A Sense of Purpose

Similar to previous In Flames albums, A Sense of Purpose showcased the band's influence to combine many elements such as rich keyboard use and distinct melodies, with thrash and heavy metal sounds. A Sense of Purpose contains the band's longest recorded song to date, "The Chosen Pessimist".

In an interview, Björn Gelotte said this about the album:

{{cquote|"It's awesome. It's energetic, melodic, pretty much in the same vein. But we always try to mix it up a bit and try to put some dynamics into the songs, even though they are very intense. If you've heard the previous ones, you pretty much know what vein we're going to be. It's just a matter of small experiments in different songs."Bowar, Chad. [http://heavymetal.about.com/od/interviews/a/inflamesbjorn.htm In Flames Interview - A Conversation With Guitarist Bjorn Gelotte] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010224239/http://heavymetal.about.com/od/interviews/a/inflamesbjorn.htm |date=2008-10-10 }}. About.com. 2 April 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2011.

}}

A Sense of Purpose was released in a limited edition box set version, of which only 1500 copies were made. This release became available on the same day as the European release.{{cite web|url=http://www.nuclearblast.de/index.php?Action=showShopProductDetail&artikelnummer=149137&kat=Rare+stuff |title=IN FLAMES - A Sense of Purpose SPHERICAL LABYRINTH |accessdate=14 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218182026/http://www.nuclearblast.de/index.php?Action=showShopProductDetail&artikelnummer=149137&kat=Rare+stuff |archivedate=18 December 2008 }}. Nuclear Blast OnlineShop. Retrieved 16 July 2011. A limited edition digipak came with a making-of DVD. In the documentary, it is stated that the band recorded 17 songs and used 12 for the album, and another three for the single. This makes two previously unknown songs that have not been released yet.

Before the album's release, In Flames launched a special fansite called jesterhead.com, which featured exclusive content from the band.{{cite web|url=http://www.jesterhead.com/ |title=Jesterhead.com – The Official In Flames Colony Page |accessdate=16 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071230012846/http://www.jesterhead.com/ |archivedate=30 December 2007 }}

The album received a Parental Advisory label,[https://www.amazon.com/Sense-Purpose-Flames/dp/B0013DHHHM Sense of Purpose: In Flames: Music]. Amazon.com. Retrieved 16 July 2011. making it the only In Flames album to have explicit lyrics since Lunar Strain. The artwork for the album cover was done by Alex Pardee, who has created all the cover art for The Used and Aiden's album Conviction.[https://web.archive.org/web/20080124161354/http://blog.synthesis.net/2008/01/14/alex-pardee-reveals-artwork-for-new-in-flames-album/ Alex Pardee reveals artwork for new In Flames album]. Synthesis Magazine. 14 January 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2011. A Sense of Purpose is the first studio album since Clayman to feature the band's icon, the "Jester Head", on the cover art.

The lead single, "The Mirror's Truth", was officially released on 7 March 2008 and was featured in the video game Madden NFL 09.[http://kotaku.com/5022876/ea-reveals-hypes-madden-09-soundtrack EA Reveals, Hypes Madden 09 Soundtrack]. Kotaku. 8 July 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2011. In Flames released two other singles from A Sense of Purpose: "Alias" and "Delight and Angers".

On 10 April the album debuted at number 1 on the official Swedish album chart[http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=94916 IN FLAMES: More 'A Sense Of Purpose' First-Week Chart Positions Revealed] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090721044335/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=94916 |date=21 July 2009 }}. Blabbermouth.net. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2011. and at number 28 on the American Billboard 200 albums chart.[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=in flames|chart=all}} In Flames Album & Song Chart History]. Billboard.com. Retrieved 16 July 2011. In 2009 the album went gold in Sweden.[http://www.ifpi.se/wp/wp-content/uploads/Guld-Platina-2009.pdf Guld-Platina-2009] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616130931/http://www.ifpi.se/wp/wp-content/uploads/Guld-Platina-2009.pdf |date=16 June 2011 }}. IFPI. Retrieved 16 July 2011.

