The Halo Effect consists entirely of former In Flames members. The band is 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). Naturally this caused tons of comparisons between the two bands, but Iwers made it clear in an interview with The Back Lounge Podcast that there's no rivalry. 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."
Iwers called In Flames a "great band" and said his leaving simply was what it was.
"Everything I do I base upon how I feel. I try to do everything with a good vibe and everything that makes me feel good, feel great. And that's what it's all about with everything that I do. So if I would ever start something to piss somebody else off, then it wouldn't make me feel good, and I couldn't keep on doing it. It's real simple in my world, but I understand how people think that and how some people would like to think that. But there's no rivalry. In Flames, I was a member for 20 years. And it is what it is. It's a great band and they always will be."
In Flames recently released their heavy new single "State Of Slow Decay," while The Halo Effect will release Days Of The Lost on August 12.
