Sounds of a Playground Fading

Sounds of a Playground Fading is the tenth studio album by the Swedish metal band In Flames, released on 15 June 2011.[7] It is the first album recorded by In Flames without founding guitarist Jesper Strömblad, who left the band in February 2010,[8] making it also the only In Flames release not to have two guitarists. The album was reissued in 2014, featuring five additional tracks.[9]

Sounds of a Playground Fading
Studio album by
In Flames
Released15 June 2011 (2011-06-15) (see release dates)
Recorded11 October 2010 – 25 January 2011
StudioIF Studios, Gothenburg, Sweden
GenreAlternative metal
Length53:58
LabelCentury Media, Razzia
ProducerRoberto Laghi, Anders Fridén
In Flames chronology
A Sense of Purpose
(2008)		 Sounds of a Playground Fading
(2011)		 Siren Charms
(2014)
Singles from Sounds of a Playground Fading
  1. "Deliver Us"
    Released: 7 May 2011
  2. "Where the Dead Ships Dwell"
    Released: 14 November 2011
  3. "Ropes"
    Released: 5 February 2013
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic68/100
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Kerrang![2]
Metal Hammer[3]
Metal Storm[4]
Sputnikmusic[5]
Earshot.at[6]

Background

According to Anders, this album features increasingly wide vocal registers and reduced growls.[10] In addition, some of the album's songs "pretty much go against the hard rock formula."[7]

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 in April and May 2011. Then on 3 June 2011, aol.com streamed the entire album on their music network.[11] In Flames performed the album on their European tour with support from Noctiferia,[12] as part of the "Defenders of the Faith III" tour, with bands Trivium, Rise to Remain, Ghost and Insense,[13] and with Trivium in their North American Tour.[14]

The track "Deliver Us" was featured in the soundtrack to the 2013 video game Saints Row IV.

Reception

Sounds of a Playground Fading received generally positive reviews. Review aggregate Metacritic gave the album a 68 out of 100 based on 6 professional critics. It debuted at number 27 on the US Billboard 200 album chart; number 2 on the Top Hard Rock chart, number 7 on the Top Rock chart and number 5 on the Top Independent chart. It also debuted at Number 1 of the Media Control German Albums chart, and at Number 12 of the Billboard Canadian Albums chart.[15]

Track listing

All music written by Björn Gelotte and all lyrics by Anders Fridén. All songs arranged by In Flames.[16]

No.TitleLength
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
Japanese edition
No.TitleLength
14."Deliver Us (Instrumental Version)"3:31
Total length:57:29
iTunes deluxe edition
No.TitleLength
1."Deliver Us" (music video)3:31
14."Darker Times (Eagleclaw Remix)"5:45
Total length:59:43
Deluxe edition DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Recording 'Sounds of a Playground Fading'" (studio report)27:28


2014 reissue
No.TitleLength
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
In Flames
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

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

References
  1. Monger, James Christopher (2011). "Sounds of a Playground Fading In Flames | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Archived from the original on 8 December 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  2. "In Flames - Sounds of a Sell-Out Review". Kerrang!.
  3. "In Flames review". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  4. "In Flames - Sounds Of A Playground Fading review". Metal Storm.
  5. "In Flames review". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  6. "In Flames - Sounds Of A Playground Fading Review". Earshot.at. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  7. "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.
  8. 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.
  9. https://www.discogs.com/de/In-Flames-Sounds-Of-A-Playground-Fading/release/6211453
  10. Kim (14 January 2011). "Sounds Of A Playground Fading". Kim bloggar. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  11. Kim (3 June 2011). "In Flames - Sounds Of A Playground Fading - Streaming". Metal CallOut. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
  12. http://www.rocbloc.com/2011/05/19/in-flames-announces-fall-european-tour/%5B%5D
  13. "Metal Hammer | Louder". Metal Hammer Magazine.
  14. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=165750%5B%5D
  15. "Sounds of a Playground Fading chart position". billboard.com. July 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  16. "In Flames - In The Studio Episode #2". In Flames Youtube Channel. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  17. "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.
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