Metal Storm logo
In Flames - A Sense Of Purpose review



Reviewer:
4.5

937 users:
6.43
Band: In Flames
Album: A Sense Of Purpose
Release date: April 2008


01. The Mirror's Truth
02. Disconnected
03. Sleepless Again
04. Alias
05. I'm The Highway
06. Delight And Angers
07. Move Through Me
08. The Chosen Pessimist
09. Sober And Irrelevant
10. Condemned
11. Drenched In Fear
12. March To The Shore
13. Eraser [bonus]
14. Tilt [bonus]
15. Abnegation [bonus]

Over the past few years In Flames have been wandering down questionable paths as far as long-time fans are concerned, some abandoned the band completely and the others decided that the new In Flames isn't really all that bad after all, and stuck with them. "A Sense Of Purpose" is a shockingly low blow to the second group of people here as In Flames continue to push towards the twelve-year-old, black dyed fringe bearing individual market - and this time do it in a way that indefinitely is the straw that breaks the camel's back and will not be tolerated by long-running fans.

One month ago "The Mirror's Truth" EP although brandishing a very Korn-esque cover, showed a promising outlook with four heavier, faster and generally better songs. This however has shown to provoke false hope of a good album from the band. Song "The Mirror's Truth" kicks off the album in mediocre form and for about the first minute into "Disconnected" we have that higher tempo and intensity that is frankly one of the only things In Flames do well these days, but just as the once loyal fans of the band will after hearing this, the tempo and attraction the band had runs to the hills to never be seen again.

"I'm The Highway" has a slight kick in it, but generally "A Sense Of Purpose" is an album laden with mediocrity and annoyance. Guitar riffs sound as uninspired as uninspired gets, usually plodding along at some mind-numbingly dull tempo. Anders' vocals are as unique and distinguishable as they always have been, just with an extra edge of whine and angsty teenager thrown in there - lyrics fit the vocal style used, but that is like saying excrement is fitting for a toilet when the audience are hoping for an album of quality, intense modern metal. Both most laughable and representative of In Flames' direction is "The Chosen Pessimist" with its pretentious title, long duration, lyrics that are supposed to be deep and meaningful but come across as plastic and fake, and predictable structure turning up the heaviness towards the end.

So long-time fans will not be impressed with the latest offering of "A Sense Of Purpose", but the direction taken does expose the band even more to the mainstream popular rock and metal scenes. "A Sense Of Purpose" is a very polished album, produced immaculately and sounds very professional - it will be certain to pick up more followers but from a different area to before. Most tracks have melodies running throughout, there is no doubting that In Flames have that charm a band needs in order to acquire a vast following.

With an album of anguish and inner struggles "A Sense Of Purpose" takes on further the direction the band were already taking but just to an extra degree. It has what it takes to become a popular hit among the fringe-wearing community, but for the people who like their metal hard, fast, loud and real, this one is best avoided.





Written on 26.03.2008 by Member of Staff since 2006

Guest review by
WayTooManyCDs
Rating:
9.4
What a tragedy A Sense Of Purpose is; not because it's hopelessly awful, but because it's been unfairly lambasted for years. Unfortunately, there is no way to correct the damage already done or to change the minds of those who are still mourning the loss of the "Jester Race/Whoracle" era twenty years after the fact, but at least some just dues can finally be given.

Read more ››
published 10.05.2018 | Comments (17)


Comments page 5 / 5

Comments: 128   [ 1 ignored ]   Visited by: 895 users
05.09.2009 - 11:07
Rating: 9
lord artan

I love this album very good album The Mirror's Truth and Delight And Angers very good song
Loading...
16.10.2009 - 00:30
BlankFile

Omg the biggest letdown of 2008. That says it all! This band used to be so damn good...
Loading...
17.10.2009 - 12:43
Rating: 8
Solstafir!

It's high time for Flames to produce something worth headbanging to...but I think that they still have some creativity left...the guitar work on this album saves it from it's utterly ridiculous vocals and lyrics...
Keeping my fingers crossed for the next album...
Loading...
16.01.2010 - 17:01
Rating: 9
AceTrooper

And it also has one of the best covers.........ever!
Loading...
07.05.2010 - 15:36
Rating: 5
Vonpire

This is pure crap, for crappy kids. It's a not good album, so i definitely agree with the review.
----
Beware the Shadows of Dusk
Loading...
08.08.2010 - 09:33
Rating: 4
Aetherius

Awful album. Good Review! Maybe In Flames will follow the likes of Metallica and Cradle of Filth and other bands who took a freefall and redeem themselves very soon. I am Hoping!
Loading...
01.01.2011 - 00:42
Rating: 6
Boxcar Willy
yr a kook
Just opened it before reading all this seems you either love it or hate it... we'll see...
----
14:22 - Marcel Hubregtse
I do your mum

DESTROY DRUM TRIGGERS
Loading...
30.12.2012 - 19:24
ScnD361

I listen all the other In Flames' albums (Clayman, The Jester Race, etc etc), and I think this album is good, is some different but I think is very very good. In Flames never disappoint me (well, only the first cd is not that good, personally I think).
Loading...

Hits total: 26612 | This month: 21