In Flames announce new album Battles

In Flames
In Flames

In Flames have announced that they’ll release their new album entitled Battles later this year.

It will be the Swedish outfit’s 12th album, with the follow-up to 2014’s Siren Charms set to launch on November 11 via Eleven Seven Music.

Guitarist Bjorn Gelotte reports that the record has a very different feel to their previous material – and he puts that partly down to where they recorded the album.

He tells Decibel Magazine: “Siren Charms had a very dark vibe to it. We recorded it at a cold, damp and dark time during the year in Berlin so it gave it a certain melancholy to the record.

“Now, recording in Los Angeles with the sunshine, it’s a different energy. The writing process was different this time, too – that I would like for us to continue to explore.”

Crediting Grammy-nominated producer Howard Benson with his work on Battles, Gelotte adds: “Working with Howard and his team was great. I got stressed taking a break for even five minutes because they were always ready to go for the next take and kept my energy up.”

In Flames have given fans the first taste of what they can expect from the album by releasing a stream of the track The End. Listen to it below.

Gelotte continues: “It’s a fairly straightforward In Flames song. Having said that, it’s a really positive vibe to the song. It’s not a slash-your-wrists kind of vibe – it makes you realise to just make sure you appreciate that moment.”

Further album details will be revealed in due course.

In Flames have a couple of live dates scheduled in November. They’ll then return to the UK for an eight-date tour in early 2017.

In Flames drummer Daniel Svensson left the band last year to spend more time with his family. They have not yet announced his replacement.

Battles artwork

Battles artwork

In Flames tour dates

Nov 06: Mihama Knotfest, Japan
Nov 12: Orlando Kink Music Festival, FL
Jan 10: Glasgow SSE Hydro
Jan 12: Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
Jan 13: Birmingham Genting Arena
Jan 15: Sheffield Arena
Jan 16: Manchester Arena
Jan 18: Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
Jan 19: Cardiff Motorpoint Arena
Jan 21: London Peninsula Square

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Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent more than 30 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, scouts out the best deals for music fans and reviews headphones, speakers, books and more. He's written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog and has previous written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.