{{music ratings

|rev1= About.com

|rev1Score= {{Rating|3.5|5}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20090606155342/http://altpress.com/reviews/1236.htm link]

|rev2= Allmusic

|rev2Score= {{Rating|4|5}} [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1340696/review|pure_url=yes}} link]

|rev3= Alternative Press

|rev3Score= {{Rating|3.5|5}} {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090606155342/http://altpress.com/reviews/1236.htm |date=6 June 2009 |title=link }}

|rev4= Blabbermouth.net

|rev4Score= {{Rating|7|10}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20080608235703/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/Blabbermouth.net/showreview.aspx?reviewID=1383 link]

|rev5= Chronicles of Chaos

|rev5Score= {{Rating|7.5|10}} [http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/reviews/albums/2-5198_in_flames_a_sense_of_purpose.aspx link]

|rev6= Pitchfork Media

|rev6Score= (7.0/10) [http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11357-a-sense-of-purpose/ link]

|rev7= PopMatters

|rev7Score= {{Rating|7|10}} [http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/in-flames-a-sense-of-purpose link]

|rev8= Sputnikmusic

|rev8score= {{Rating|3.5|5|score=3.3/5 stars}} [http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=25928 link]

}}

A Sense of Purpose has received generally positive reviews. Jason MacNeil of Allmusic gave the album a score of 4 stars out of 5, writing "In Flames continue to make their mark by being rooted in a strong metal or hard rock foundation but being musically and creatively inquisitive enough to seek out something more."[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1340696/review|pure_url=yes}} A Sense of Purpose - In Flames]. Allmusic. Retrieved 16 July 2011. Popmatters' Adrien Begrand wrote "If there’s one fault that can be found on A Sense of Purpose, it’s that its pace can get redundant upon first listen... plus it lacks the huge arena-appealing hooks that Come Clarity had in spades..." Begrand concluded: "However, like Reroute to Remain, the album benefits greatly from patient listening, making it a worthy addition to the catalog and continuing one of the more impressive second-decade rebirths we’ve seen from a metal band."Begrand, Adrien. [http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/in-flames-a-sense-of-purpose In Flames: A Sense of Purpose]. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2011.

In a more negative review, Sputnikmusic's Adam Thomas wrote "...A Sense of Purpose shows getting rid of what was intrinsically In Flames, the harmonies. Now in their place are hackneyed synth passages and down tuned nu-metal style riffing. In an attempt to grab the attention of the fans of nu-metal's corpse, In Flames have stuck it to their old fans, again." Thomas concluded: "I'm sorry to say it, but In Flames are out of any worthwhile ideas. They even admit it in the opening track of the album, 'Without even trying' shrieks Anders on 'The Mirror's Truth'. At least he's being honest."Thomas, Adam. [https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/26221/In-Flames-A-Sense-of-Purpose/ In Flames - A Sense of Purpose]. Sputnikmusic. 8 July 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2011.

{{track listing

|all_writing = Anders Fridén, Björn Gelotte and Jesper Strömblad

| title1 = The Mirror's Truth

| length1 = 3:02

| title2 = Disconnected

| length2 = 3:37

| title3 = Sleepless Again

| length3 = 4:12

| title4 = Alias

| length4 = 4:53

| title5 = I'm the Highway

| length5 = 3:46

| title6 = Delight and Angers

| length6 = 3:41

| title7 = Move Through Me

| length7 = 3:08

| title8 = The Chosen Pessimist

| length8 = 8:16

| title9 = Sober and Irrelevant

| length9 = 3:24

| title10 = Condemned

| length10 = 3:36

| title11 = Drenched in Fear

| length11 = 3:32

| title12 = March to the Shore

| length12 = 3:30

|total_length = 47:59

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Japanese, Tour Edition & Reissue bonus tracks[http://www.discogs.com/In-Flames-A-Sense-Of-Purpose/release/2082474 In Flames - A Sense of Purpose (CD,Album)]. Discogs. Retrieved 21 July 2011.

