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Dark Tranquillity | |
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.jpg) Dark Tranquillity in 2024 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Septic Broiler (1989–1990) |
| Origin | Billdal,Gothenburg, Sweden |
| Genres | Melodic death metal[1] |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels |
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| Members |
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| Past members |
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| Website | darktranquillity |
Dark Tranquillity is a Swedishmelodic death metal band fromGothenburg, formed in 1989. They are considered one of the pioneering acts of theGothenburg metal scene, which also includes bands such asAt the Gates andIn Flames.[2] After a nearly three-decade long collaboration of four founding members frequent lineup changes between 2016 and 2021 have left only vocalistMikael Stanne as an original member, together with long-time keyboardist Martin Brändström. The current lineup of the band consists of Stanne (vocals), Brandstrom (keyboards, electronics), Johan Reinholdz (lead guitar), Peter Lyse Karmak (rhythm guitar), Christian Jansson (bass), and Joakim Strandberg Nilsson (drums, percussion).[3]
Dark Tranquillity was formed in 1989 by guitarists Mikael Stanne andNiklas Sundin, vocalistAnders Fridén, drummer Anders Jivarp, and bassistMartin Henriksson, under the name Septic Broiler. In 1990, the band recorded a demo entitledEnfeebled Earth, and the band changed its name to Dark Tranquillity shortly after.[4]
In August 1993, the band released their debut albumSkydancer. Soon after, vocalist Anders Fridén left the band and joined fellow Gothenburg band,In Flames.[5] GuitaristMikael Stanne then assumed the position of lead vocalist, and Fredrik Johansson was recruited to take over second guitar duties.[6]
In 1994, Dark Tranquillity covered the song "My Friend of Misery" for theMetallica tribute albumMetal Militia − A Tribute to Metallica.
In 1995, the band released an EP,Of Chaos and Eternal Night, which was later followed by the release of their second studio album,The Gallery.The Gallery has been referred to as a masterpiece from the era.[7][8][9]
Dark Tranquillity released their second EP,Enter Suicidal Angels, in November 1996. Their third album,The Mind's I, was released in April 1997, with the band continuing further with the sound conveyed onThe Gallery.
In January 1999, Fredrik Johansson and the band parted ways, citing a desire to focus on his family and a more stable job.[10] With that position now vacant, bassistMartin Henriksson took over duties as second guitarist,[11] and the band brought in Michael Niklasson on bass.[10] Projector saw the introduction of a lot ofpiano, keyboard, and electronic parts into Dark Tranquillity's sound, so the band also added another member, Martin Brändström, on electronics.[10]
Projector was released in June 1999, and was later nominated for aSwedish Grammy Award. The album saw a major change in songwriting: while retaining growled vocals and their signature death metal sound, the band added pianos, baritone soft vocals, and verse-chorus fashion to their sound, reflecting the band's goal to strive for different musical expressions. Around the same time,Skydancer andOf Chaos and Eternal Night were reissued together asSkydancer/Of Chaos and Eternal Night.
A year later saw the release ofHaven, which featured prominent electronics in comparison to previous releases. Like its predecessor,Haven was also received in a generally mixed manner by fans and critics alike. As the band toured in 2001, the band hiredRobin Engström to play live, due to Jivarp's commitments as a new father.
Dark Tranquillity releasedDamage Done in 2002, a return to a heavier direction, adding thicker guitar distortion, deep atmospheric keyboards, and abandoning soft vocals altogether. They released the music video for the single "Monochromatic Stains", followed by the release ofLive Damage, their first live DVD. In 2004, their compilation albumExposures – In Retrospect and Denial, featuring one disc with rare and unreleased tracks and another with live tracks, was released.[12]
Character was the seventh release from Dark Tranquillity, in 2005, and was held in much critical praise. It featured the fourth music video released by Dark Tranquillity, with the successful single "Lost to Apathy". After releasing the album, the band played live inCanada for the first time.
In 2007,Fiction was released, which in turn, saw a return of Stanne's clean vocals, and the first female guest vocalist sinceProjector. The album also saw writing style that combined the stylings ofProjector andHaven, with the more aggressive traits ofCharacter andDamage Done. At this time, Dark Tranquillity toured withThe Haunted,Into Eternity, andScar Symmetry for the North America Metal for the Masses Tour.[13] They also toured the UK in early 2008 along withOmnium Gatherum. They returned to the US during spring 2008 withArch Enemy. On the band's official website they announced that bass guitarist Niklasson left the band in August 2008 for personal reasons with no hard feelings between him and the band. On 19 September 2008, the band found a new bassist inDimension Zero guitaristDaniel Antonsson, who also was a guitarist forSoilwork. On 25 May 2009, reissues ofProjector,Haven, andDamage Done were released.
