Review: In Flames - A Sense of Purpose

Artist: In Flames
Album: A Sense of Purpose
Label: Koch / Nuclear Blast
Released: 4/1/2008

BSTscore: 78

One of the things that I love about In Flames is that no matter what, when you hear them, you instantly know it’s them. Whether it is their early material as the forefathers of the Gothenburg sound, or their more recent material that has evolved into yet another unique genre, you can’t deny the band’s ability to stand out from the crowd.

A Sense of Purpose continues to push the band’s more refined sound that has been present over the last few releases (Reroute to Remain, Soundtrack to Your Escape, Come Clarity). It’s not quite thrash, it’s not quite rock, but at times it feels like both. There are a few more guitar solos on this release, but nothing like the older material. This is a crisp, melodic album that does a great job of mixing a little bit of everything.

Lead singer Anders Friden continues to utilize the strength of his vocals on this release. His crisp delivery accents his formidable range. The “clean” singing (if you can call it that) enhances the record’s melody and further carries the flow of the songs. The lyrics continue to focus on personal struggles and refrain from becoming generic.

There are plenty of reasons why this band is the pride of Sweden, and A Sense of Purpose does not disappoint. I love how this band’s albums continue to grow on me the more and more I listen to them. Most bands don’t release more than a handful of albums together, but I hope that In Flames continues to evolve for another 15 years. This may not be the band’s best release to date, but it’s close.

Musicianship: 80
Vocals: 80
Creativity: 75
Impact: 75

Favorite Song: "March to the Shore"

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