In Flames is a Swedish melodic death metal band, formed by guitarist Jesper… Read Full Bio ↴In Flames is a Swedish melodic death metal band, formed by guitarist Jesper Strömblad in Gothenburg in 1990. Alongside At the Gates and Dark Tranquillity, In Flames pioneered the genres known as Swedish death metal and melodic death metal.

During the band's early years, In Flames had a varying group of musicians recording with them, including many session musicians. By the release of Colony (1999), the group had established a stable lineup. Their sixth studio album Reroute to Remain (2002) showed the band moving toward a newer style of music that moved further away from melodic death metal and closer to alternative metal. This decision was criticized by fans of the group's heavier metal sound; however, it increased the band's mainstream audience and bolstered their album sales. As of 2008, In Flames has sold over two million records worldwide.

Since the band's inception, In Flames have released thirteen studio albums, three EPs, and two live DVDs, their latest release being their thirteenth studio album I, the Mask in 2019. In Flames has been nominated for three Grammis Awards. They won two of these nominations; one for Soundtrack to Your Escape (2004) in the "Hard Rock/Metal of the Year" category, and one nomination for their following album Come Clarity (2006) in the same category.

10-Everything Counts
In Flames Lyrics

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The handshake seals the contract
From the contract there's no turning back
The turning point of a career
In Korea being insincere
The holiday was fun-packed
The contract still intact

[Chorus:]

The grabbing hands grab all they can
All for themselves after all
The grabbing hands grab all they can
All for themselves after all
It's a competitive world
Everything counts in large amounts

The graph on the wall
Tells the story of it all
Picture it now see just how
The lies and deceit gained a little more power
Confidence taken in
By a suntan and a grin

[Chorus:]

Everything counts in large amounts

The grabbing hands grab all they can
Everything counts in large amounts

Overall Meaning

In Flames's cover of Depeche Mode's "Everything Counts" features lyrics that provide commentary on the problematic nature of the modern corporate world. The opening lines depict a business contract, which when sealed is impossible to undo. This is followed by a reference to Korea, where sincerity is taken as a virtue. The juxtaposition is a critique of the cutthroat nature of the Western corporate world where sincerity often takes a back seat to competition. The holiday referenced in the following line is likely a metaphor for the party-like culture of modern corporations, despite the contractual obligations that remain in place.

The subsequent chorus and the repeated line "Everything counts in large amounts" are criticisms of capitalism and the grab-all-you-can mentality that can often be associated with it. Grabbing hands symbolize the greedy nature of corporations, who take as much as they can, without much thought to the impact on others or society as a whole. The graph on the wall mentioned in the song shows how small lies and deceit can accumulate power over time. The suntan and grin are further examples of the superficiality of corporate culture.

Overall, the lyrics to "Everything Counts" provide a scathing critique of corporate culture and the negative impact of greed and superficiality in modern society.

Line by Line Meaning

The handshake seals the contract
The agreement is finalized by a handshake

From the contract there's no turning back
Once the contract is signed, there is no way to undo it

The turning point of a career
This moment is crucial for the career's trajectory

In Korea being insincere
Lack of honesty can be common in some cultures

The holiday was fun-packed
The vacation was full of exciting activities

The contract still intact
The agreement has not been broken

The grabbing hands grab all they can
People try to accumulate as much as possible

All for themselves after all
Individualism prevails

It's a competitive world
Competition is fierce and constant

Everything counts in large amounts
Every little detail matters

The graph on the wall
The chart depicts the situation