In Flames - Just don't give a F**k in Belgium!

Graspop Festival 

In Flames ***1/2 (Main Stage 2) are a band that we have personally liked for years, so was very surprised to find they had such disregard to the fans. While they were performing people were getting hurt in the crowd and their answer to this was to say "We want to break our record of crowd surfers from last year!!! so let's see more", I understand their is playing a show but when people are getting hurt down the front. You need to know when to stop and say "Wait a second, help your friends out down their and make sure people don't get hurt". I have even heard Randy Blythe (Lamb of God) say this, and he is not known for his caring nature. 

If people that come to your concert and are real fans, can't enjoy it because of people crowd surfing over head... banging them as they go. Then in the long run you are going to loose fans, simple as. So after seeing all of this I really wanted to hate, In Flames performance and mark them down... which to be honest we took a star off for this. But we couldn't too much their set was pretty much spot on for what they do. Opening up with a triple bill of great tracks 'Only for the Weak, Everything's Gone' and the fantastic 'Bullet Ride', showing that they were out to impress musically. Their timing was also spot on so songs like 'Where the dead ships Dwell' and 'Deliver Us', had a certain life to them and really came to life. 

The second of which I really loved hearing, and a long side 'Paralyzed, Cloud Connected' and the mega hit 'The Quiet Place' you could see why they are so high on todays bill. The live sound of songs like 'The Quiet Place' was so huge, and you just wondered who was doing their sound... because it amongst the chaos that was happening around them. It just sound brilliant and made you want to drag out your In Flames albums again. The bands stage show was again bright lights, used in a certain way to enlighten or darken the band. I do think if they want to go to the next level, they will need to add a few more gimmicks to their performance. But for now the crowd seems loving them, and I think they had the maddest of the whole festival. 

'Delight and Angers' is a nice steady edition to the bands set and worked really well being next to 'Rusted Nail' a newer track by the band, which I still think is awaiting some fans approval. These songs are so different in ways but have a flow that works well, when put in a set together. The crowd just go frantic for 'The Mirror's Truth', which is rapidly becoming a live fan favourite. But it is 'Take this Life' and 'My sweet Shadows' which really end things off with a massive bang.

I think In Flames should take a step back in future, and think about the fans a little more rather that themselves. But musically they have got it spot on and are fast becoming a band that you should not miss live. Just take a helmet with you so you don't get hurt. I am sure they will be back at Graspop or another festival again in a few years time, if you want to see them in a festival situation.

Review by Dan Devour and Photo's by Dan Devour and Dezadie

Check Out! the Video for 'Rusted Nail' Below...