In Flames - A Sense of Purpose Review

In Flames A Sense of Purpose

full review

Tracklist:
1. The Mirror's Truth
2. Disconnected
3. Sleepless Again
4. Alias
5. I'm the Highway
6. Delight and Angers
7. Move Through Me
8. The Chosen Pessimist
9. Sober and Irrelevant
10. Condemned
11. Drenched in Fear
12. March to the Shore
13. Eraser (Japanese Bonus Track)
14. Tilt (Japanese Bonus Track)
15. Abnegation (Japanese Bonus Track)

Ranking: #49 for 2008

user rating

3
good

Chart.

other reviews

Jom STAFF (4)
The legendary Swedes' ninth studio album is a slower, softer affair with a few irritating qualities;...

itachi1452 (3.5)
Accessible, catchy, melodic, and somewhat loyal to their roots....

Corey (3.5)
Are the best days of In Flames gone? Yes. Does that mean they can’t make a quality release? Not at...

Jorn van Schaïk CONTRIBUTOR (3)
There's something new on every In Flames album, but nothing radically different, and the band sounds...

when_darkness_falls (2.5)
In Flames continue on their crusade of changing music, but this time fall flat on their face....

Adam Thomas CONTRIBUTOR (2)
In Flames continue their evolution from Melodic Death Metal to generic radio Metal with their most w...

BloodOfDemons (1.5)
The pioneers of melodic death metal have hit rock bottom. They even admit it themselves....

related

Soundtrack to Your Escape

Trigger EP

The Jester Race

recommended by reviewer

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On 32 Lists

3.5
great

Josh Deragon USER (11 Reviews)

2008-09-30 | 22 comments | 1,001 views

Summary: Just when In Flames was looking to the skies, they got side-tracked. Still good, but not great.

2 of 2 thought this review was well written

I have always looked at the career of In Flames like the one of Metallica: both started with about 4 albums that helped define a movement in music, and then slowly tailed off as the years went on. While the boys of Metallica shaped thrash and a non-glamorous form of heavy music, In Flames was one of few that brought a wave melodic death metal to the forefront. Both bands are also regarded as one of the most important ones in their respective genres, responsible for various amounts of influence. Like either or not, their stamp on music is undeniable.

Cut to 2004, where we see In Flames at what seemed to be their rock bottom. With a less than stellar album, suffering from a more mainstream edge and poor production, average and die hard fans alike were very skeptical of the band’s musical future, myself included. 2006: The Swedes release Come Clarity, an album made as if to show they still had something left in the tank. With the bringing back of at least some of what they are known for, all hope was not lost.

Pencils down, the history lesson is over. All that considered, though, the follow up album would seemingly be a pivotal one for the band. It should be an indication of which direction the music is going to go, or stay. So then April 1, 2008: A Sense Of Purpose.

First track, first single awaits for our eager ears. “The Mirror’s Truth” is what I would consider to be a strong opener. Anders Fridén still hasn’t gone back to his growl of old, but then again, the band’s hey day is long gone. Competent he still is, he will once again suffice. Not half a minute in, a small solo, and breathe a sigh a relief; it serves the song well. The songwriting itself hasn’t gone away, although lyrically, it could easily be better. Evident early on is that Daniel has gone back in time, drumming a performance reminiscent of his Clayman days, possibly. The music is on par with Come Clarity for the most, but certainly improved over Soundtrack To Your Escape. They still bring it on some up-tempo tracks such as “Eraser” and “Sober And Irrelevant”, or keep it more simple yet heavy as in “Move Through Me”.

Without the acoustic “ballads” ever appearing anymore, guitar work has to rely on the distorted riffing and harmonizing the band is known for. Unfortunately, most of the time it’s one strumming a chord while the other plays a simple lead. Not being as heavy as they once were, it doesn’t sound to be as easy to consistently keep it interesting. But to counter, most of the metalcore breakdown-like parts are absent this time around.

The band has had good success with the guitar work throughout their history, especially when Glenn Ljungström was on leads. Whatever two were behind the strings, they’ve always created great melodies. Strong, light rhythms keep the album driven, which has always been the focal point. I can’t say they substantially upped the ante, but I also think they weren’t trying to outdo themselves. So with Björn’s signature leads and Jesper’s signature melodies still in tact, I can stand to wait for a few more albums. To dismay though, part of the wait is due to the need for new material; to see what they will do next, or can do next.

As a fan of the band, I have to keep it objective and report the downfalls of what I was hoping to be even more of a comeback. There are two major issues of the album that can be noticed quickly. Overall, the album is a strong effort and most of the tracks can be noted for something. There are 3 added to the Japanese version, making it 15 tracks, so you know you are going to hear at least a few weak ones. I feel that the band has put in some filler. It almost seems strategic the way the tracks are arranged, as the beginning, middle, and latter thirds of the album all contain some of the lesser listens. The decent to good songs, as your taste will allow, are put in like chocolate chips in a cookie: there are just enough, and they’re spread out fairly. And something I personally don’t like is that more often than not, the chorus’ are probably the weakest part of a song. They did do away with a lot of the sing-a-long parts from the last 2 albums though.

As a whole, the album is put together well. There won’t be anymore jester racing or colonizing, but the sound the band has put together is picking up steam. As some people don’t, I consider the Gothenburg style of melodic metal to be a lighter form of melodic death metal, but as far as the new millennium In Flames is concerned, they don’t exactly fit the bill anymore. Expect a melodic metal album still, but be prepared for the hard rock version, the alternative metal version, and a couple of other nitpicks of their current dynamic.

Just as quickly as this album came, it may go, but there is no need to panic. The fair-weather fan may object, but to the loyal listener, it’s just a 15-song sign of what’s to come for a career still being revamped, at whatever pace it’s getting done. They may be trying hard, but all of this basically means “take it or leave it” to me. Better days are in the past, and most likely there they will stay. At a tough crossroads, the band is trying not to stall. And I still don’t know how I feel about “The Chosen Pessimist”. Bottom line though: this is still a pretty good album.

Here’s to hoping for everyone to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Rating: 7.17/10
- Josh D.

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