A Sense of Purpose
Occupation
- Vocals: Anders Friden
- Guitar: Jesper Strömblad
- Guitar: Björn Gelotte
- Bass: Peter Iwers
- Drums: Daniel Svensson
A Sense of Purpose (English " A sense of determination" ) is the ninth studio album by the Swedish melodic death metal band In Flames. The album was released on 4 April 2008 via Nuclear Blast.
- 5.1 Title List
Formation
Early May 2007, the band began with the preparations for the new album and the end of the month began the pre-production. In the summer of the year the band played individual concerts, as well as at various festivals before in September 2007 Studio in Gothenburg began the actual recordings in the band's own IF. During the recording process, the band recorded twelve short videos that have been used as studio diary internet. End of November, the recording was finished.
The album title was published the accompanying artwork and track list January 14, 2008 January 9.
During the recordings, the band extended its contract with Nuclear Blast for all territories outside North America. For North America, In Flames signed a contract with Koch Records. The artwork of the album and the first single was designed by Alex Pardee.
Title list
Background
Significance of the album title
According to guitarist Björn Gelotte is what the album title that many other people do not care about the reasons and intentions for their actions. The term "A Sense of Purpose " is the parent of all the texts, but it is not a concept album.
Meanings of the songs
In an interview with the German magazine Rock Hard vocalist Anders Fridén provided information about the meanings of the songs:
- "The Mirror's Truth " deals primarily with pollution and global warming. Mankind is afraid of confrontations, for example, to find solutions to these problems.
- In "Sleepless Again " is about the question of what can happen when a person comes into contact with his dark side.
- "Alias " deals with the question of how it would be if there was a place in man, where you could shift his negative experiences and thoughts.
- "I'm the Highway" is the fact that you should take their destiny into their own hands.
- In "Move Through Me" is about people who are buffeted by many setbacks to help and cheer.
- " Sober and Irrelevant " is to be the fear of many people, part of the gray matter. Many people would do things just to get noticed and to be perceived.
- " Condemned " deals with the challenges of life and that this should also master.
- In " Drenched in Fear " is about people who distinguish themselves at the expense of others.
- " March to the Shore " deals with the theme of revenge.
Versions
The album was released on CD, Digipak Picture Disc and as a limited edition box set. The audio CD contains twelve tracks on the album. The digipak includes a bonus DVD documenting the recording process on video. The DVD has a running time of 160 minutes. The box set contains the album in the digipak version in a wooden ball maze. The metal balls of the labyrinth are decorated with the band logo. The box set is limited to 1,500 copies and is available exclusively through the Nuclear Blast Online Shop.
Reception
The German magazine Rock Hard chose "A Sense of Purpose " for " Album of the Month " with a grade point average of 8.0 out of 10. Boris Kaiser wrote in his review that " connects the album hardness, melody and experimentation, old school and modern sounds to most successful way." In Metal Hammer Album occupied by three Soundcheck wins in a row for the previous albums third place. Editor in chief Thorsten tooth wrote that the band steel mixture found with the album Reroute to Remain has perfected with "A Sense of Purpose ". In contrast, called Amadeus Mader from the online magazine Metalnews.de "A Sense of Purpose " as the " most average work of her career" and criticized the " constant change between hard verse and anthemic chorus ".
The album debuted at # 1 on the Swedish charts. More Top 10 rankings, there were in Finland ( 3rd place) and Canada ( 7th place). In Japan, the album reached # 14 in the U.S. A Sense of Purpose sold in the first week on sale about 20,000 times and reached number 28 on the charts. In German-speaking countries the album debuted at number 6 in Germany and Austria and number 29 in Switzerland.
The single "The Mirror's Truth"
On March 7, 2008 the first single "The Mirror's Truth" was released, containing tracks to non on the song The Mirror 's Truth, three album. The piece Abnegation was already represented on the published on 4 September 2007 Sampler " Viva la Bands, Vol 2" and was for the EP and remixed with new vocals. For the title song The Mirror 's Truth a music video was filmed in an abandoned factory building in Skellefteå, which was produced by Popcore film. A making -of of the video has the band released already on their myspace page.
The single reached # 14 in the Swedish Singles Chart. In Germany took the single to number 72, number 51 in Austria and Finland in fifth place.