What's in a name? As far as genre goes, Swedish melodic death-metal act Dark Tranquility obviously believe in truth in labeling, as their sound embodies exactly what death metal should be, and contains melody many pop groups cannot achieve. Their sound is tranquil, to be sure, but its darkness gives it the edge metal fans crave.
Dark Tranquility are back—and with such milestone albums as Character and The Mind's I on their resumAc, fans and critics alike expect much from 2007's Fiction. With this release, Dark Tranquility confirm their role as one of the most reliable contemporary metal groups and approach the legendary status of melodic death idols At the Gates.
The group will turn 18 years old this year, and Fiction marks their eighth studio release. Dark Tranquility have aged with grace, embracing a contemporary sound without going overboard and selling out. Fiction exemplifies this evolution and powerfully reaffirms what diehard fans have always known: Dark Tranquility are masters of their craft.
The album straddles the line between the brutal and the beautiful with Mikael Stanne's phlegmy traditional death metal vocals balanced by the keyboards of Martin BrA¤ndstrA¶m. Amazingly, Stanne's enunciation is as clear as the jewel case the CD comes in, while retaining the intensity death-metal fans expect.
The band employ more than just keyboards to produce melody on this effort. Synthesized elements A la 2005's Character take a step toward the forefront, but do not distract. Tracks like ""Icipher,"" ""Misery's Crown"" and ""The Mundane and the Magic"" use these electronics and the occasional clean vocal to create an almost serene atmosphere. ""Mundane"" even contains prominent female vocals—an intriguing touch.
However, the remainder of Fiction is a raging tour of aggression. The album's highlights definitely come from this heavier, faster group of songs. ""Nothing to No One,"" ""Terminus (Where Death is Most Alive)"" and ""Focus Shift"" are standouts of this category, but there are really no throwaway tracks on the record.
In fact, one of the only two complaints about Fiction is that at just under 46 minutes, there is scarcely enough music to satisfy the average metalhead. The other complaint is that Stanne's lyrics can become repetitive, even outwardly corny.
In ""Icipher,"" he growls ""The thing that scares me most / Is the fear I see in others / And the only thing that really frightens me to the core / Is when I see that fear in you."" Hearing a grown Swede scream about what frightens him most seems paradoxical, if not downright ironic, but, if this type of lyricism allows Stanne to exercise his demons, so be it. The problem only occurs occasionally, and the music itself more than makes up for it.
After 46 minutes, Fiction leaves the listener ready for more, and that's a credit to its quality. While Dark Tranquility continue to develop and hone their melodic death musicianship, they fall just short of some of their brilliant previous work. Fans will be happy with this release, and newcomers will be impressed. Fiction is a solid album by one of the best—if not the best—melodic death groups today.
Their sound is tranquil, to be sure, but its darkness gives it the edge metal fans crave.
Dark Tranquility are back—and with such milestone albums as Character and The Mind's I on their resumAc, fans and critics alike expect much from 2007's Fiction. With this release, Dark Tranquility confirm their role as one of the most reliable contemporary metal groups and approach the legendary status of melodic death idols At the Gates.
The group will turn 18 years old this year, and Fiction marks their eighth studio release. Dark Tranquility have aged with grace, embracing a contemporary sound without going overboard and selling out. Fiction exemplifies this evolution and powerfully reaffirms what diehard fans have always known: Dark Tranquility are masters of their craft.
The album straddles the line between the brutal and the beautiful with Mikael Stanne's phlegmy traditional death metal vocals balanced by the keyboards of Martin BrA¤ndstrA¶m. Amazingly, Stanne's enunciation is as clear as the jewel case the CD comes in, while retaining the intensity death-metal fans expect.
The band employ more than just keyboards to produce melody on this effort. Synthesized elements A la 2005's Character take a step toward the forefront, but do not distract. Tracks like ""Icipher,"" ""Misery's Crown"" and ""The Mundane and the Magic"" use these electronics and the occasional clean vocal to create an almost serene atmosphere. ""Mundane"" even contains prominent female vocals—an intriguing touch.
However, the remainder of Fiction is a raging tour of aggression. The album's highlights definitely come from this heavier, faster group of songs. ""Nothing to No One,"" ""Terminus (Where Death is Most Alive)"" and ""Focus Shift"" are standouts of this category, but there are really no throwaway tracks on the record.
In fact, one of the only two complaints about Fiction is that at just under 46 minutes, there is scarcely enough music to satisfy the average metalhead. The other complaint is that Stanne's lyrics can become repetitive, even outwardly corny.
In ""Icipher,"" he growls ""The thing that scares me most / Is the fear I see in others / And the only thing that really frightens me to the core / Is when I see that fear in you."" Hearing a grown Swede scream about what frightens him most seems paradoxical, if not downright ironic, but, if this type of lyricism allows Stanne to exercise his demons, so be it. The problem only occurs occasionally, and the music itself more than makes up for it.
After 46 minutes, Fiction leaves the listener ready for more, and that's a credit to its quality. While Dark Tranquility continue to develop and hone their melodic death musicianship, they fall just short of some of their brilliant previous work. Fans will be happy with this release, and newcomers will be impressed. Fiction is a solid album by one of the best—if not the best—melodic death groups today.