| title13 = Eraser{{r|group=Note|bonus}}

| length13 = 3:22

| title14 = Tilt{{r|group=Note|bonus}}

| length14 = 3:49

| title15 = Abnegation{{r|group=Note|bonus}}

| length15 = 3:43

| total_length = 58:53

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Korean remaster bonus tracks[https://web.archive.org/web/20080620013457/http://www.inflamesdiscography.com/asenseofpurpose.htm A Sense Of Purpose]. The Complete In Flames Discography. Retrieved 21 July 2011.

| title16 = Alias [Laid Remix]

| length16 = 6:24

| total_length = 65:17

}}

{{reflist|group=Note|refs=

{{#tag:ref|Also featured on "The Mirror's Truth" single.{{cite web | url=http://www.metal-archives.com/release.php?id=183499 | title=In Flames – "The Mirror's Truth" | publisher = Encyclopaedia Metallum | accessdate=5 April 2007}}|name=bonus}}

}}

{{track listing

| title1 = Introductions (03. – 9 Sept.. Sept. 2007)

| length1 =

| title2 = The Boat Trip (10. – 16 Sept.. Sept. 2007)

| length2 =

| title3 = Drums, Drums Drums (17. – 23 Sept.. Sept 2007)

| length3 =

| title4 =Bass, Booze & Balls (24. – 30 Sept.. Sept 2007)

| length4 =

| title5 = Guitar Sweatshop (01. – 7 Oct. October 2007)

| length5 =

| title6 = Diggin' in the Dirt (08. – 14 Oct.. Oct. 2007)

| length6 =

| title7 = Are We There Yet? (15. – 21 Oct.. Oct. 2007)

| length7 =

| title8 = High Stakes (22. – 28 Oct.. Oct. 2007)

| length8 =

| title9 = Guitar Smorgasbord (29. – 4 Oct.. Nov. 2007)

| length9 =

| title10 = Rollin' (05. – 11 Nov. Nov. 2007)

| length10 =

| title11 = Bare to the Bone(s) (12. – 18 Nov.. Nov. 2007)

| length11 =

| title12 =This Is the End (19. – 30 Nov.. Nov. 2007)

| length12 =

}}

{{Cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/In-Flames-A-Sense-Of-Purpose/release/1516005|title = In Flames – A Sense of Purpose (2008, Labyrinth Edition, Box Set)|website = Discogs}}

• Anders Fridén – vocals
• Björn Gelotte – guitars
• Jesper Strömblad – guitars
• Peter Iwers – bass
• Daniel Svensson – drums

• Recorded at IF Studios, Gothenburg, Sweden
• Produced by In Flames, Roberto Laghi and Daniel Bergstrand
• Mixed by Toby Wright
• Assisted by James Musshorn at Skip Saylor Recordings, Los Angeles, California
• Mastered by Stephen Marcussen at Marcussen Mastering Studios, Hollywood, California
• Drum Recording – Roberto Laghi
• Vocal Recording – Daniel Bergstrand and Anders Fridén
• Bass Recording – Roberto Laghi
• Guitar Recording – Roberto Laghi, Björn Gelotte and Jesper Strömblad
• Additional drum editing – Arnold Linberg
• Keys and programming – Örjan Örnkloo at Wasteland Studios
• Written by Anders Fridén, Björn Gelotte, Jesper Strömblad
• Arranged by In Flames
• All songs published by Kobalt Music
• Illustrations, art direction and design by Alex Pardee

• A Sense of Purpose Tour

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Category:In Flames albums

Category:2008 albums

Category:Nuclear Blast albums

Category:E1 Music albums