Sounds of a Playground Fading
Sounds of a Playground Fading | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 15 June 2011release dates) | (see|||
Recorded | 11 October 2010 – 25 January 2011 | |||
Studio | IF Studios, Gothenburg, Sweden | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 53:58 | |||
Label | Century Media, Razzia | |||
Producer | Roberto Laghi, Anders Fridén | |||
In Flames chronology | ||||
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Singles from Sounds of a Playground Fading | ||||
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Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 68/100[2] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Kerrang! | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Metal Hammer | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Metal Storm | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Sputnikmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Earshot.at | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Sounds of a Playground Fading is the tenth studio album by Swedish heavy metal band In Flames, released on 15 June 2011.[9] It is the first album recorded by In Flames without founding guitarist Jesper Strömblad, who left the band in February 2010,[10] making it also the only In Flames release not to have two guitarists. The album was reissued in 2014, featuring five additional tracks.[11]
Background
[edit]According to Anders, this album features increasingly wide vocal registers and reduced growls.[12] In addition, some of the album's songs "pretty much go against the hard rock formula."[9]
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
[edit]The band revealed the cover art, track listing and first single, "Deliver Us", on their official Facebook page in April and May 2011. Then on 3 June 2011, aol.com streamed the entire album on their music network.[13] In Flames performed the album on their European tour with support from Noctiferia,[14] as part of the "Defenders of the Faith III" tour, with bands Trivium, Rise to Remain, Ghost and Insense,[15] and with Trivium in their North American Tour.[16]
Four music videos were filmed including the lead single "Deliver Us"[17] and "Where the Dead Ships Dwell"[18] both released in 2011 while "Ropes"[19] and "Sounds of a Playground Fading"[20] were also filmed but not released until 2013.
The track "Deliver Us" was featured in the soundtrack to the 2013 video game Saints Row IV.
Reception
[edit]Sounds of a Playground Fading received generally positive reviews. Review aggregate website Metacritic gave the album a 68 out of 100 based on six professional critics.[2]
Commercial performance
[edit]Sounds of a Playground Fading debuted at number 27 on the US Billboard 200 album chart,[21] number 2 on the Top Hard Rock chart,[22] number 7 on the Top Rock chart, and number 5 on the Top Independent chart.[23] It also debuted at number 1 of the Media Control German Albums chart,[24] and at number 12 of the Billboard Canadian Albums chart.[25]
Track listing
[edit]All music written by Björn Gelotte and all lyrics by Anders Fridén. All songs arranged by In Flames.[26]
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 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
14. | "Deliver Us (Instrumental Version)" | 3:31 |
Total length: | 57:29 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Deliver Us" (music video) | 3:31 |
14. | "Darker Times (Eagleclaw Remix)" | 5:45 |
Total length: | 59:43 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Recording 'Sounds of a Playground Fading'" (studio report) | 27:28 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
14. | "Darker Times (Eagleclaw Remix)" | 5:45 |
15. | "The Puzzle (Big Chocolate Remix)" | 3:43 |
16. | "Where the Dead Ships Dwell (Casper Remix)" | 4:05 |
17. | "Where the Dead Ships Dwell (The Qemists Remix)" | 5:12 |
18. | "Where the Dead Ships Dwell (Kristof Bathory – Dawn of Ashes Remix)" | 4:46 |
Total length: | 77:29 |
Personnel
[edit]- In Flames
- Anders Fridén – vocals
- Björn Gelotte – guitars
- Peter Iwers – bass
- Daniel Svensson – drums, percussion
- Production
- Anders Björler – filming, editing and directing ("In the Studio"/studio report)
- Johannes Bergion – cello on "A New Dawn"
- Roberto Laghi – producer
- Örjan Örnkloo – keyboards and samples
- Dave Correia – album cover art
Charts
[edit]Chart (2011) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[27] | 50 |
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[28] | 6 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[29] | 73 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[30] | 53 |
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[25] | 12 |
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[31] | 24 |
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[32] | 4 |
French Albums (SNEP)[33] | 47 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[24] | 1 |
Italian Albums (FIMI)[34] | 67 |
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[35] | 10 |
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[36] | 24 |
Scottish Albums (OCC)[37] | 82 |
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[38] | 41 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[39] | 2 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[40] | 12 |
