Dark Tranquillity
Is a melodic death metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden. They are one of the longest-standing bands from the original Gothenburg metal scene and one of the pioneers of the melodic death metal genre, along with In Flames and At the Gates.
Dark Tranquillity was formed in 1989, under the name Septic Broiler as a thrash metal band. Since its formation the band has had a fairly stable line-up. In 1990, the band recorded a demo cassette tape entitled Enfeebled Earth before they would change their name to Dark Tranquillity and change their musical style. It was followed by two more demos: Trail of Life Decayed (1991) and A Moonclad Reflection (1992) (both were later remastered and re-released in 2004). In 1993, Skydancer was released, and Anders Fridén, Dark Tranquillity's original lead vocalist, left the band and later joined In Flames.[1] Mikael Stanne, who formerly played rhythm guitar and provided backing vocals, then became the lead vocalist, and Fredrik Johansson was recruited to take over rhythm guitar duties.
In 1995, Dark Tranquillity released The Gallery, considered a landmark in melodic death metal, which saw the band tightening their production details to a great extent, and showed that the new line-up was a essential change that furthered the band as a whole. In 1997, The Mind's I was released, which saw a slight change in sound. Before the release of the band's 1999 album, Projector, Fredrik Johansson was asked to leave Dark Tranquillity due to his lack of devotion to the band.[1] Martin Henriksson then switched from playing bass to guitar to replace Johansson, and the band added Michael Nicklasson on bass and Martin Brändström on keyboards and electronics. At this point the band also signed to Century Media Records. Until 2008, the band had remained stable in its line-up and its musical style; blending layers of rapid guitar lines with harmony-rich electronic keyboard washes and extremely precise rhythms underneath Stanne's abstract growled lyrics.
In 1999, Projector (later nominated for a Swedish Grammy Award) became the 4th output from the band, and saw a change in songwriting. While retaining growled vocals and their signature death metal sound, pianos, baritone soft vocals, and verse-chorus fashion song structures were now intregal parts of Dark Tranquillity's sound. Year 2000 saw the release of Haven which saw the addition of slight electric keyboard sounds, but also abandoned most all of the clean vocals in favor of a slightly heavier sound. In 2003, Dark Tranquillity released Damage Done, and was intended to be a step in a heavier direction, adding a thicker guitar distortion, deep atmospheric keyboards, and abandoning soft vocals altogether. Character was the 7th release from Dark Tranquillity, released in 2005, and was held in much critical praise. It featured the first music video released by Dark Tranquillity to feature the band itself, with the single Lost To Apathy. 2007 saw Fiction, which in turn, saw a return of Mikeal Stanne's clean vocals, and the first female guest vocalist since Projector.
Dark Tranquillity have recently toured with The Haunted, Into Eternity, and Scar Symmetry for the North America Metal For The Masses tour.[3] They returned to the U.S. during the Spring of 2008 with Arch Enemy. They have also toured the UK in early 2008 along with Omnium Gatherum. They are preparing for a live dvd to be released sometime in 2008. Bass guitarist Michael Nicklasson left the band in August 2008 due to personal reasons with no hard feelings between him and the band. This was announced on August 23 on the band's official homepage. On September 19th, the band found a new bassist, Daniel Antonsson, who was the bassist in the band Soilwork in the past.
Current members
* Mikael Stanne – vocals (1994−present), guitar, backing vocals (1989−1994)
* Niklas Sundin – guitar (1989−present)
* Martin Henriksson – guitar (1998−present), bass guitar (1989−1998)
* Daniel Antonsson - bass guitar (2008-present)
* Martin Brändström – keyboards and electronics (1998−present)
* Anders Jivarp – drums (1989−present)
Former members
* Anders Fridén – vocals (1989−1993)
* Fredrik Johansson – guitar (1993−1998)
* Michael Nicklasson – bass guitar (1998−2008)
Session members
* Robin Engström – drums (tour 2001)
Guest musicians
* Anna-Kajsa Avehall (Skydancer)
* Eva-Marie Larsson (The Gallery)
* Sara Svensson (The Mind's I)
* Johanna Andersson (Projector)
* Nell Sigland (Fiction)
Discography
1992 A Moonclad Reflection [EP]
1992 Trail Of Life Decayed [EP]
1993 Skydancer
1995 Of Chaos And Eternal Night [EP]
1995 The Gallery
1996 Enter Suicidal Angels [EP]
1997 The Mind's I
1999 Projector
2000 Haven
2002 Damage Done
2003 Live Damage [DVD]
2004 Lost To Apathy [EP]
2005 Character
2007 Fiction
Website -> http://www.darktranquillity.com/
Myspace -> http://www.myspace.com/dtofficial
Dark Tranquility - Out Of Nothing [my fav]
P.s. merita ascultati !
