In Flames - A Sense Of Purpose review
| Band: | In Flames |
| Album: | A Sense Of Purpose |
| Style: | Alternative metal, Gothenburg metal |
| Release date: | April 01, 2008 |
| A review by: | Baz Anderson |
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.
Rating:
9.4
9.4
|
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 ›› |
Comments page 3 / 5
| flamey Posts: 109  |
I dont understand why people bash this album. First of all, In Flames stopped making melodeath several years ago with RtR. Yet, this album has more melodic guitar riffs than all their last three albums.. but of course, you need to open your mind and THEN listen to it to hear these. I feel like people are determined to call it crap even before the album was out. So, those who like RtR and other albums but cant like these, I really dont understand, if you like the melodic side of In Flames, this is the most melodic album since Clayman. Just listen to I'm the Highway, Drenched in Fear, Alias etc. Oh, if the problem is that this album is not methul anymore, well then, I hail thee almighty trve methuller, I am thy servant.
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| Spyroid Rosetta Stoned Posts: 1023  |
I just read a review in the local newspaper, it got 4/5. And the reviewer wrote "In Flames will disappoint no-one with their new album..." ... ehrm... well, I have a friend that used to call In Flames her favourite band until yesterday. And I'm sure she's not the only one.
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| dimmu666 Posts: 1 |
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| Plaguebearer Posts: 57  |
Quote: Your right, this album bumped In Flames from my favourite band too. I could enjoy all their music (to some degree) before this album. Its not that this album is bad, In Flames simply no longer plays Melodeth anymore. Upon hearing this album I lost all faith in what is and was everything In Flames could have been.
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| Plaguebearer Posts: 57 |
I really don't want to be the one to do it. But I honestly think that its time that In Flames genre was changed again. This is not Death Metal, Gothenburg, or anything In Flames ever was
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| clatrum Posts: 8 |
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| Lethologica Posts: 272 |
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| Baz Anderson Staff Posts: 13254  |
exactly, like I have said before - In Flames' old style was never anything that interested me anyway, so I am not some scorned ex-fan. I listen to plenty of other kinds of music also - so the negativity does not come from any change of style. this album is just uninspired, flat and boring whatever style you want to call it - it is as simple as that
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| JeNoZ Posts: 456  |
They were mediocre at best pre-Clayman, however "Metal" does not get worse than In Flames post Clayman. After Come Clarity, you think "Could this be any shittier?", the answer: yup. 4.5 is a ridiculously high rating for severe horseshit!
----
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| KMR Posts: 1094  |
Todays IF is not 90's IF - some people didn't release it yet, and keep bashing their stuff for being not so melodeath enough. I far from being so brutal to say it's a bad album, it's rather average album and a completly different story. If you don't like this, you can always pick some stuff like Dark Tranquility and enjoy what still can be classified as full proof metal.
---- Nothing is sacred.
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| hefestus Posts: 7 |
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| peterjohnvernon Account deleted |
peterjohnvernon
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And to think they were part of the gothenberg scene, second only to At The Gates... 
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| Zeh Posts: 47  |
I bet that in the future they will do a Metallica style announcement as "well, we will do for the next album a return to the origins, doing a "Clayman-like" CD for out old and beloved fans"
---- Zeh
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| Warman Erotic Stains Posts: 7695  |
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 26.03.2008 at 20:43 This is so true and I'm one of them, I'd probably really like Come Clarity if it wasn't for their older stuff. This album I threw shit at waaay before it was released and when I got it I was a little embarrassed, 'cuz I like it. A lot sometimes. I'd rate it a strong 7, still I can't get pass my love for old IF and it probably deserves an 8 from me.
---- 
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| un/heart/ed The Sufferer Posts: 76  |
baz anderson you are so cruel. this album is nothing less than a 7. chosen pessimist is a masterpiece, legend song
---- My only thrill alone in my own hell
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| Stuart MiseryKing Posts: 413  |
interesting review, not having actualy heard the album I can't make any judgement as to whether the negativity is warranted or not, but I find it incredibly difficult to believe that in flames can release an album worth a rating of 4.5. Its simply not possible, there is just so much truly horrendous music out there which deserves a rating higher than this. You even mention some positive points about the album in your review. I have a sense that this rating is more about personal taste. You seem to somehow associate this music with group of people you intensely dislike, as stated in the review, which is far too bias for a review of newly released album. Your reviews are usually fantastic but this review is simply not very good at all.
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| Shadowcross The Summoner Posts: 481  |
i haven't like much in flames since colony.. i liked come clarity but i doubt this will do it for me after hearing peoples reactions..
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18374  |
I hear the mirror's truth right now... It's not that bad... the riff from the beginning is very good. It's not good.. but not completely crap and it's better than the previous one... 6,5 from me.
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18374 |
Written by Herzebeth on 04.04.2008 at 10:15 This is the right moment.. when you scream "I told you so..."
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| Plaguebearer Posts: 57 |
Written by [user id=27398] on 17.04.2008 at 19:34 Look man, I have never insulted In Flames before this album, holding true to their abilites and musical talents, but this album is not brilliant. "melodies galore" doesn't mean the melodies are good, and the "memorable choruses" are memorable for all the wrong reasons. From the perspective of someone simply listening to this CD, it is listenable, but when I look to In Flames, I am expecting an over the top, superb death metal album, not another medicore album with a lot of notes and ridiculous amount of whining and crying.
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| Warman Erotic Stains Posts: 7695 |
I do look forward to hear these songs live. In Flames are so much more powerful on the stage and if I digged the Come Clarity songs live... I'll probably love these!
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| Sepulchre Lord Hypnos Posts: 190  |
Supprisingly I actually liked this album. I like the older style much better, but I'm not going to lie to myself, I actually like this album. Way better than Come Clarity imo.
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| Mikyz Posts: 711  |
Well I don't totally agree with the review. Even though In Flames are getting worse this album isn't "bad" it is just another style for me it's an album that is as good as Come Clarity so i would give a 7.5/10 ^^ and a 4.5/10 is really too low and i don't think In Flames can get that low :/. In Flames play another kind of song it is not as good as there old stuff but I've learned to appreciate it, you should try too 
---- Laugh and the world laughs with you. Weep and you weep alone.
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