The Jester Race
The Jester Race is the second studio album by metal band In Flames, released in February 1996. It is the first album to feature Anders Fridén as the band's vocalist, Björn Gelotte as the drummer, and Jester Head as the band's mascot.
The album was the band's second full-length album released following the more mainstream success of their 1995 EP, Subterranean. The Jester Race was recorded at Studio Fredman by Fredrik Nordström, who also contributed keyboards for the album.
This album ranked #79 on the website Metal Rules' list of 100 Greatest Metal Albums. It is considered a classic album of the melodic death metal genre, along with At the Gates' Slaughter of the Soul and Dark Tranquillity's The Gallery, exhibiting the dual guitar leads, growled vocals and acoustic sections typical of the genre.
A remixed version of the song "Moonshield" was released on the EP Trigger. A video for the song "Artifacts of the Black Rain" was also released.Track listing
Personnel
In Flames
- Anders Fridén − vocals
- Jesper Strömblad − lead guitars, acoustic guitars & keyboards
- Glenn Ljungström − lead guitars
- Johan Larsson − bass & backing vocals
- Björn Gelotte − drums & lead guitars
Guest appearances
- Fredrik Nordström − keyboards
- Oscar Dronjak − vocal appearance on Dead Eternity
- Fredrik Johansson − lead guitar on December Flower
- Kaspar Dahlqvist − keyboards on Wayfaerer
Production and composition
- Produced by Fredrik Nordström and In Flames.
- Lyrical concept and song titles collaborated by Niklas Sundin and Anders Fridén.
- Lyrics on Dead Eternity by Jocke Göthberg.
- Engineered by Fredrik Nordström and Patrik Hellgren.
- Mastered by Staffan Olofsson.
- Logo by Glenn Ljungström.
- Artwork by Andreas Marschall.
- Photos by Kenneth Johansson.
- Layout by M&A Music art.
