DARK TRANQUILLITY: Fiction

Choice Of The Month May 2007
Cover	Release	Style
	2007-04-23	melodic death metal
	Label
	www.centurymedia.com
	Website
	www.darktranquillity.com
	Contact
	-
	Playing Time	Cat. N°
	45:51	CD 77615-2
	Review by / Translated by	Rating
	Vera	9,5/10
nederlands	Review
I guess there is no need in introducing Dark Tranquillity from the beginning, for together with At The Gates and In Flames they are one of the echelons of the infamous Gothenburg sound. A new album of these guys is always a thing to look forward to for me. ‘Fiction’ – in the meantime the eighth studio album of these sympathetic Swedes – is in the shops now and it continues along the lines of their former album ‘Character’. This means that they maintain the bit heavier course they hold on to since ‘Damage Done’. But of course we got some small yet important details that demand our attention, little changes one may call a natural progression of a masterly band. This time they chose the hardworking Danish Tue Madsen to provide the album with a chunky mix. Dark Tranquillity did a lot of touring during the last years. We could see them hit the stage with bands like Killswitch Engage, Kreator, In Flames, Opeth and Soilwork, but it was a pity that they never headlined. Right before the release of ‘Fiction’ the band embarked to the States for a tour with The Haunted and Into Eternity. From the opening track ‘Nothing To No One’ on, we can enjoy the crystal-clear guitar sounds of Hendriksson and Sundin (who was in charge for the artwork again too), the raucous yet intelligible voice of Mikael Stanne and beautiful modern keyboard wizardry of Martin Brändström which is very distinctive for the music of Dark Tranquillity. Another salient feature are the fetching vocal-lines, these make this album a first class sing along happening after a few spins. But besides sharp chopping songs like ‘Empty Me’, ‘Focus Shift’ and the slightly slower ‘The Lesser Faith’ we have a number of tracks that deserve a special mention. ‘Inside The Particle Storm’ for example is a stunner, especially due to the atmospheric, melancholic centrepiece. Another favourite is the dark ‘Misery’s Crown’ when Mikael perfectly switches from a low sensual gothic voice to grunts. A classic track in birth! In the occluding ‘The Mundane And The Magic’ this alternation from common vocals to grunts happens again, but there are any female guest vocals of Nell Sigland of Theatre of Tragedy on top of that. As you see, there is not only “hack and maul stuff” on ‘Fiction’, but Dark Tranquillity knows how to surprise friend and foe with a large dose of refinement as well. ‘Fiction’ is available as limited edition with a bonus DVD, so what are you waiting for?
Musicians
Mikael Stanne: vocals Martin Hendriksson: guitars Niklas Sundin: guitars Michael Nicklasson: bass Martin Brändström: keyboards Anders Jivarp: drums
Tracklist
Nothing To No One (4:10) The Lesser Faith (4:38) Terminus (Where Death Is Most Alive) (4:24) Blind At Heart (4:21) Icipher (4:39) Inside The Particle Storm (5:29) Empty Me (4:59) Misery’s Crown (4:13) Focus Shift (3:36) The Mundane And The Magic (5:18)
Discography


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