Dark Tranquility - Fiction Review
Posted by Dan Marsicano on 04.26.2007
Swedish Melodic Death Metal Strikes Again!
The Band:
Mikael Stanne - Vocals
Martin Henriksson - Guitars
Niklas Sundin - Guitars
Michael Nicklasson - Bass
Martin Brändström – Keyboard
Anders Jivarp – Drums
The Review:
Dark Tranquility, a melodic death metal band from Sweden, has been cranking out music since the early 1990’s. Unlike other bands in the genre, like In Flames, Dark Tranquility has not compromised its sound for any radio play or for commercial success. However, they have been able to gain an underground following. Their last release, Character , was one of their heaviest releases, almost devoid of Mikael Stanne’s clean vocals that were on display in the past. Their newest album, Fiction , continues in the direction of the last album. Does their 8th studio release have enough variety to make it a worthwhile release?
“Nothing To No More” starts the album off with a bass line before the guitars come in. The song is fast and full of standard melodic death metal characteristics, such as blast beats. However, the keyboards in the chorus show a hint of melody and the song ends on a high note with a great keyboard line and duel guitars.
“The Lesser Faith” slows down the album a little bit, but still is aggressive as hell. A melodic middle section with clean electric guitars and piano is a nice surprise, but the band brings back the intensity in the end of the track. An atmospheric keyboard starts off “Terminus (Where Death Is Most Alive)” before turning into another aggressive track. “It is the only place I know, where death is most alive,” Stanne growls as the band keeps the intensity at a fever pitch. A brief guitar solo before the ending chorus helps to end the track at a high note.
“Blind at Heart” starts with a thrash riff that sounds like it came from 1980’s Slayer or Exodus. The chorus is melodic, but the thrash riff is always around the corner. A brilliant solo that ranges from slow to blazing fast is the highlight. “Icipher” is a decent track that sounds a bit too familiar to the other tracks, but is still able to be heavy and catchy at the same time.
The second half of the album starts with the longest song on the album, “Inside The Particle Storm,” at over five and a half minutes. The lyrics really stand out in this track, which seems to be about nuclear war. “Inside the particle storm, where clouds of napalm shimmer, with the promise of one final dawn” and “Our lungs are filled with sorry and our children drowning like dogs” stand out for its graphic, yet poetic imagery. The clean guitars also help to bring some much-needed variety into the music, which was starting to get a bit too familiar. “Empty Me” has the familiar Dark Tranquility sound, which includes catchy choruses and thrashiness.
“Misery’s Crown” is the most experimental song yet in the album. The song sounds it could have been on their 4th album, Projector , which was their most mellow and experimental album. The experimental aspect comes from Mikael Stanne’s clean vocals, which are on display for the first time in the album.
“Focus Shift” is the single off the new album and is also the shortest song on the track. Unlike most singles, “Focus Shift” is as heavy as any of the other tracks with an excellent job done by the keyboardist and guitarists, who each contribute a great solo.
“The Mundane and The Magic” is a brilliant way to end the album. The song mixes the growls and clean vocals with a superb piano line. However, an interesting twist is in the song. Female vocals, which have not been present since their second album The Gallery , return to bring a great contrast between Stanne’s growls and clean vocals.
Mikael Stanne’s vocals are in fine form with his growls sounding menacing, yet easily understood. His clean vocals, which are used sparingly, are really well done and in the same league as Opeth’s Mikael Akerfeldt.
Martin Henriksson and Niklas Sundin keep the riffs coming and only slow down occasionally. The few solos that are in the album are well done and really bring some depth to the songs. Michael Nicklasson is heard clearly in the mix, but does not stand out. Anders Jivarp contributes blast beats, pounding double bass, and slick beats without straying too far from the melodic death metal formula.
Martin Brändström is the real highlight of the band, instrumentally. Martin’s keyboards are able to put across many moods, from anger to calmness, which contrasts nicely throughout the entire album. His piano notes are stellar, which help to make the chorus’s stand out, and really move the songs forward without interfering with the other instruments.
Dark Tranquility’s new album, Fiction , continues the streak of stellar releases that have been coming from the band over the past ten years. The album’s first half is a bit weaker than the second half because of some repetitiveness of riffs, but the album is still a great release from the current flag bearers of the melodic death metal scene.
The 411: A compelling release from Dark Tranquility that has the band sticking to their guns while evolving their sound a bit. While not completely different from their last release, Character, Fiction is still a solid release that will have fans of melodic death metal satisfied.
