Jon Rice made his first appearance as the drummer for In Flames during the band’s recent concert in Tampere, Finland, stepping in following the quiet exit of Tanner Wayne. With no formal announcement ahead of the performance, the lineup change unfolded onstage with little spectacle, just a new face in the drum seat and the unmistakable sound of a band choosing continuity over disruption.
Wayne’s departure hadn’t been publicized in detail. After joining In Flames in 2018, he became a consistent presence on tour and in studio work, contributing to the band’s evolving sound over the past several years. His exit appears to have been amicable, but it left a noticeable gap. Enter Rice: a drummer whose career has included stints with groups like Job for a Cowboy and Scorpion Child, now stepping into a role that demands both precision and adaptability.
Fans who were at the Tampere show described the performance as steady and energetic. Rice held the backline with a sense of ease that made it hard to believe it was his first time onstage with the band. There were no theatrics or overcompensations. Instead, what came through was a kind of deliberate confidence: someone playing the songs on their terms, but still in the spirit of the group’s sound.
The setlist leaned into both newer material and longtime fan favorites, forcing Jon Rice to bridge different eras of the band’s rhythm section. Some moments called for the tight, groove-driven drumming that’s become a hallmark of In Flames’ later catalog. Others dipped into more aggressive territory, nodding back to their earlier years. In both cases, Rice seemed less interested in reinventing the parts and more focused on delivering them with consistency and punch.
For a band that’s seen its share of lineup changes over three decades, the ability to keep moving forward without pausing to explain itself is almost a signature. And yet, even in a group known for its resilience, a new drummer always shifts the dynamic, sometimes subtly, more. Rice didn’t dominate the spotlight, but those watching closely would have noticed the different touch, the shift in feel, the way certain fills landed just a bit differently.
Whether this marks a permanent shift or a short-term solution hasn’t been clarified. The band has continued to operate without much public commentary, relying on their live shows to tell the story. For now, the music continues uninterrupted, and the chemistry onstage suggests that this new chapter is off to a grounded start.
Jon Rice, never one for self-promotion, let his playing do the talking. It was a first step, and perhaps not the last. For fans who track more than just the front of the stage, his presence offered something new to watch: an experienced drummer stepping into a well-oiled machine and making it move without missing a beat.