Editing Whoracle

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Whoracle
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[In Flames]]
| cover      = In-Flames Whoracle.jpg
| alt        =
| released   = 18 November 1997<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Whoracle - In Flames {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/whoracle-mw0000035899|publisher=AllMusic}}</ref>
| recorded   = 1997
| venue      =
| studio     = [[Studio Fredman]], Gothenburg, Sweden
| genre      = [[Melodic death metal]]<ref name="sputnik rev">{{cite web |title=Sputnikmusic review |url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/54748/In-Flames-Whoracle/ |accessdate=8 February 2019}}</ref>
| length     = 42:29
| label      = [[Nuclear Blast]]
| producer   = [[Fredrik Nordström]] and In Flames
| prev_title = [[The Jester Race]]
| prev_year  = 1996
| next_title = [[Colony (In Flames album)|Colony]]
| next_year  = 1999
}}
{{Music ratings
|rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
|rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name=":0" />
}}

'''''Whoracle''''' is the third studio album by Swedish [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[In Flames]], released on 18 November 1997. The title of the album is a [[portmanteau]] of the English words "[[whore]]" and "[[oracle]]".

Apart from "[[Everything Counts]]", which is a cover of a [[Depeche Mode]] song, all songs were composed and arranged by [[In Flames]]. The lyrics were translated by ''[[Dark Tranquillity]]'' guitarist [[Niklas Sundin]], after [[Anders Fridén]] had written them in Swedish.

''Whoracle'' is the final In Flames album to feature [[Johan Larsson (musician)|Johan Larsson]] and [[Glenn Ljungström]]. It is also the last release with [[Björn Gelotte]] playing drums, as he permanently switched to lead guitar in future releases. [[Fredrik Nordström]] noted that it was not easy to record at times, since the band members usually preferred drinking beer and playing ''[[Tekken 3]]''.<ref>''At the Gates – Flames of the End'' DVD Fredrik Nordstörm interview</ref>{{better source needed|date=October 2020}}

In 2020, it was named one of the 20 best metal albums of 1997 by ''[[Metal Hammer]]'' magazine.<ref name="MHtop2097">{{cite web |title=The Top 20 best metal albums of 1997 |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-top-20-best-metal-albums-of-1997/2 |website=[[Metal Hammer]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |access-date=6 March 2021 |date=2 December 2020}}</ref>

== Concept ==
Whoracle is a [[concept album]] which describes the past, present, and a hypothetical future of the planet Earth. "Jotun" is a foreshadowing of the main concepts where a society is crushed and broken after an apocalyptic event. "Episode 666" seems to be the narration of this apocalyptic event which is, perversely, televised. The songs leading up to this tell a story of the rise and fall of a global society. "The Hive" and "Jester Script Transfigured" describe this technologically advanced society and a utopian world which is demolished by human nature in the next two songs. The inclusion of the [[Depeche Mode]] cover, "Everything Counts", is a poignant way to imply that the people who built then destroyed their society realized their folly after it was too late.{{Citation needed|date=July 2007}}

==Track listing==
All lyrics written by [[Niklas Sundin]] and [[Anders Fridén]].
{{track listing
| title1 = Jotun
| music1 = [[Jesper Strömblad]], [[Björn Gelotte]]
| length1 = 3:53
| title2 = Food for the Gods
| music2 = [[Glenn Ljungström]], Gelotte, Strömblad
| length2 = 4:21
| title3 = Gyroscope 
| music3 = Strömblad
| length3 = 3:26
| title4 = Dialogue with the Stars
| music4 = Gelotte, Strömblad
| length4 = 3:00
| note4 = Instrumental
| title5 = The Hive
| music5 = Gelotte, Strömblad
| length5 = 4:03 
| title6 = Jester Script Transfigured
| music6 = Strömblad
| length6 = 5:46
| title7 = Morphing into Primal
| music7 = Gelotte, Ljungström, Fridén, Strömblad
| length7 = 3:05
| title8 = Worlds Within the Margin
| music8 = Ljungström, Strömblad
| length8 = 5:06
| title9 = Episode 666
| music9 = Strömblad
| length9 = 3:45
| title10 = [[Everything Counts]]
| music10 = [[Martin Lee Gore]]
| note10 = [[Depeche Mode]] cover
| length10 = 3:17
| title11 = Whoracle
| music11 = Strömblad
| length11 = 2:44
| note11 = Instrumental
|all_writing=|title12=|length12=|title13=|length13=|title14=|length14=|title15=|length15=|title16=|length16=|title17=|length17=|title18=|length18=|title19=|length19=|title20=|length20=|total_length=42:29}}

{{track listing
| headline = Deluxe edition
| title12 = Clad in Shadows '99
| length12 = 2:25
|total_length= 44:54
}}

{{track listing
| headline = Japanese and Korean  edition
| title12 = Goliaths Disarm Their Davids
| length12 = 4:58
| title13 = Acoustic Medley
| length13 = 2:33
| title14 = Behind Space - Live
| length14 = 3:36
| total_length= 53:36
}}

{{track listing
| headline = [[LP record|LP]] bonus track
| title6 = Re-cycles
| note6 = original title: "Acoustic Medley"
| length6 = 2:33
| total_length= 45:02
}}

 {{track listing
| headline = 2010 re-issue
| title12 = Goliaths Disarm Their Davids
| length12 = 4:58
| title13 = Jotun (Live)
| length13 = 3:38
| title14 = Food for the Gods (Live)
| length14 = 4:11
| total_length= 55:16
}}

==Personnel==
;In Flames
*[[Anders Fridén]] – [[Singing|vocals]], [[Percussion instrument|percussion]]
*[[Jesper Strömblad]] – lead and acoustic guitar, [[Keyboard instrument|keyboard]]s, percussion
*[[Glenn Ljungström]] – rhythm guitar
*[[Johan Larsson (musician)|Johan Larsson]] – [[Bass guitar|bass]]
*[[Björn Gelotte]] – [[Drum kit|drums]], percussion, lead and acoustic guitar

;Other personnel
*Ulrika Netterdahl – female vocals on song "Whoracle"
*The ''Whoracle'' concept conjured and verbalized by [[Niklas Sundin]] and Anders Fridén
*Lyrics written by Niklas Sundin following original synopsis by Anders Fridén
*All music composed and arranged by In Flames except "Everything Counts" by [[Martin Lee Gore]] of [[Depeche Mode]]
*Recorded and produced by [[Fredrik Nordström]] with assistance from In Flames
*Engineered by Anders Fridén and Fredrik Nordström
*Mixed by Fredrik Nordström and Anders Fridén
*Mastered by Goran Finnberg and Fredrik Nordstrom at the Mastering Room Gbg
*Cover artwork by Andreas Marschall
*Photos by [[Kenneth Johansson]]
*All songs published by Prophecies Publishing Hamburg except "Everything Counts"
*"Everything Counts" published by Grabbing Hands Music Ltd, sub-published by [[EMI|EMI Music Germany]]

==References==
<references/>

{{In Flames}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:In Flames albums]]
[[Category:Nuclear Blast albums]]
[[Category:1997 albums]]
[[Category:Albums recorded at Studio Fredman]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Fredrik Nordström]]
[[Category:Science fiction concept albums]]