Founding In Flames guitarist Jesper Strömblad left the band in 2010 and there was a fairly noticeable shift in their sound shortly after. Obviously In Flames has been doing just find post-Strömblad, considering they've leaned into a more accessible sound and have toured with some huge name, but still – new In Flames and old In Flames are two separate beasts.
In an interview with Scars And Guitars, Strömblad said he decided to leave In Flames due to a disagreement on the band's sound. Strömblad cites one specific show where he felt he'd rather be in the crowd than on stage, which was the moment he decided it was probably time to quit.
"[That] one was too much hassle… Not 'hassle', but we were going in two completely different directions. I wanted to stay death metal-ish and certain individuals wanted to go more radio friendly. And it was not a good time in the band, so I decided to leave, actually. Because I felt when I was on tour… I remember one of the last shows I did, I was watching the audience and I wished I was one of the guys in the audience. 'I don't wanna stand up here.' And I didn't feel that it was fair to the people who come to see the band. And it was not fair to me or the other members. That's when I decided to leave."
On modern In Flames, Strömblad added he feels a little of the "soul" is gone, but notes that guitarist and songwriter Björn Gelotte is still doing a great job. It's just different, you know?
"They drastically changed. Maybe not the album after, but the later ones that came out. But they still have Björn… Something got lost, of course — something got lost. When I left, Björn was without his [songwriting partner]. He did everything himself, and they did a great job, I think. But for me, a little bit the soul disappeared, and it doesn't have to do with me, but it has to do with [the fact that] the last original member left the band, I think a little bit. But they're still doing great. They're an institution. They still play to huge crowds at festivals and are doing a good job and have great musicians with them."
Sure, In Flames made some classic melodic death metal records in the '90s, but it's worth considering that those core albums came out over 20 years ago. So even if Strömblad was still in the band, would people still complain that In Flames got too far away from stuff like Colony and Whoracle?
