Moonshield

Single infobox
Name = Moonshield


Caption =
Artist = In Flames
from Album = The Jester Race
Released = 1996
Recorded = November 1995
Genre = Folk metal
Melodic death metal
Length = 5:01, 2:38 (Trigger)
Label = Nuclear Blast
Writer = Jesper Strömblad
Producer = Fredrik Nordström In Flames
Last single =
This single =
Next single =

"Moonshield" is a song by the melodic death metal group In Flames, featured on their second studio album, "The Jester Race". It is the first song on the album, except in the Japanese release. Moonshield is 5:03 minutes long. According to allmusic.com, it is one of the top death metal songs of all time. [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=77:384~T3 allmusic ] ]

Although the meaning of the lyrics remain obscure, one popular interpretation is as follows: "Moonshield" refers to the Sun (sunlight makes the Moon invisible during the day). The protagonist has been overcome by depression and yearns for the brightness and hope ("moonshield" or sunlight) of long gone days while he contemplates his "end" (which may indicate suicide). The song features long acoustic interludes and melodies inspired by Swedish folk music, two trademarks for In Flames' music at the time.

The song was written by Jesper Strömblad and features Anders Fridén on vocals, Jesper Strömblad and Glenn Ljungström on guitar, Björn Gelotte on drums and Johann Larsson on bass.

An instrumental electronic version of Moonshield was found on "Trigger"

References