|
DARK TRANQUILITY ‘Character’ (Century Media) (2005)
It has not been long since I made my review for Dark Tranquillity's new EP,"Lost to Apathy". Having been a fan of this band for the last ten years, ever since the release of "The Gallery"(1995) that is, I knew that the three new songs which were featured on that EP would do anything but help me understand the band's musical direction (I am quite used to that sort of "treatment" from this band anyway-hehehe).
Yes, it is true that I found "Lost to Apathy" a very tasteful "appetiser", but the question that's been troubling my mind ever since was whether the "main course" would be able to stand up to my expectations.
Well, it seems that my hunger was to be satisfied sooner than I expected. Soon after I opened the nice folded envelope sent to me by lovely Donna from Century Media, I came across the promo of the band's seventh full-length album "Character".
Now, you are probably all aware of how it feels when you are just about to listen to the new album of a band that you really like...exactly, nervousness is the perfect word. Anyway, by that stage I knew that I had no other option than to listen to the album and get rid of this silly anxiety once and for all.
I really wish that you were able to be there with me when "The New Built" came rushing to announce its presence. There is no way that I will ever be able to find the exact words that can describe the huge smile that was formed on my face at that particular moment.
I cannot say that I was totally taken by surprise though, since we were warned about the band's cravings for heavier music by their previous (and equally impressive) release "Damage Done"(2002). What a great way to begin an album: fast double bass drumming, a nice and quite catchy guitar riffs from the masters of the six string Martin Henriksson and Niklas Sundin, and finally the heaviest vocal performance that we have heard in years from the one and only Mikael Stanne.
Do not expect that to be the only heavy moment in the album though. Next in line is "Through Smudged Lenses", another heavy and rhythmical composition that will help you continue feasting in the name of Dark Tranquillity.
Yes, God knows how long I have waited for the band to release such an album. It is not that I don't like the band's more melodic-orientated albums like "Projector" (1999) and Haven (2000), on the contrary, but when you will hear the amazing bass line of "Out of Nothing" and the well-compose riff that follows right after you will excuse this outbreak of mine. It's not even as if the band has decided to extract any melodic elements from their music.
Martin Brandstrom has made a great job filling the songs with beautiful keyboard melodies, but it's just that they now play a back up instead of a leading role.
Now it is time for the two songs, which were featured in the "Lost to Apathy" EP to invade your speakers, with "The Endless Feed" being the most melodic or even electronic of the whole album, and "Lost to Apathy" one of the fastest and heaviest compositions which quite rightfully gained a leading role in promoting the band's music. This battle between melody and heaviness will continue with "Mind Matters" and "One Thought" before you will get introduced to the slightly Epic guitar melodies of "Dry Run".
The ninth song of the album, "Am I 1", is the strongest contestant for the most melancholic composition of the album - and Martin Brandstrom is the person that you will need to thank for that. There are only two songs before the end of this album, and Dark Tranquillity is still not ready to give up. "Senses Tied" is another typical example of what this Gothenburg-based band is capable of producing, but I have to say that the six Swedes kept the biggest surprise for the very end.
What surprises is the album's longest composition (six and a half minutes) entitled "My Negation" - a very dark and melodic song that will win you over in no time. In fact I have lost count as to many times in a row I have played this song after I heard it for the first time. An excellent way of ending a wonderful album, and an extra thanks to Martin Brandstrom (yes, him again) for composing such a beautiful piano melody.
Well, ladies and gentlemen - it looks like Dark Tranquillity did it again. Their new, and soon to be released, album "Character" is another great chapter in the history of the band which has not only managed to be around for the last fifteen years, but has also created a whole music genre - the "Gothenburg Sound". This was indeed a very delicious meal and not only did I find it tasty but I also feel quite full - may I please be excused?
Review by John Stefanis
****½
Related>> EP review
|