On 14 October 2009, Dark Tranquillity finished work on their ninth studio album. On 26 October 2009, they released a DVD titledWhere Death Is Most Alive. On 30 October 2009, at the release party of the DVD, 333 copies were given away for free of the rare live albumThe Dying Fragments.[14][15] On 21 December 2009, Dark Tranquillity released the song "Dream Oblivion", and on 14 January 2010, they released the song "At the Point of Ignition", from their ninth album, exclusively on theirMySpace page. Their ninth album, titledWe Are the Void, was released on 1 March 2010 in Europe and 2 March in the US.[16] They were also the opening act for a US winter tour that was headlined byKillswitch Engage and joined byThe Devil Wears Prada.
Dark Tranquillity headlined a North American tour in May–June 2010 withThreat Signal,Mutiny Within andThe Absence.[17] In February 2011, the band performed live at BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus inHyderabad,India.[18]
On 27 April 2012, Dark Tranquillity renewed their contract withCentury Media.[19] On 18 October 2012, the band began writing for the album.[20] On 10 January 2013, the band announced the title of their tenth album would beConstruct, and it was released in Europe on 27 May 2013 and in North America on 28 May 2013. The album was mixed byJens Bogren at his Fascination Street studios inÖrebro, Sweden.[21]
On 18 February 2013,Antonsson amicably left Dark Tranquillity, citing a desire to focus on playing guitar and being a recording engineer and producer.[22] On 27 February 2013, the band announced that they completed recording the album.[23] Although Antonsson remained during the recording of "Construct", he did not perform the bass.[24] According toNiklas Sundin'sTwitter, he hasn't been excited for a Dark Tranquillity release sinceSkydancer, due to the fact that the recording sessions for all their other releases were "way too long" compared toConstruct.[25]
On 27 March 2013, ateaser campaign and track list forConstruct were revealed. The band also commented on the style of the album, saying, "While still bearing the unmistakable mark of the Dark Tranquillity, the record is probably our most different and diverse offering since 1999'sProjector".[26]
To promote the album, the band toured the world with dates inFinland and North America alongsideOmnium Gatherum, Europe withTristania, and Sweden withDarkane.[27]
On 10 July 2013, aB-side fromConstruct, titled "Sorrow's Architect", was released on a limited flexi7" released with an issue ofDecibel. On 14 January 2014, the band announced that the song would be released with another B-side, titled "A Memory Construct", on a limited tour 7" and digitally which also includes the "Sorrow's Architect". The 7" became available on 1 February 2014, and digitally in March 2014.[28]
In March 2016, guitaristMartin Henriksson announced his departure from the band, admitting he had "lost the passion for playing music" after playing in the band for 26 years. The band had no hard feelings for him and wished him the best in whatever he decided to pursue.[29]
On 22 May 2016, Dark Tranquillity began recording their eleventh full-length albumAtoma,[30] but did not officially announce it until 6 July.[31] The album was finally released on 4 November 2016, viaCentury Media. In March 2017, the band released the song "The Absolute", which was recorded during the Atoma sessions, as a digital single. On 28 January 2018, Dark Tranquillity embarked on a European tour with main support bandEquilibrium.[32]
On 22 March 2020,Niklas Sundin released a statement on Dark Tranquillity's social media, announcing his departure from the band.[33]
A week later, the band announced that the recording of their new album had started, and that the two guitarists who had been touring with the band, since 2017,Christopher Amott andJohan Reinholdz were named full-time members of the band.[34] The album,Moment, was released on 20 November 2020. As a preview, they released the singles "Phantom Days", "Identical to None", "The Dark Unbroken" and "Eyes Of The World" on 11 September, 16 October, 30 October and on 20 November 2020, respectively.Moment was awarded the2021 Grammi for Hard Rock/Metal Album of the Year.[35]
On 13 August 2021,Mikael Stanne announced the departure of original drummer Anders Jivarp and bassistAnders Iwers, leaving him as only founding member of the band. For their upcoming tour bassist Christian Jansson andIn Mourning drummer Joakim Strandberg Nilsson were asked to play as session musicians.[36] Both Jansson and Strandberg Nilsson were announced as full-time band members in June 2023.[37]
On 25 January 2022, former guitarist Fredrik Johansson died of cancer.[38] On 23 July 2023, Christopher Amott announced his departure from the band.[39] On 7 March 2024, the band released new song titled "The Last Imagination" and announced their thirteenth album titledEndtime Signals, which was released on 16 August 2024.[40]
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