INFLAMES was one of the bands that started the whole Melodic Death Metal scene that is also known as the Gothenburg sound. Their worldwide recognition kicked off with the The Jester Race release that took place in 1996 and featured Anders Friden on the vocals who was with DARK TRANQUILLITY and switched places with Mikael Stanne whose voice can be found in the band's debut Lunar Strain.
I have been following this band since the Clayman album where IN FLAMES presented their Melodic Death Metal with distinct double guitar references to IRON MAIDEN. After this really successful album the Swedish band exploded in Reroute To Remain that I consider as part of their second era. During this era the use of keyboard and electronic sounds breathed some fresh air in their sound giving signs of progression. Soundtrack To Your Escape was a kind of disappointment for my ears due to the marks of stability and lack of creativeness. Fortunately, the aggression and energy that was flowing from the 2006 album Come Clarity renewed my interest to the band.
That brings us to the newest IN FLAMES album A Sense Of Purpose that comes with a colourful almost comic-like artwork that is something new for them. After having listened to the album many times I conclude that this stands somewhere between Come Clarity and Soundtrack To You Escape. IN FLAMES seemed to shuffled all their previous works to create something new that could be characterized as original but in some degree they failed. This does not mean that this is a bad album; on the contrary it carries the band's trademark sounds with groovy songs like The Mirror's Truth, Alias and Tilt (I love the guitar riffs here) while keeping active the IRON MAIDEN guitar signatures in Sleepless Again and Sober And Irrelevant. My objection in A Sense Of Purpose is that things sounded too much familiar; the feeling I heard that before becomes almost annoying in times where some songs could be almost characterized as "fillers.
In the 8 minutes long The Chosen Pessimist the band almost experiments with depressive sounds that create and dark industrial or if you don't mind a  TOOL atmosphere. Anders Friden gives a genuine passionate performance presenting some "weird clean vocals that greatly enhance the overall emotional dynamics of this song. Eraser, Abnegation and March To The Shore are tracks that will definitely make you move with the fast guitar hooks, the solid drumming and the Trash outbursts.
Overall, I can surely say that all the IN FLAMES fans will enjoy this one (and add one more point to the rate below) and they will have some excellent moments during the band's upcoming 'Gigantour' shows. The rest of the metalheads I think they will not find anything new or groundbreaking here and should probably check the band's previous albums to get an idea about IN FLAMES. Sometimes it makes me wonder whether the Swedish Melodic Death Metal scene has done all it could do and there is nothing more to offer. Well, I think time will tell...
 The Mirrors Truth