In Flames is my favorite band. they got me into "heavier" (i.e not metallica) metal and ive progressed ever since. i would recommend them, but disagree that they are like bodom. IF is melodic death metal, while COB is more power metal.
Kalmah is another band, and Finntroll plays humpaa metal (variant of polka) but it kicks ass. Jaktens Tid is a great cd.
but, i will say it once and say it LOUD AND CLEAR
ENSIFERUM KICKS ASS!!!!!!!!! ill make an analogy to bodom.
CoB is power metal metal with extensive growling.....while Ensiferum is more power (alike music) but less growling and more "power metal vocals" that you see in other bands.
dont get me wrong they arent the constant high vocal range singing, they get their growls in. BUT GOD DAMN DO THEY ROCK. do yourself a favor and get some Ensiferum songs.
it sucks for me, b/c they have no Ensiferum cds in the US and i cant understand the websites that carry their cds lol. so i burned the songs i have onto CD, but im willing to buy the album once i can get a good US price and actually understand it