The Halo Effect is the new band featuring ex-In Flames guitarists Jesper Strömblad and Niclas Engelin, bassist Peter Iwers, drummer Daniel Svensson, and vocalist Mikael Stanne (who was In Flames' live vocalist in 1994 and performed on both Lunar Strain and Subterranean). According to Stanne in an interview with Tomar Uma, The Halo Effect originally started out as a side project and has now become a full-blown band. And despite not even releasing their debut album Days Of The Lost yet, the band is already looking toward their next record!
"It is definitely a new band. It started out as a project or an idea, but because of the time we had, I think we made it into a proper band and we wanna treat it as such because we want to make sure that we do everything we possibly can to make this as good as it possibly can be. We wanna do some tours; we wanna do cool festivals. And we're already starting to plan for more recordings and the next album and that kind of stuff. So everybody's just excited. And because it felt good and we were on a roll… You really can't hold Niclas and Jesper back once they get started. So they've already started writing new stuff. Let's keep up. It's gonna be a lot of work [laughs] the next couple of years, that's for sure."
The Halo Effect will release Days Of The Lost on August 12. In a recent interview, Iwers made it clear that there's no rivalry between the band and modern day In Flames. He added that The Halo Effect simply exists for the love of the music, and that not being a part of In Flames anymore is like being divorced.
"No, no, no. It couldn't be further from the truth. Somebody said it to me perfectly… When you get that question, well, it's like talking about your ex-wife. You had it, it was great at the time, but then you moved on. So The Halo Effect started out of love for music — not at all to spite anybody or to create some rivalry; nothing like that at all. And it needs to be said, and it probably will be said a bunch of times. The love for music and the love for each other is a hundred percent what it's all about."
Catch The Halo Effect on tour with Amon Amarth and Machine Head at one of the below dates.
9/8 – Nottingham, Arena
9/9 – Cardiff, Arena
9/10 – Loon, Wembley Arena
9/12 – Mancheer, Arena
9/13 – Dublin, 3 Arena
9/16 – Zurich, Hallenadion
9/17 – Vienna, Adalle
9/18 – Krakow, Tauron Arena
9/20 – Tallinn, Saku Arena
9/21 – Helsinki, Ice Hall
9/23 – Oslo, Spektrum
9/24 – Ockholm, Hovet
9/26 – Copenhagen, Forum Black Box
9/27 – Hamburg, Barclays Arena
9/28 – Frankfurt, Fesalle
9/30 – Oberhausen, König Pilsener Arena
10/1 – Berlin, Velodrom
10/2 – Amerdam, Afas Live
10/4 – Milano, Lorenzini Dirict
10/6 – Barcelona, Sant Jordi
10/7 – Madrid, Vialegre
10/8 – La Coruna, Coliseum
10/9 – Lisbon, Campo Pequeno
10/12 – Paris, Zeni
10/14 – Munich, Olympiahalle
10/15 – Leipzig, Arena
10/16 – Prague, Tipsport Arena
10/18 – Budape, Barba Negra
10/20 – Esch Sur Alzette, Rockhal
10/21 – Brussels, Fore National
10/22 – Uttgart, Schleyerhalle