The Halo Effect: A Swedish Melodic Death Metal Wet Dream

Ever felt like you miss the good old In Flames days, think back to the early mid-90s with records like The Jester Race? True metal-heads will know that The Lunar Strain came well before The Acacia Strain. With In Flames undergoing lineup and stylistic changes over the years, something new is dawning for the old-school fans, and it could be the start of something incredibly cool.

Swedish melodic death metal band The Halo Effect are born. With some native Gothenburg blood, the band who've signed to Nuclear Blast, consists of five former In Flames members, namely Jesper Strömblad (CYHRA guitarist), Daniel Svensson (drums), Peter Iwers (bass), Niclas Engelin (guitar) and Mikael Stanne (Dark Tranquillity vocals).

For anyone missing that raw Gothenburg melodic death metal sound, this band might be what you've been lacking lately. Before even releasing their very first single, The Halo Effect have already announced their first ever tour with Machine Head and Amon Amarth across the UK/Europe in 2022.

The first look at The Halo Effect is a good one. It's wonderful to hear Stanne's immediately recognisable voice on 'Shadowminds' with Strömblad and the rest of the band leaning into historic sounds. Those Gothenburg hymns are immediately alive, as the band have come together to pour parts of their soul that they've been keeping to themselves for far too long.

Words by Ricky Aarons (@rickysaul90)

Stream 'Shadowminds' here