Lunar Strain
Encyclopedia
Lunar Strain is the debut album by Swedish
melodic death metal
band In Flames
. In this release, vocals were sung by Mikael Stanne
, the vocalist of Dark Tranquillity
, who was a session musician for In Flames at the time. The album is known for its "folky
elements" with the inclusion of violin
s and acoustic guitars
. Three of the songs are re-recorded versions of tracks from the band's 1993 demo.
In 1999, it was re-released in Japan
and included all the tracks of the Subterranean
album, under the title Lunar Strain & Subterranean.
In the 2003 Regain Records version of the re-release, the songs order differs slightly with "Clad in Shadows" being the second track shifting the rest down by one. However, the discrepancy is not apparent in album track listing, being mislabeled as the below.
The album was re-released, and remastered with bonus track
s in 2005 under Regain Records
and Candlelight Records
USA with the same artwork but the more modern logo seen from the album Reroute to Remain
to Come Clarity
. The bonus tracks are actually from In Flames' 1993 Promo, which contained "alternative mixed versions of the album recordings."
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
melodic death metal
Melodic death metal
Melodic death metal is a heavy metal music style that combines elements from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with elements of death metal. The style was developed during the early and mid-1990s, primarily in England and Scandinavia...
band In Flames
In Flames
In Flames is a Swedish heavy metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1990. Since the band's inception in 1993, they have released ten studio albums and one live DVD...
. In this release, vocals were sung by Mikael Stanne
Mikael Stanne
Bengt Mikael Stanne is the vocalist for the Swedish melodic death metal band Dark Tranquillity and the ex-vocalist for Swedish power metal band HammerFall.-Dark Tranquillity:...
, the vocalist of Dark Tranquillity
Dark Tranquillity
Dark Tranquillity is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Gothenburg. They are one of the longest-standing bands from the original Gothenburg metal scene, and are one of the most integral pioneers of the melodic death metal genre of music....
, who was a session musician for In Flames at the time. The album is known for its "folky
Folk metal
Folk metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that developed in Europe during the 1990s. As the name suggests, the genre is a fusion of heavy metal with traditional folk music...
elements" with the inclusion of violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
s and acoustic guitars
Steel-string acoustic guitar
A steel-string acoustic guitar is a modern form of guitar descended from the classical guitar, but strung with steel strings for a brighter, louder sound...
. Three of the songs are re-recorded versions of tracks from the band's 1993 demo.
In 1999, it was re-released in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and included all the tracks of the Subterranean
Subterranean (album)
Subterranean is an MCD released by the Swedish melodic death metal band In Flames in 1995. This is the only release with vocalist Henke Forss. It was remastered and re-released in 2003 by Regain Records...
album, under the title Lunar Strain & Subterranean.
In the 2003 Regain Records version of the re-release, the songs order differs slightly with "Clad in Shadows" being the second track shifting the rest down by one. However, the discrepancy is not apparent in album track listing, being mislabeled as the below.
The album was re-released, and remastered with bonus track
Bonus track
In terms of recorded music, a bonus track is a piece of music which has been included on specific releases or reissues of an album. This is most often done as a promotional device, either as an incentive to customers to purchase albums they might otherwise not, or to repurchase albums they already...
s in 2005 under Regain Records
Regain Records
Regain Records is a Swedish based independent record label. The label predominantly releases death metal and black metal albums. Regain Records was founded from what remained of the former label, Wrong Again Records, by Per Gyllenbäck in 1997...
and Candlelight Records
Candlelight Records
Candlelight Records is an independent record label based in Europe founded by former Extreme Noise Terror bassist Lee Barrett, though it has had a division in the United States since January 2001. Candlelight Records specialises in black metal and death metal, having bands such as Emperor,...
USA with the same artwork but the more modern logo seen from the album Reroute to Remain
Reroute to Remain
-Personnel:In Flames*Anders Fridén – vocals & mixing*Jesper Strömblad – guitar*Björn Gelotte – guitar*Peter Iwers – bass guitar*Daniel Svensson – drumsOther Personnel*Maria Gauffin - co-vocals on "Metaphor"*Örjan Örnkloo – keyboards, programming...
to Come Clarity
Come Clarity
- In Flames :* Anders Fridén – vocals* Björn Gelotte – guitar * Jesper Strömblad – guitar * Peter Iwers – bass* Daniel Svensson – drums- Guests :* Örjan Örnkloo – keyboards and programming...
. The bonus tracks are actually from In Flames' 1993 Promo, which contained "alternative mixed versions of the album recordings."
