Whoracle

Infobox Album |
Name = Whoracle
Type = studio
Artist = In Flames


Released = November 18, 1997
Recorded = 1997
Genre = Melodic death metal
Length = 44:29
Label = Nuclear Blast
Producer = Fredrik Nordström
In Flames
Reviews = Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ze7m96oogep7 link]
Last album = "The Jester Race"
(1996)
This album = "Whoracle"
(1997)
Next album = "Colony"
(1999)

"Whoracle" is the third album by the Swedish melodic death metal band In Flames. The album was released through Nuclear Blast on November 18, 1997. Apart from "Everything Counts", which is a cover of a Depeche Mode song, all songs were composed and arranged by In Flames. The lyrics were written by Dark Tranquillity guitarist Niklas Sundin, and are based on a concept conceived by Anders Fridén.

Concept

Whoracle is a concept album which describes the past, present, and a hypothetical future of the planet Earth. "Jotun" is a foreshadowing of the main concepts where a society is crushed and broken after an apocalyptic event. "Episode 666" seems to be the narration of this apocalyptic event which is, perversely, televised. The songs leading up to this tell a story of the rise and fall of a global society. "The Hive" and "Jester Script Transfigured" describe this technologically advanced society and a utopian new world order which is demolished by human nature in the next two songs. The inclusion of the Depeche Mode cover, "Everything Counts", is a poignant way to imply that the people who built then destroyed their society realized their folly after it was too late.Fact|date=July 2007

Track listing

# "Jotun" – 3:53
# "Food for the Gods" – 4:21
# "Gyroscope" – 3:26
# "Dialogue With the Stars" – 3:00
# "The Hive" – 4:03
# "Jester Script Transfigured" – 5:46
# "Morphing Into Primal" – 3:05
# "Worlds Within the Margin" – 5:06
# "Episode 666" – 3:45
# "Everything Counts" (Depeche Mode Cover) – 3:17
# "Whoracle" – 2:44
* Japanese and Korean Bonus Tracks:12. "Goliaths Disarm Their Davids":13. "Acoustic Medley":14. "Behind Space - Live"
* Deluxe Edition Bonus Track:12. "Clad in Shadows '99" - 4:13
* LP Bonus Track:6. "Re-cycles" - Acoustic Medley renamed [ [http://www.inflamesdiscography.com/whoracle.htm The Complete In Flames Discography | An encyclopedia for the collector and completist on all things In Flames ] ]

Other personnel

Musicians

*Anders Fridén - Vocals, percussion, engineer
*Bjorn Gelotte - drums, percussion, lead and acoustic guitar
*Johan Larsson - bass guitar
*Glenn Ljungström - rhythm guitar
*Jesper Strömblad - lead and acoustic guitar, keyboards, percussion
*Ulrika Netterdahl - female vocals on "Whoracle"

Other personnel

*The "Whoracle" concept conjured and verbalized by Niklas Sundin and Anders Fridén.
*Lyrics written by Niklas Sundin following original synopsis by Anders Fridén.
*All music composed and arranged by In Flames except "Everything Counts" by Martin Lee Gore.
*Recorded and produced by Fredrik Nordström with assistance from In Flames.
*Engineered by Anders Fridén and Fredrik Nordström.
*Mixed by Fredrik Nordström and Anders Fridén.
*Mastered by Goran Finnberg and Fredrik Nordstrom at the Mastering Room Gbg.
*Cover artwork by Andreas Marschall.
*Photos by Kenneth Johansson.
*All songs published by Prophecies Publishing Hamburg except "Everything Counts".
*"Everything Counts" published by Grabbing Hands Music Ltd, sub-published by EMI Music Germany.
*All the song lyrics were written in, except "Episode 666" in which the lyrics for "Morphing Into Primal" were listed again under that title.

Notes