Former in Flames Members’ The Halo Effect Release Debut Single “Shadowminds”
I think it’s safe to say when it was recently announced that five former members of In Flames were launching a new band, The Halo Effect, a lot of us were hoping it would sound more like In Flames than In Flames does these days. Because these days In Flames sounds like they should be called Dumpster Fire.
Based on The Halo Effect’s debut single, “Shadowminds,” our hopes weren’t in vain. The “real” In Flames re-recorded parts of Clayman to “update” the album for its anniversary, but The Halo Effect have produced something that feels far more Claymanish. At worst, “Shadowminds” would have fit in on Come Clarity, which I maintain is a good record (and probably the last decent thing In Flames have released to date). “Shadowminds” is basically what I’m hoping for every time In Flames announce a new album. I think this song is gonna make a lot of people very happy.
Listen to “Shadowminds” below. The Halo Effect’s debut album is due in 2022.
The Halo Effect is:
- Mikael Stanne (vocals)
- Jesper Strömblad (guitar)
- Niclas Engelin (guitar)
- Peter Iwers (bass)
- Daniel Svensson (drums)
Stanne was only a member of In Flames for a brief time in the early ’90s. He appears on their album Lunar Strain, and went on, of course, to front Dark Tranquillity, a band of which he is still a member today.
Strömblad left in In Flames in 2010, and appears on all of their releases up to and including 2008’s A Sense of Purpose. He has been openly critical of In Flames since leaving the band, calling it “a sinking ship” and suggesting that the remaining members should change the name given their new creative direction and how few founding members are left in the line-up.
Iwers left In Flames in 2016 after nearly two decades with the group to “pursue other endeavors.” He started a new band, Cyhra, with Strömblad the following year.
Svensson left In Flames in 2015 after 17 years “to take care and spend more time with the most important people in my life – my wife and my three daughters.”
Engelin, meanwhile, replaced Strömblad in In Flames… but has been sitting out touring with the band since 2019 “due to strong medical advisement.” Chris Broderick (ex-Megadeth, Act of Defiance) has been filling in ever since. It’s not clear if Engelin will ever return to In Flames or not.
The Halo Effect will make their live debut supporting Amon Amarth and Machine Head in Europe next year. Dates are as follows:
Sep. 08 – UK – Nottingham – Arena [tickets]
Sep. 09 – UK – Cardiff – Arena [tickets]
Sep. 10 – UK – London – Wembley Arena [tickets]
Sep. 12 – UK – Manchester – Arena [tickets]
Sep. 13 – IE – Dublin – 3 Arena – [tickets]
Sep. 16 – CH – Zurich – Hallenstadion [tickets]
Sep. 17 – AT – Vienna – Stadthalle [tickets]
Sep. 18 – PL – Krakow – Tauron Arena [tickets]
Sep. 20 – EST – Tallinn – Saku Arena [tickets]
Sep. 21 – FIN – Helsinki – Ice Hall [tickets]
Sep. 23 – N – Oslo – Spektrum [tickets]
Sep. 24 – S – Stockholm – Hovet [tickets]
Sep. 26 – DK – Copenhagen – Forum Black Box [tickets]
Sep. 27 – DE – Hamburg – Barclays Arena [tickets]
Sep. 28 – DE – Frankfurt – Festhalle [tickets]
Sep. 30 – DE – Oberhausen – König Pilsener Arena [tickets]
Oct. 01 – DE – Berlin – Velodrom [tickets]
Oct. 02 – NL – Amsterdam – Afas Live [tickets]
Oct. 04 – IT – Milano – Lorenzini District [tickets]
Oct. 06 – ES – Barcelona – Sant Jordi [tickets]
Oct. 07 – ES – Madrid – Vistalegre [tickets]
Oct. 08 – ES – La Coruna – Coliseum [tickets]
Oct. 09 – P – Lisbon – Campo Pequeno [tickets]
Oct. 12 – FR – Paris – Zenith [tickets]
Oct. 14 – DE – Munich – Olympiahalle [tickets]
Oct. 15 – DE – Leipzig – Arena [tickets]
Oct. 16 – CZ – Prague – Tipsport Arena [tickets]
Oct. 18 – HU – Budapest – Barba Negra [tickets]
Oct. 20 – LUX – Esch zur Alzette – Rockhal [tickets]
Oct. 21 – BE – Brussels – Forest National [tickets]
Oct. 22 – DE – Stuttgart – Schleyerhalle [tickets]
