Now, and to answer in a more fashionable way to Sirens demand, heres my personal point of view and analysis of the differences between Niklas and Mikaels songwriting. I decided to make this study because:
1-I believe lyircs are 50% (or even more) of the deal with most metal bands, especially Dark Tranquillity.
2-I never took the time to actually analyze the songwriting differences between Mikael and Niklas and since I study litterature, it's a subject of great interest to me. So I think this is the right place to do it. Why would I keep it for myself?
3-I'd like to hear other people's opinion on my study and also how they see and understand the differences in the lyrics.
4- I felt like it.
5-IMO, this is an excellent subject of discussion.
So here it is:
To begin, heres how I see Niklas songwriting. First, if we take a look at the evrlasting DT masterpiece "Shadow Duet" :
One shadow of beauty,
One shadow of darkness,
Sailing free on the seas within my mind
In this particular part, Niklas is simply describing the two struggling shadows (mostly, Good and Evil) that are in his mind. He wants us to see it as two ships sailing on the seas of his thoughts. This is a wonderful artistic representation of the inner working of the mind. Also, its extremely visual. As is most of Niklas songs. For example, heres a few more images we see in Skydancers songs :
Times lustful cyclones arise
Piercing the fairest of Skies
In elysian awakening of spiritual glory
We see what our history belies
("Nightfall by the Shore of Time")
A bolt of blazing gold,
swallowed by the waveless sea
The ocean-winds set sail,
in breeze towards their destiny
On solarbeams they rode,
white seagulls in harmony
For a moments startling glimpse
a sierra-burnt tranquillity
("A Bolt of Blazing Gold")
All these, as I previously said, are very pictural. We are presented somewhat of a painting, or a film, that is being described by the writer in an artistic manner. This I think is the basic difference between Mikael and Niklas. The latter, we all know, is not only a musician and a songwriter, but also a drawer. In that way, I think that Niklas writing is influenced by his talents in drawing. Im not a psychologist but I believe Niklas is more eased in describing through imagery the feelings he wants to express in his writing. Now, thats one difference, the other one I see is the themes they develop. Niklas, has always been writing on a more personal level. He oftens uses one specific person (often I or himself you might say) and develops on an emotion this character is feeling at this moment. This can be seen in most of his songs like Lethe, In Tears Bereaved, Alone, My Faeryland Forgotten or Tongues.
In that way, Mikael, since the bieginning, is different from Niklas. He, often, writes social criticism or states of mind (in that I mean how one reacts to a situation, its more psychological than emotional.) I tend to think that Mikaels style is more scientific What I mean his that most of his songs, when describing a feeling or human behavior, tend to analyze or explain it through poetry, instead of expressing it. If you take, for example, "The Emptiness From Which I Fed" :
Brought forth be the errors of our ways
As is denial so is contempt
Introspective to all but one
Tear apart the frames
No eye can of silence tell lie
Also, this song doesnt carry the same romantic feeling that Niklas songs have. Thats because Mikaels style is more abrupt. He writes in many short images that link together and Niklas is rather taking one general theme for each song (darkness, the sea, the sun, alcohol ) and he elaborates on it. Now, I believe that the newer albums, like Damage and Character are not the cause of songwriting differences between the two. I think that Mikael never changed his style, he simply refined it. The Character songs are carrying the same patterns and techniques than the Of Chaos or Gallery albums. If we take this excerpt frome Senses Tied :
Riddled by the trappings of words that make the edges blur
Here on the outskirts of sincerity and pride
Stretched as far as words can reach by the lure of higher meaning
Theres something out there lost behind the power lines
We see the same short images that, although not related in their thematic, are still used together to describe a specific mental state. In conclusion, both writers are excellent and personnally I can hardly say which I like the best. I prefer Mikaels rhythm (abrupt yet melodic) but I also favor Niklas images. The latter writes in a style that resembles the poets of the romantic-symbolic era (Baudelaire, Poe ) and the other writes in a more modern, even post-modern way. Thats how I see it and I have to admit that although I seek a carreer in litterature, Im not a professional yet, Im only a student. This means that I do not consider this study as the undisputable truth. Feel free to acknowledge, disagree, flame or present your own opinion about this subject. In the end, thats what a forum is for, isnt it?
