Best Dark Tranquillity Album

[foxdvd]

The Gallery…it is a classic, and since you listened to it, I will leave it at that. 10 out of 10

The Mind’s I…well I am one that voted it as best…..so my review might be bias, but I do think it is their best work. One of the complaints people made at this album was that they shortened the songs and it was less epic. Well yes, they shortened the songs on some of them (2 minute range) but I do not think it is any less epic. In fact, it is the next logical step from the Gallery, with better, cleaner playing, and just plain awesome songs. I have no idea how you could hate The Mind’s I if you like the Gallery. You might still like Gallery more, but you will be happy with Mind’s I. 10 out of 10


Projector….I would give it an 8 out of 10. For me, it is their second weakest album, but still a worthy purchase. The only problem I have with it is the clean vocals. They are very well done, but they do seem to sound the same from song to song. Still, after repeat listens you do pick up on the more subtle shifts of that clean vocal work, and it grows on you. I feel most of the complaints for this album is that it has clean vocals period. Many fans were not happy. Also, there was more electronic/synthesizer work on this cd.

Haven…8.5 out of 10. Nothing wrong with it, but lacks the big powerful epic that both Gallery (Lethe/Gallery) and The Mind’s I (Insanity’s Crescendo) had. A very consistent album, with no real bad songs at all, and very powerful in its own right. Also suffers VERY slightly from repetition in sounds, but not because of clean vocals, because those were for the most part given up.


If you like Gallery, pick up it and Mind's I in one order from theendrecods. You WILL like them for sure. Then you might want to try some MP3 files of their last two albums to make sure..

 

[Anthony]

Originally posted by foxdvd
Projector….I would give it an 8 out of 10. For me, it is their second weakest album, but still a worthy purchase. The only problem I have with it is the clean vocals. They are very well done, but they do seem to sound the same from song to song. Still, after repeat listens you do pick up on the more subtle shifts of that clean vocal work, and it grows on you. I feel most of the complaints for this album is that it has clean vocals period. Many fans were not happy. Also, there was more electronic/synthesizer work on this cd.

And when Mikael grouls, his vocal doesn't sound the same from song to song, yeah?

 

[foxdvd]

And when Mikael grouls, his vocal doesn't sound the same from song to song, yeah?

No, they don’t. There is quite some range in his growls. I can see how someone who has little real ear for music could be confused by that, or someone who thinks all growls are just cookie monster screams, but this is far from the case. The range within just one 30 second passage at times is tremendous, and very satisfying.

 

[Jo]

What do the people who didn't vote for The Mind's I, Projector, or Haven think about them?

I also own 'Projector' and love them both, but play 'Gallery' more so voted for this release, unfortunately I do not own 'The Mind's I' YET! (perhaps I should not have voted?)
Mikael's vocal projection of mood, emotion is brilliant!

 

[hibernal_dream]

Haven's actually the only DT album I own. The music is brilliant, except I wasn't impressed with the vocals. I thought they'd take the clean vocals further but instead they went back to the growls... And his growl is worse than ever. No female vocals either!!!!!

 

[Villain]

Okay, let's take 'em one by one:

The Demos: Early Dark Tranquillity (and Septic Broiler) demos are just that - demos. Due to the horribly low level of production they should be left out of these kinds of polls, IMO. Anyway, some of the band's strongest abilities (combination of melody and brutality, surprising elements in song-structures and the sheer "taste" of genuine art) can be found even on those early songs, despite the somewhat unimaginative soundscapes.

Skydancer: The first Dark Tranquillity album is a unique piece of pure art. Yes, I voted for it, not because I'd like it the best, but because seeing it having only two votes was so painfull; sorry for that Hibernal_Dream, I know you wanted to know our "true" opinions, but I just had to show people that Skydancer is not worse than the other albums, musicwise. The main reasons why people generally don't like Skydancer that much are the rather poor level of production (the drums are thin, the second guitar weak) and the not-so-developed vocals of Anders Fridén. Anyway, the songs are great epics and the structures very innovative, even by today's standards. The lyrics are poemlike and rather original in metal-music, punctuated by the use of two male vocalists (Fridén and then-backing-vocalist Mikael Stanne) and one female singer. The longest songs, "A Bolt of Blazing Gold" and "Shadow Duet" stand above the others.

Of Chaos and Eternal Night: The short MCD with the new line-up (no more Fridén, Stanne throws away the guitar and starts screaming for real) is a bit different from the Skydancer-material. The guitars are very important from now on and the songs become rather technical. The production is now better (recorded in Studio Fredman) and thus the sound is excellent. Anyway, only four songs (one of which is a remake of one Skydancer song, "Alone") are not enough to convince a casual listener about the greatness of this band.

The Gallery: Yes, this is their best album, often hailed as the best melodic death metal album ever! The band has perfected their playing and Stanne was undoubtedly the best death-metal vocalist at that time (okay, Swanö was very good back then as well - nowadays certain mr. Åkerfeldt has come rather close). A lot has been said about this album, yet no words can truly describe it. "Punish My Heaven" and "Lethe" are immortal classics.

Enter Suicidal Angels: A little "snack" between albums presents the direction the band is taking on the following The Mind's I. There are three short Dark Tranquillity songs, plus one stupid techno-remix of their tracks, done by some friend of the band. Have really not much to say about this one, for there is nothing very important on this MCD. "Zodijackyl Light" appears both on this and on TMI.

The Mind's I: Very contradicting album in my eyes. On one hand, I like the fresh new style of the band; on the other I hate their near abandonment of the calmer melodies on majority of the songs. No matter if one likes or dislikes the album, there is no denying the band-members were perfectly honest to themselves and did what they wanted on this record. I don't like the result as much as the other albums by the band, but I can see why some people like this one a lot. The longest, calmer songs "Hedon" and "Insanity's Crescendo" are some of the best DT songs ever, but some of the rest are rather poor IMHO.

Projector: The album that divided the DT-fans in two. Some thought that this was their ultimate hour, the essence of the words "dark tranquillity"; some said it was a sell-out or at least the sign of artistic degeneration. It took me a while to fully get "into" Projector (actually I was one of its early critics), but today I can openly say that it is among the 20 best albums I have ever heard. Everyone has their own favorite Projector-song and for me "Nether Novas" and "Sun Fired Blanks" do the trick.

Haven: New and innovative with lots of amazing electronics, yet in some sense lacking something the previous works had, IMO. Very enjoyable album and perhaps a bit too "easy" to get into, meaning that it becomes a bit shallow after repeated listenings. Anyway, shows that the bands ability the transform once again and bring its followers new perspectives towards the art of music. The title-track touches me the most.

-Villain ("The Breathing Dark Tranquillity Encyclopedia")

 

[Mikael is God]

HAVEN YES!

 

[Useful Idiot]

Haven yes?