of this apocalyptic event which is, perversely, televised. The songs leading up to this tell a story of the rise and fall of a global society. "The Hive" and "Jester Script Transfigured" describe this technologically advanced society and a utopian world which is demolished by human nature in the next two songs. The inclusion of the Depeche Mode cover, "Everything Counts", is a poignant way to imply that the people who built then destroyed their society realized their folly after it was too late.{{Citation needed|date=July 2007}}
Track listing
All lyrics written by Niklas Sundin and Anders Fridén.
{{track listing
| title1 = Jotun
| music1 = Jesper Strömblad, Björn Gelotte
| length1 = 3:53
| title2 = Food for the Gods
| music2 = Glenn Ljungström, Gelotte, Strömblad
| length2 = 4:21
| title3 = Gyroscope
| music3 = Strömblad
| length3 = 3:26
| title4 = Dialogue with the Stars
| music4 = Gelotte, Strömblad
| length4 = 3:00
| note4 = Instrumental
| title5 = The Hive
| music5 = Gelotte, Strömblad
| length5 = 4:03
| title6 = Jester Script Transfigured
| music6 = Strömblad
| length6 = 5:46
| title7 = Morphing into Primal
| music7 = Gelotte, Ljungström, Fridén, Strömblad
| length7 = 3:05
| title8 = Worlds Within the Margin
| music8 = Ljungström, Strömblad
| length8 = 5:06
| title9 = Episode 666
| music9 = Strömblad
| length9 = 3:45
| title10 = Everything Counts
| music10 = Martin Lee Gore
| note10 = Depeche Mode cover
| length10 = 3:17
| title11 = Whoracle
| music11 = Strömblad
| length11 = 2:44
| note11 = Instrumental
|all_writing=|title12=|length12=|title13=|length13=|title14=|length14=|title15=|length15=|title16=|length16=|title17=|length17=|title18=|length18=|title19=|length19=|title20=|length20=|total_length=42:29}}
{{track listing
| headline = Deluxe edition
| title12 = Clad in Shadows '99
| length12 = 2:25
|total_length= 44:54
}}
{{track listing
| headline = Japanese and Korean edition
| title12 = Goliaths Disarm Their Davids
| length12 = 4:58
| title13 = Acoustic Medley
| length13 = 2:33
| title14 = Behind Space - Live
| length14 = 3:36
| total_length= 53:36
}}
{{track listing
| headline = LP bonus track
| title6 = Re-cycles
| note6 = original title: "Acoustic Medley"
| length6 = 2:33
| total_length= 45:02
}}
{{track listing
| headline = 2010 re-issue
| title12 = Goliaths Disarm Their Davids
| length12 = 4:58
| title13 = Jotun (Live)
| length13 = 3:38
| title14 = Food for the Gods (Live)
| length14 = 4:11
| total_length= 55:16
}}
Personnel
;In Flames
- Anders Fridén – vocals, percussion
- Jesper Strömblad – lead and acoustic guitar, keyboards, percussion
- Glenn Ljungström – rhythm guitar
- Johan Larsson – bass
- Björn Gelotte – drums, percussion, lead and acoustic guitar
;Other personnel
- Ulrika Netterdahl – female vocals on song "Whoracle"
- The Whoracle concept conjured and verbalized by Niklas Sundin and Anders Fridén
- Lyrics written by Niklas Sundin following original synopsis by Anders Fridén
- All music composed and arranged by In Flames except "Everything Counts" by Martin Lee Gore of Depeche Mode
- Recorded and produced by Fredrik Nordström with assistance from In Flames
- Engineered by Anders Fridén and Fredrik Nordström
- Mixed by Fredrik Nordström and Anders Fridén
- Mastered by Goran Finnberg and Fredrik Nordstrom at the Mastering Room Gbg
- Cover artwork by Andreas Marschall
- Photos by Kenneth Johansson
- All songs published by Prophecies Publishing Hamburg except "Everything Counts"
- "Everything Counts" published by Grabbing Hands Music Ltd, sub-published by EMI Music Germany