The Halo Effect – Days of the Lost

Label: Nuclear Blast  Playing Time: 41 Min  Release: 19th August 2022

I guess only a few already know the name The Halo Effect. But when taking a closer look at the lineup of this band, most Metalheads should feel very excited about what’s going on here. The instrumental section mainly consists of former members of the Gothenburg institution In Flames: Jesper Strömblad (git), Peter Iwers (b) and Daniel Svensson (dr). There were a lot or rumors about the reasons why they left In Flames: Musical differences, personal differences, who knows… The shouter is also a former In Flames member: Mikael Stanne (also Dark Tranquillity). The band is being completed by Niclas Enegelin, which is kind of strange. He is (at least officially) still a member of In Flames, where he replaced Jesper Strömblad. Future conflict of interests looming?

Enough of the opening words, now to the more important issue: How does “Days of the Lost” sound? In consideration of the participating musicians it is not surprising that Gothenburg style Melodic Death Metal is the law here. In this case the Gothenburg sound received a modern production and fans will discover several parallels to In Flames’ sound around the millennium change (from “Colony” to “Reroute to Remain”). Hot shit, which In Flames has no longer been recording for several years now. So for all those fans who feel nostalgic about “old” In Flames right now, The Halo Effect are a real alternative. Welcome back, guys!

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