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.
Abnegation
In Flames Lyrics
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Or rather soon to be
I act surprised
Abused in the seas
It's just enough to feed the trees
We believe but we are not free
This wasteland is our prison
I see the bones through your skin
This radiation from within
I grant you
This torn land, I'd rather not live here anymore
I grant you
This torn land, I'd rather not live here anymore
We believe but we can't see
The coming of the storm
I act surprised
There's warnings from time to time
Signs of our only crime
We are the scum of the earth
We plunder and rape
We can't see the new breed
But act like its ours to take
I grant you
This torn land, I'd rather not live here anymore
I grant you
This torn land, I'd rather not live here anymore
We believe but we don't see
I grant you
This torn land, I'd rather not live here anymore
I grant you
This torn land, I'd rather not live here anymore
I grant you
This torn land, I'd rather not live here anymore
I grant you
This torn land, I'd rather not live here anymore
The song "Abnegation" by In Flames explores the theme of human destruction of the environment and its consequences. The opening lines "We believe but we are deceased / Or rather soon to be" suggest that humans have a understanding of the damage they are causing to the earth, but they continue to abuse it anyway. The seas have been abused to such an extent that they can only sustain the trees, indicating a severe depletion of marine life. The second verse further emphasizes the theme of captivity and a sense of being trapped in a wasteland. The singer can see the bones of those around him, indicating that the damage caused by environmental destruction is not limited to the environment, but also creates a harm on the body.
The chorus emphasizes the desire to leave this "torn land," and highlights the severity of the environment's degradation. The lines "We are the scum of the earth / We plunder and rape" further emphasize human destruction and indicate a lack of respect for the planet. The final stanza repeats the chorus twice, emphasizing the singer's desire to leave the land behind because of the disaster humans have wrought upon it.
Line by Line Meaning
We believe but we are deceased
We have faith but we are dead, or will soon die.
Or rather soon to be
Our demise is imminent.
I act surprised
I pretend to be shocked, but I am not.
Abused in the seas
We have been mistreated by the elements of the ocean.
It's just enough to feed the trees
Our remains will fertilize and nourish the earth.
We believe but we are not free
We have faith but we are imprisoned by this desolate land.
This wasteland is our prison
Our barren surroundings confine us.
I see the bones through your skin
Your body is plagued by the effects of exposure to radiation.
This radiation from within
Toxicity is within us.
I grant you
This torn land, I'd rather not live here anymore
I give you this ravaged terrain, as I no longer wish to inhabit it.
We believe but we can't see
We have faith but we are blind to the impending danger.
The coming of the storm
The catastrophe that we cannot perceive.
There's warnings from time to time
We receive occasional signs of the impending disaster.
Signs of our only crime
The signs that we are guilty of our own destruction.
We are the scum of the earth
We are the lowest of the low.
We plunder and rape
We pillage and ravage our surroundings.
We can't see the new breed
But act like its ours to take
We cannot identify the new era or movement, yet we still try to claim it as our own.
I grant you
This torn land, I'd rather not live here anymore
I offer you this damaged land, as I no longer desire to dwell here.
We believe but we don't see
Our faith blinds us to the reality.
I grant you
This torn land, I'd rather not live here anymore
I present to you this destroyed land, as I no longer wish to reside here.
I grant you
This torn land, I'd rather not live here anymore
I bestow to you this devastated land, as I have no desire to make it my home.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Anders Friden, Bjorn Gelotte, Jesper Stromblad
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind