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By JEFF MAKI
Ok, let's get this out of the way: In Flames is without a shadow of a doubt my favorite band. I'm not going to lay out a long and pointless history here, as fans should already know. Anyone who is anyone in metal has knowledge of In Flames. I'll just say they are one of the most important metal bands of the last two decades and have evolved with every album.
A Sense of Purpose is the band's most experimental release since the style-shifting and--in my opinion-- phenomenal Reroute to Remain. Each of this band's albums has its own sound and it is no different this time. The first thing noticed is the reinforced vocals of Anders Friden. His strained scream is still all over the disc, but he is vastly improved while further straying away from the extreme side of things. Whereas on past releases they worked almost like another instrument, blending with the guitars and rhythms, they are at the forefront here. The best way to put it is Anders has found a middle ground between his early day growl and his raspy screams of the modern era. Guitarist Bjorn Gellote told Live-Metal.net in a 2007 interview that the album would be guitar-oriented like Come Clarity and that holds true. A handful of memorable guitar solos, which were used sparingly on the last two releases, are also found. Keyboards and effects play a more prominent role, such as in “Alias,” where they are the centerpiece of the song. But the most noticeable thing here is that In Flames has gotten away from the predictable song structures of Come Clarity and Soundtrack to Your Escape. It's very much a mixed bag. There are surprises within much of the material and some parts that don't sound anything like In Flames. Yet familiarity is also here.
I hear many similarities to past albums like Reroute to Remain and Clayman. “Condemned,” one of the strongest tracks, reminds me of the title track of Clayman. The first single, “The Mirror's Truth,” is catchy and would be at home on Reroute. Same goes for “Disconnected,” which contains one of the most badass guitar riffs ever written. This thing sounds like an off-shoot of The Empire Strikes Back's “Imperial March." (The members In Flames are huge Star Wars fans, by the way). Then we explore new territory with “Sleepless Again,” on which Friden's vocals are the most melodic I've ever heard them. Same goes for“Alias,” which features clever lyrics, memorable keyboards and more strong vocals. “Move Through Me” is another experimental outing. This doesn't, but does sound like In Flames, if you know what I mean. It's hard to explain. All around and in between, it's an experimental mix of old, new and even the unthinkable. The album closes with “Condemned,” “Drenched in Fear” and “March to the Shore,” a trio that lets the non-believers know that In Flames is still undeniably heavy and at the top of their game. Hell, there's even a growl thrown in here and there for good measure. “March to the Shore” is one of the band's best ever.
If there are any complaints, I couldn't help but think that A Sense of Purpose could have been heavier in parts. A few areas screamed for it, but it feels like it was held back. It's not that In Flames is going to get major radio play or anything either. I'm not even sure if this is what they were going for. So why not leave it all out on the field? Also, the most experimental and longest song (at more than eight minutes) of the band's career, “The Chosen Pessimist,” just does not work for me. It's placed poorly on the album, breaking the momentum, and quite frankly I just don't get the idea behind it. It doesn't even sound like a song at first listen.
If you think about it, isn't it always the biggest, most important and influential artists and people that are the most talked about and controversial? It goes for the movies, music and sports stars. You have to do something daring and original to get people talking. It's interesting and it's what people crave. Die-hard, old-school fans that long for the days of Whoracle and The Jester Race probably will not like this album much. They might even hate it. But this is evolution and at this point, I and many others will go just about anywhere In Flames will take us. A Sense of Purpose will throw some for a loop, but it's a solid and unpredictable metal album from an all-time great. It's also another step taken toward this band making its career-defining album, which should be coming in the near future.
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