Swedish metal band In Flames has officially entered the studio to begin recording their fifteenth studio album. Confirmation came through social media posts shared on Facebook.
The band’s guitarist Björn Gelotte announced the recording process with a simple but significant message. Their engineer provided additional details about the drum recording sessions.
“XV,” Gelotte said in his social media post accompanying a studio video.
Band engineer Mike Plotnikoff also shared updates from the recording sessions. He focused on the drum work being completed.
“Drums have begun,” Plotnikoff said, sharing a photo of drummer Jon Rice’s kit in the Los Angeles studio.
This marks an important milestone for In Flames as they work on their fifteenth studio release. Drummer Jon Rice, who has been touring with the band since May 2025, is now officially recording the drum parts for the new album.
The recording sessions come as the band continues to evolve their sound and approach to music creation. Gelotte has been vocal about the band’s commitment to artistic integrity and their satisfaction with recent work.
Metal Injection reported that Gelotte has expressed confidence in the band’s creative direction, particularly regarding their previous album Foregone. The guitarist emphasized the importance of creating music that satisfies the band members themselves rather than external expectations.
“Yeah, it’s obviously the best one we ever did,” Gelotte said about Foregone, adding that they make music “to our liking.”
The band’s current lineup represents a significant evolution from their earlier years. Metal Injection noted that former guitarist Jesper Strömblad departed in 2010 partly due to the band’s shift from their original guitar/riff-based melodic death metal approach. Strömblad, who left after recovering from alcohol addiction, recently opened up about his departure from the group.
“We simply went different directions,” Strömblad noted, reflecting on the band’s musical evolution that ultimately led to his exit from In Flames.
The upcoming fifteenth album will showcase how In Flames has continued to develop their sound over the decades. Jon Rice’s drumming marks another chapter in the band’s ongoing musical journey.
