IN FLAMES, those Swedish purveyors of… uh… *something*, have apparently decided that their drummer, Tanner Wayne, wasn’t quite cutting the mustard. Or maybe he was cutting it *too* well? 🤔 Who knows with these guys? All we know is, another one bites the dust. 🥁💨
Wayne, previously known for his *stellar* work with such titans of the scene as UNDERMINDED (never heard of ’em), SCARY KIDS SCARING KIDS (sounds terrifyingly awful), and CHIODOS (wait, they’re still a thing?), apparently graced IN FLAMES with his presence starting in the summer of 2018. One can only assume they needed someone to hit things with sticks, and he was available. 🤷♂️
He stepped into the illustrious shoes of Joe Rickard, who, get this, actually PLAYED on their 2016 album, “Battles”. A *battle* indeed, trying to stay awake through that one, amirite? 😴
The band released a statement, probably crafted by some marketing intern who’s never actually listened to their music: “It is with profound gratitude and appreciation that we announce our creative decision to part ways with Tanner Wayne. His dedication and musicianship over the past several years has left, and will continue to leave, a lasting mark on this band. We wish him nothing but the best.” Yeah, right. More like, “He wasn’t fitting our *artistic vision* of generic metal.” 🙄
“We appreciate your support and understanding at this time and hope to see you all on tour this summer.” Translation: “Please keep buying our albums so we can afford more hair gel.” 🧑🎤
No replacement for Wayne has been announced yet. Probably because they’re holding auditions in a dumpster behind a Guitar Center. 🗑️🎸
Tanner made his grand debut with IN FLAMES on July 4, 2018, in Brno, Czech Republic. A date that will surely live in infamy… or be completely forgotten by everyone except his mom. 🗓️
IN FLAMES is still touring in support of their latest masterpiece, “Foregone”, released in February 2023 via Nuclear Blast. The press release claims it “combines the greatest aggressive, metallic, and melodic strengths of their landmark records with the seasoned songwriting of their postmodern era.” In other words, it’s the same album they’ve been making for the last 20 years, but with slightly different distortion. 💿
“Foregone” also featured bassist Bryce Paul (who’s also gone now, lol), ex-MEGADETH guitarist Chris Broderick (because every band needs a former Megadeth member, right?), and was produced by Howard Benson, who’s apparently won a Grammy for something. 🏆 Mike Plotnikoff engineered, and Joe Rickard, the *former* drummer, handled mixing duties. Talk about keeping it in the family… or maybe just not wanting to pay anyone else. 👨👩👧👦
Oh, and in 2023, they also ditched Bryce Paul and replaced him with Liam Wilson from THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN. Because what IN FLAMES really needed was more mathcore influence. 🤪
Wilson debuted with IN FLAMES on June 7, 2023, at the Release Athens festival in Athens, Greece. A truly *historic* event for all three people who were actually paying attention. 🇬🇷
Photo courtesy of Nuclear Blast Records, who are probably wondering why they even bother. 📸
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