1-I believe lyircs are 50% (or even more) of the deal with most metal bands, especially Dark Tranquillity.
2-I never took the time to actually analyze the songwriting differences between Mikael and Niklas and since I study litterature, it's a subject of great interest to me. So I think this is the right place to do it. Why would I keep it for myself?
3-I'd like to hear other people's opinion on my study and also how they see and understand the differences in the lyrics.
4- I felt like it.
5-IMO, this is an excellent subject of discussion.
So here it is:
To begin, heres how I see Niklas songwriting. First, if we take a look at the evrlasting DT masterpiece "Shadow Duet" :
One shadow of beauty,
One shadow of darkness,
Sailing free on the seas within my mind
In this particular part, Niklas is simply describing the two struggling shadows (mostly, Good and Evil) that are in his mind. He wants us to see it as two ships sailing on the seas of his thoughts. This is a wonderful artistic representation of the inner working of the mind. Also, its extremely visual. As is most of Niklas songs. For example, heres a few more images we see in Skydancers songs :
Times lustful cyclones arise
Piercing the fairest of Skies
In elysian awakening of spiritual glory
We see what our history belies
("Nightfall by the Shore of Time")
A bolt of blazing gold,
swallowed by the waveless sea
The ocean-winds set sail,
in breeze towards their destiny
On solarbeams they rode,
white seagulls in harmony
For a moments startling glimpse
a sierra-burnt tranquillity
("A Bolt of Blazing Gold")
All these, as I previously said, are very pictural. We are presented somewhat of a painting, or a film, that is being described by the writer in an artistic manner. This I think is the basic difference between Mikael and Niklas. The latter, we all know, is not only a musician and a songwriter, but also a drawer. In that way, I think that Niklas writing is influenced by his talents in drawing. Im not a psychologist but I believe Niklas is more eased in describing through imagery the feelings he wants to express in his writing. Now, thats one difference, the other one I see is the themes they develop. Niklas, has always been writing on a more personal level. He oftens uses one specific person (often I or himself you might say) and develops on an emotion this character is feeling at this moment. This can be seen in most of his songs like Lethe, In Tears Bereaved, Alone, My Faeryland Forgotten or Tongues.
In that way, Mikael, since the bieginning, is different from Niklas. He, often, writes social criticism or states of mind (in that I mean how one reacts to a situation, its more psychological than emotional.) I tend to think that Mikaels style is more scientific What I mean his that most of his songs, when describing a feeling or human behavior, tend to analyze or explain it through poetry, instead of expressing it. If you take, for example, "The Emptiness From Which I Fed" :
Brought forth be the errors of our ways
As is denial so is contempt
Introspective to all but one
Tear apart the frames
No eye can of silence tell lie
Also, this song doesnt carry the same romantic feeling that Niklas songs have. Thats because Mikaels style is more abrupt. He writes in many short images that link together and Niklas is rather taking one general theme for each song (darkness, the sea, the sun, alcohol ) and he elaborates on it. Now, I believe that the newer albums, like Damage and Character are not the cause of songwriting differences between the two. I think that Mikael never changed his style, he simply refined it. The Character songs are carrying the same patterns and techniques than the Of Chaos or Gallery albums. If we take this excerpt frome Senses Tied :
Riddled by the trappings of words that make the edges blur
Here on the outskirts of sincerity and pride
Stretched as far as words can reach by the lure of higher meaning
Theres something out there lost behind the power lines
We see the same short images that, although not related in their thematic, are still used together to describe a specific mental state. In conclusion, both writers are excellent and personnally I can hardly say which I like the best. I prefer Mikaels rhythm (abrupt yet melodic) but I also favor Niklas images. The latter writes in a style that resembles the poets of the romantic-symbolic era (Baudelaire, Poe ) and the other writes in a more modern, even post-modern way. Thats how I see it and I have to admit that although I seek a carreer in litterature, Im not a professional yet, Im only a student. This means that I do not consider this study as the undisputable truth. Feel free to acknowledge, disagree, flame or present your own opinion about this subject. In the end, thats what a forum is for, isnt it?
