10 Most Overrated Metal Albums Of The 90s

10. In Flames - Lunar Strain (1994)

In the illustrious pantheon of Swedish melodic death metal, In Flames can be likened as the Metallica of the scene, in that their foray into a more melodic and commercial sound from a once revered and iconic one, has split fans and critics for generations.

Like Metallica, fans of In Flames remain pretty loyal to the act's first four albums; 'Lunar Strain', 'The Jester Race', 'Whoracle' and 'Colony'. While such output helped to sculpt the Gothenburg metal scene - alongside compatriots At the Gates and Dark Tranquility - there is one that just doesn't hold up quite like the others.

On the assumption that you have already read the title of this entry, you will know that I am of course referring to In Flames' 1994 debut.

Missing most mainstay creative members in Peter Iwers, Björn Gelotte, Daniel Svensson, and Anders Fridén, 'Lunar Strain' is a chaotic mish-mash of raw death metal, NWOBHM, black metal, and folk that lacks any real finesse and polish of latter-day In Flames.

Early riff tropes that are later perfected by Gelotte and Jesper Strömblad are the only clues that link 'Lunar Strain' to the rest of the band's back catalogue in an otherwise torrid affair that sounds like how biting a ball of tinfoil feels.