Sounds of a Playground Fading

Sounds of a Playground Fading
Studio album by In Flames
Released June 15, 2011 (2011-06-15)
(See release dates)
Recorded October 11, 2010–January 25, 2011 at IF Studios, Gothenburg, Sweden
Genre Melodic death metal, alternative metal
Length 53:58
Label Century Media, Razzia
Producer Roberto Laghi, Anders Fridén
In Flames chronology
A Sense of Purpose
(2008)		 Sounds of a Playground Fading
(2011)
Singles from Sounds of a Playground Fading
  1. "Deliver Us"
    Released: May 7, 2011
  2. "Where the Dead Ships Dwell"
    Released: November 14, 2011
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]
Kerrang! [2]
Metal Hammer [3]
Metal Storm [4]
Sputnikmusic [5]
The Tune (2.8/5)[6]
Under The Gun [7]
Metalholic [8]
Metal Underground [9]
Heavy Blog Is Heavy [10]
DrugMetal.ru [11]
Rockfreaks.net [12]

Sounds of a Playground Fading is the tenth studio album by the Swedish heavy metal band In Flames, released on June 15, 2011 through Century Media/Razzia.[13] This is the first album recorded by In Flames without founding guitarist Jesper Strömblad, who left the band in February 2010.[14]

Contents

Background

According to Anders, this album features increasingly wide vocal registers and reduced screams and growls.[15] In addition, some of the album's songs "pretty much go against the hard rock formula."[13]

Writing and recording

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.

Release and promotion

The band revealed the cover art, track listing and first single, "Deliver Us", on their official Facebook page. Then on June 3, 2011, aol.com streamed the entire album on their music network.[16] So far on the 'Sounds of a Playground Fading' European tour In Flames have recently also played the album title track, as well as 'All for Me', 'Fear Is the Weakness', 'Ropes', 'Darker Times' and 'Liberation'.

Reception

Sounds of a Playground Fading debuted at number 27 on the Billboard 200 album chart in the United States. The record also debuted at number 2 on the Top Hard Rock Chart, number 7 on the Top Rock Chart and number 5 on the Top Independent Chart. In addition, it also debuted at Number 1 of the Billboard German Albums chart, and at Number 12 of the Billboard Canadian Albums chart[17]

Track listing

All music written by Björn Gelotte and all lyrics by Anders Fridén. All songs arranged by In Flames.[18]

No. Title Length
1. "Sounds of a Playground Fading"   4:44
2. "Deliver Us"   3:31
3. "All for Me"   4:31
4. "The Puzzle"   4:34
5. "Fear Is the Weakness"   4:07
6. "Where the Dead Ships Dwell"   4:27
7. "The Attic"   3:18
8. "Darker Times"   3:25
9. "Ropes"   3:42
10. "Enter Tragedy"   3:59
11. "Jester's Door"   2:38
12. "A New Dawn"   5:52
13. "Liberation"   5:10
Total length:
 53:58

Personnel

In Flames
Production

Release Dates

Region Date
Sweden 15 June 2011 (2011-06-15)
Germany, Austria, Switzerland & Norway[19] 17 June 2011 (2011-06-17)
Europe (Excluding Spain, Italy, Finland, Hungary)[19] 20 June 2011 (2011-06-20)
North America, Spain & Italy[19] 21 June 2011 (2011-06-21)
Finland & Hungary[19] 22 June 2011 (2011-06-22)
Australia & New Zealand[19] 24 June 2011 (2011-06-24)

References

  1. ^ Monger, James Christopher (2011 [last update]). "Sounds of a Playground Fading In Flames | AllMusic". allmusic.com. http://allmusic.com/album/sounds-of-a-playground-fading-r2219028. Retrieved 20 August 2011. 
  2. ^ "In Flames - Sounds of a Sell-Out Review". Kerrang!. 
  3. ^ "In Flames review". Metal Hammer. http://www.metal-hammer.de/reviews/album-des-monats/article100888/In-Flames.html. Retrieved 16 June 2011. 
  4. ^ "In Flames - Sounds Of A Playground Fading review". Metal Storm. 
  5. ^ "In Flames review". Sputnikmusic. http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/43990/In-Flames-Sounds-Of-A-Playground-Fading/. Retrieved 16 June 2011. 
  6. ^ "In Flames review". The Tune. http://www.thetunemusic.com/2011/06/in-flames-sounds-of-playground-fading.html. Retrieved 15 June 2011. 
  7. ^ "REVIEW: In Flames - Sounds of a Playground Fading". Under The Gun. 
  8. ^ "In Flames review". Metalholic. http://metalholic.co/cd-review-in-flames-sounds-of-a-playground-fading/. Retrieved 21 June 2011. 
  9. ^ "In Flames review". Metal Underground. http://www.metalunderground.com/reviews/details.cfm?releaseid=4663/. Retrieved 21 June 2011. 
  10. ^ Heavy Blog Is Heavy: In Flames - Sounds of a Playground Fading
  11. ^ DrugMetal.ru: In Flames - Sounds of a Playground Fading
  12. ^ In Flames - Sounds of a Playground Fading Rockfreaks.net review
  13. ^ a b "In Flames Signs with Century Media Records". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner. March 28, 2011. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=155956. Retrieved March 28, 2011. 
  14. ^ Jesper Strömblad; Anders, Peter, Daniel & Björn (12 February 2010). "JESPER STRÖMBLAD LEAVES IN FLAMES". In Flames Myspace Blog. http://www.myspace.com/inflames/blog/529042917. Retrieved 1 February 2011. 
  15. ^ "Sounds Of A Playground Fading". Kim bloggar. 14 January 2011. http://kimkahn.blogspot.com/2011/01/sounds-of-playground-fading.html. Retrieved 1 February 2011. 
  16. ^ "In Flames - Sounds Of A Playground Fading - Streaming". Metal CallOut. 3 June 2011. http://www.metalcallout.com/metal-news/in-flames-sounds-of-a-playground-fading-streaming.html. Retrieved 3 June 2011. 
  17. ^ "Sounds of a Playground Fading chart position". billboard.com. July 2011. http://www.billboard.com/charts/hard-rock-albums#/album/in-flames/sounds-of-a-playground-fading/1502312. Retrieved 2011-07-07. 
  18. ^ "In Flames - In The Studio Episode #2". In Flames Youtube Channel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2vbxZMS6Uo&feature=feedu. Retrieved 5 May 2011. 
  19. ^ a b c d e "In Flames: New Album Artwork, Track Listing Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner. April 13, 2011. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=156750. Retrieved April 13, 2011. 
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