Track listing
(Note: Track 10 on the original release "Clad In Shadows" became Track 2 on this re-release (this was not shown on the tracklist)so each track after track 2 ended up being credited as the track before, it, e.g. "Clad In Shadows", Track 2, was still credited as "Lunar Strain", "Lunar Strain" was credited as "Starforsaken", and so on).Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 1999 | CD | Toy's Factory Toy's Factory is a Japanese record label founded in 1990 as a VAP subsidiary, based in Japan. It has since become an independent company.-Sub-Labels:* bellissima!* Carnage* Deep Blue* Idyllic* Kimi* Meme Tokyo* -Artists:*Aobozu*Armageddon*Bump of Chicken... |
| World | 2003 | CD | Regain Records Regain Records Regain Records is a Swedish based independent record label. The label predominantly releases death metal and black metal albums. Regain Records was founded from what remained of the former label, Wrong Again Records, by Per Gyllenbäck in 1997... / Candlelight Records Candlelight Records Candlelight Records is an independent record label based in Europe founded by former Extreme Noise Terror bassist Lee Barrett, though it has had a division in the United States since January 2001. Candlelight Records specialises in black metal and death metal, having bands such as Emperor,... |
| World | 2005 | CD | Regain Records / Candlelight Records |
In Flames
- Mikael StanneMikael StanneBengt Mikael Stanne is the vocalist for the Swedish melodic death metal band Dark Tranquillity and the ex-vocalist for Swedish power metal band HammerFall.-Dark Tranquillity:...
– lead vocals - Jesper StrömbladJesper StrömbladClas Håkan Jesper Strömblad is a Swedish musician who is currently the guitarist for the bands Dimension Zero & The Resistance...
– guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, drums - Glenn LjungströmGlenn LjungströmGlenn Ljungström was the original guitarist of the Swedish melodic death metal band In Flames along with the band's founder, Jesper Strömblad. He was a member of In Flames from 1993 until 1997, after which he quit In Flames to support his family with a more stable job. He was fired from multiple...
– guitar - Johann Larsson – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Carl Näslund - Guitar
Guests
- Ylva Wåhlstedt – violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
s, violaViolaThe viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average... - Jennica Johansson - vocal appearance
- Oscar DronjakOscar DronjakOscar Fredrick Dronjak is the rhythm and lead guitarist and founder of the Heavy Metal band HammerFall. Prior to the success of HammerFall, he also played and released albums with the death metal acts Ceremonial Oath and Crystal Age....
– vocal appearance
Production credits
- All music by Jesper StrömbladJesper StrömbladClas Håkan Jesper Strömblad is a Swedish musician who is currently the guitarist for the bands Dimension Zero & The Resistance...
and Glenn LjungströmGlenn LjungströmGlenn Ljungström was the original guitarist of the Swedish melodic death metal band In Flames along with the band's founder, Jesper Strömblad. He was a member of In Flames from 1993 until 1997, after which he quit In Flames to support his family with a more stable job. He was fired from multiple...
(except "Hårgalåten", traditional song). - All lyrics by Mikael StanneMikael StanneBengt Mikael Stanne is the vocalist for the Swedish melodic death metal band Dark Tranquillity and the ex-vocalist for Swedish power metal band HammerFall.-Dark Tranquillity:...
. - Produced by In FlamesIn FlamesIn Flames is a Swedish heavy metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1990. Since the band's inception in 1993, they have released ten studio albums and one live DVD...
. - Engineered by H. Bjurkvist, Fredrik NordströmFredrik NordströmBjörn Tom Fredrik Nordström, born on 5 January 1967, is a Swedish record producer and guitar player for the heavy metal band Dream Evil. Nordström is one of the leading melodic death metal producers in Sweden, and he has worked with some of the genre's top acts, including At the Gates, Arch Enemy,...
and J. Karlsson. - Mixed by In Flames and Fredrik Nordström.
- Premastered by StageTech.
- Cover art and photos by Kenneth JohanssonKenneth JohanssonKenneth Johansson is a Swedish Centre Party politician, member of the Riksdag since 1998.-References:...
. - Earth photo by NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
. - Additional photos by Henrik Lindahl.
- Sculpture by M. Olofgörs, installed at Näsholmen, GotlandGotlandGotland is a county, province, municipality and diocese of Sweden; it is Sweden's largest island and the largest island in the Baltic Sea. At 3,140 square kilometers in area, the region makes up less than one percent of Sweden's total land area...
, 1993. - Layout by Local Hero Music.
- Distribution in ScandinaviaScandinaviaScandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
by House of Kicks.