DARK TRANQUILLITY: Character

Produced by Dark Tranquillity

Released: 2005

Coming three years after Damage Done re-established them as melodic death metal force, Character saw Dark Tranquillity making some considerable way to wresting the crown of the kings of their chosen style from contemporaries who had had it for so long, a crown that is, and has always been, rightfully theirs. Dark Tranquillity has been at it longer than anyone, and have always been more than one step ahead of their compatriots in their experimentations with keyboards, electronics and clean vocal melodies but their refusal to dumb-down their approach to its most basic and commercial form has meant they have never attained the status of more illustrious bands like In Flames and Soilwork.

Character continued this proudly uncompromising tradition and showed that Dark Tranquillity stoods at the pinnacle of their creative height. For this album, Dark Tranquillity went back to their classic sound from the Mind’s I period, but seamlessly added in the modern keyboard element from Damage Done, and it works brilliantly. “The New Build” opens the album perfectly with some instantly fearsome thrashy death metal injected with an insane sense of melody and a ferocious hook. So the scene is set for 45 minutes of tight, articulate melodic death metal that doesn’t forsake its ferocity and intensity for commerical mediocrity. Mikael Stanne gives a powerfully aggressive vocal performance throughout and Martin Brändström’s electronic elements are well woven into the songwriting fabric rather than existing merely for the sake of it.

Character is a brilliant example of modern Swedish death metal without wimping out at all.

1. The New Build
2. Through Smudged Lenses
3. Out of Nothing
4. The Endless Feed
5. Lost to Apathy
6. Mind Matters
7. One Thought
8. Dry Run
9. Am I 1?
10. Senses Tied
11. My Negation

Rating: 95%