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.
Paralyzed
In Flames Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feeding on us
There's no sympathy
Breeding the hate
Turn away
Run away
And it tears away our hearts and our soul
It's like we're on our own
To figure out
Cast out
Paralyzed
Rewind
There's no time
The wasteland it's an indication
We're only taking turns
Passing around the world
It's how it's always been
Out of excuses
Will we understand?
That we're on our own
To figure out
Cast out
Paralyzed
This time
We have found the wasteland
Out of excuses
Will we understand?
It's like we're on our own
To figure out
Cast out
Paralyzed
This time
We have found the wasteland
The wasteland
The lyrics to In Flames's song Paralyzed represent a sense of helplessness and despair felt by the singer in the face of the problems in the world. The vultures descending and feeding on them represent the negative aspects of society and how no one has any sympathy or concern for the suffering of others. Breeding the hate is a metaphor for how the negativity and problems in the world continue to grow and spread, causing more harm and pain.
The repeated refrain of being on our own and cast out emphasizes the feeling of isolation and loneliness that the singer feels. They see themselves as being paralyzed and unable to do anything to change the situation. The wasteland referred to in the lyrics represents a world that has been destroyed by hate, greed, and lack of concern for others. The singer realizes that there are no excuses and that it is up to them and others to understand the situation and take action to make a change.
Line by Line Meaning
Vultures descend
Predatory beings swoop down towards us
Feeding on us
They consume our weaknesses and vulnerabilities
There's no sympathy
No compassion is shown towards our suffering
Breeding the hate
This cycle of violence and negativity perpetuates anger and animosity
Turn away
Avoid confronting the issues at hand
Run away
Desire to escape the problems, rather than facing them head-on
From all the things we have to do
We are overwhelmed by the magnitude of our responsibilities
And it tears away our hearts and our soul
The constant stress and strain causes both emotional and spiritual damage
It's like we're on our own
We feel isolated and unsupported
To figure out
We must navigate through this on our own and find a solution
Cast out
We may feel excluded from society or abandoned by our loved ones
Paralyzed
Feeling powerless to take action and make a change
Rewind
We wish we could go back in time and change what brought us to this point
There's no time
We are running out of time to fix our problems
The wasteland it's an indication
The barren and desolate landscape represents the state of our world
We're only taking turns
No one person or nation has the power to fix everything; we must all contribute
Passing around the world
Sharing the earth and its resources amongst ourselves
Out of excuses
We can no longer justify our inaction or apathy
Will we understand?
Do we have the capacity to comprehend the magnitude of our world's problems?
This time
Now, in the present moment
We have found the wasteland
We have finally recognized the dire situation and must take action
The wasteland
The deteriorating state of our world
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ANDERS FRIDEN, BJORN GELOTTE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheAmicableMammal
Matthew Cohn No, you're not the only one. That doesn't mean a lot of people wouldn't disagree with you. Like me.
That 'first singer' - as you call him - is the legend Mikael Staane from Dark Tranquility. He has a far more 'character'ful growl than Anders in my view. And better cleans (Misery's Crown, anyone?) Anders sounds kind of whiny and weak compared to Stanne. and just kind of ... whispers his cleans? Kind of a cop out.
I have pretty much every IF album, and DT too, so don't get me wrong, I love both bands, I just think Staane is the better singer. And early IF sounds like generic death metal???! WTF, Lunar Strain? I guess folky violin parts like on Hargalaten and Starforsaken is "generic death metal"??? When was the last time Cannibal Corpse did that? Hahaha! :P
"They don't have as much melody in the old stuff"??? What, when they used to be Melodic death metal, you mean???! As opposed to 'modern groove/alternative rock', now? Educate yourself, dude!
@lejlaaa430
The scream at the end chills me to the bone every time I hear it. So epic!
@erikjorgensen2528
Their progression, musically, throughout the years, both as a band and individuals, is absolutely amazing. Their music always has been a staple in my music collection and will continue to be one. This is just another showing of how creative they are as a collective.
@MINDFREAK368
I started out with old In Flames, but loved every single record they've put out.
@carljames571
liar!!!!
@errorcode99
I can't imagine how much pain you have endured...
Still, your money- uhhh loyalty must be greatly appreciated by In Flames.
@john050994
+Unguided Reaper I see no reason you are criticizing him. he, at least to me, has said nothing wrong. you seem to be the asshat in this situation. and a person can listen to whatever they want and voice their own opinions. and this applies to you as well. but what you said doesnt really seem like an opinion. more like simply insulting someone for nothing because you have, what is my guess, some unchecked rage and agression that you havent dealt with. you should work on being a better person. thats just my opinion though.
fucking fantastic band though. while I am privy to their old sound. their newer stuff is still great. its just a different sound.
keep your volume high, your strings tuned low. and dont forget to slapp that bass.
@pouffycheese
Die hard fan! I let it and make it grow on me! I mean shit, it's all over my skin. I've got an In Flames half sleeve. I love it every day of my life. In Flames somehow kept me sane and alive through all my teenage angst, anxiety, and depression. I love them with every ounce of my body.
@FL3MSH4DY
I started midway and love past and present 🤘
@LoneWanderer686
Although I miss old In Flames, their new style isn't that bad. For example, Come Clarity is an album that I didn't like at first but it grew on me and nowadays I think that it's amazing!
They are a little box of surprises.
@959tolis626
Dude, I've been thinking exactly that. Every album they've released the past 10 years or so sounds different from what came before it. Sometimes that's bad, sometimes that's good. But at least we aren't hearing the same stuff again and again and I like their creativity, even when it doesn't pay off. I for one loved Siren Charms, even though my first impression was that it was total crap. It grew on me, like you said. Now, is it their best work? No, not even close. But is it bad? Nope, not even close again.
I guess people will continue whining no matter what. If their style remained unchanged after all these years, people would be saying that they've stagnated and have no creativity. To each their own I guess.