UK Albums (OCC)[41] | 74 |
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[42] | 6 |
US Billboard 200[21] | 27 |
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[22] | 2 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[23] | 5 |
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[43] | 12 |
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[44] | 7 |
Release dates
[edit]Region | Date |
---|---|
Sweden | 15 June 2011 |
Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Norway[45] | 17 June 2011 |
Europe (excluding Spain, Italy, Finland, Hungary)[45] | 20 June 2011 |
North America, Spain, Italy[45] | 21 June 2011 |
Finland, Hungary[45] | 22 June 2011 |
Australia, New Zealand[45] | 24 June 2011 |
References
[edit]- ^ Mills, Matt (2 August 2023). "Every In Flames album ranked from worst to best". Louder. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ a b "Metacritic Review". Metacritic. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ Monger, James Christopher (2011). "Sounds of a Playground Fading In Flames | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Archived from the original on 15 December 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- ^ "In Flames - Sounds of a Sell-Out Review". Kerrang!.
- ^ "In Flames review". Metal Hammer. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
- ^ "In Flames - Sounds Of A Playground Fading review". Metal Storm.
- ^ "In Flames review". Sputnikmusic. Archived from the original on 9 December 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
- ^ "In Flames - Sounds Of A Playground Fading Review". Earshot.at. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
- ^ a b "In Flames Signs with Century Media Records". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner. 28 March 2011. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
- ^ Jesper Strömblad; Anders; Peter; Daniel; Björn (12 February 2010). "JESPER STRÖMBLAD LEAVES IN FLAMES". In Flames Myspace Blog. Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
- ^ "In Flames – Sounds of a Playground Fading (2014, Digipak, CD)". Discogs. 20 October 2014. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- ^ Kim (14 January 2011). "Sounds Of A Playground Fading". Kim bloggar. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
- ^ Kim (3 June 2011). "In Flames - Sounds Of A Playground Fading - Streaming". Metal CallOut. Archived from the original on 2 September 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
- ^ "RocBloc | News: In Flames announces fall European tour". www.rocbloc.com. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ "Metal Hammer | Louder". Metal Hammer Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 July 2009. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- ^ "In Flames, Trivium: North American Tour Dates Announced". Blabbermouth. 7 November 2011. Archived from the original on 5 January 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "IN FLAMES - Deliver Us (OFFICIAL VIDEO)". YouTube.
- ^ "IN FLAMES - Where the Dead Ships Dwell (OFFICIAL VIDEO)". YouTube.
- ^ "In Flames - "Ropes"". YouTube.
- ^ "IN FLAMES - Sounds of a Playground Fading (OFFICIAL VIDEO)". YouTube.
- ^ a b "In Flames Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ a b "In Flames Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ a b "In Flames Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Offiziellecharts.de – In Flames – Sounds Of a Playground" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ a b "In Flames Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "In Flames - In The Studio Episode #2". In Flames Youtube Channel. Archived from the original on 24 June 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – In Flames – Sounds Of a Playground". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – In Flames – Sounds Of a Playground" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – In Flames – Sounds Of a Playground" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – In Flames – Sounds Of a Playground" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "Danishcharts.dk – In Flames – Sounds Of a Playground". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "In Flames: Sounds Of a Playground" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – In Flames – Sounds Of a Playground". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "Italiancharts.com – In Flames – Sounds Of a Playground". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – In Flames – Sounds Of a Playground". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "Sounds of a Playground Fading". Oricon. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "Spanishcharts.com – In Flames – Sounds Of a Playground". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – In Flames – Sounds Of a Playground". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – In Flames – Sounds Of a Playground". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "In Flames Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "In Flames Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "In Flames: New Album Artwork, Track Listing Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner. 13 April 2011. Archived from the original on 17 April 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2011.