I think the best part about constructing these “Nine Circles ov…” posts has been the opportunity to revisit the vast discographies of some of the longer-standing metal bands. I’m looking at the Swedish death metal scene specifically. Since many of these bands date back to the early 1990s, we know many of them offer impressive track lists and plenty of diversity in sound. We’ve already looked at the likes of In Flames, Hypocrisy, and—more recently—Scar Symmetry in this segment. This time out, I’d like to revisit some of the classics from arguably the most consistent band out of Gothenburg—Dark Tranquillity.

Why is “consistent” the term I’ve decided to go with on this one? Well, quite frankly, since they debuted Skydancer back in 1993, Dark Tranquillity have never really stopped. They’ve released 10 full length albums in total, with 2013’s Construct being the most recent. What’s interesting about Dark Tranquillity is, however, where other bands have shown numerous and dramatic changes in sound (looking at you, In Flames and Soilwork), Dark Tranquillity has kept their sound relatively consistent while still showing enough development to avoid losing their followers. This is respectable. So without further delay, let’s take a closer look at some of the highlights that have defined this impressive career…

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“Out of Nothing” (from Character, 2005)

I wanted to kick things off with my personal favorite DT album. From start to finish, Character utilizes a wide range of paces and styles, while remaining a dark, heavy album overall. “Out of Nothing” is a great example of this. It’s short, sweet, and in your face, and the galloping cadence is sure to provide more than enough aggressive energy in the earlier stages of the album.

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“Misery’s Crown” (from Fiction, 2007)

In all honestly, Fiction isn’t very high up there in my pecking order of DT albums. That said, “Misery’s Crown” is a standout. Mikael Stanne offers an outstanding performance, alternating between clean and growled vocals, and the chorus is unbelievably addictive (although plenty of DT tracks feature similar qualities). Oh, and this gets bonus points for being one hell of a closing track to the band’s live show. I can also forgive the forgettable music video.

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“Hours Passed in Exile” (from Damage Done, 2002)

Going a few years farther back in time, we come to our first track from 2002’s Damage Done. This is one of the more frequently revisited albums on my shelf and “Hours Passed in Exile” is a good reason why. The introductory buildup, especially the series of painfully-charged questions within each verse, is definitely attention-grabbing. Plus, the way the post-chorus section works with the interludes makes the emotions presented in the vocals and lyrics even more distinguished musically.

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“Lethe” (from The Gallery, 1995)

I brought this album up in the introduction, yet only included one track from it in my list. This is not a knock on the album. It is one of the fundamental releases of the Gothenburg movement and deserves to be on every “Best of…” or “Hall of Fame” or whatever list for the genre. That said, the album’s sound is cemented firmly in Gothenburg death metal, and I wanted this list to deviate a bit from that. But I had to include “Lethe.” The borderline slow-motion opening minutes create an extremely dark atmosphere that gives this song an absolutely mesmerizing personality. Thus, it belongs on virtually any DT list that could be conceived.

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“Not Built to Last” (from Haven, 2000)

And now we get our first track off of Haven, which I think, start to finish, is one of the more consistently strong albums Dark Tranquillity has released to date. The second track, “Not Built to Last” is extremely impressive in the way it rises and falls in both weight and pace. It’s got plenty of lyrical value to match, making it a track that holds more complexity and depth than most three-and-a-half minute songs probably could (or should). Oh, and the closing 45 seconds or so? Tell me that doesn’t absolutely encapsulate you in emotional energy.

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“The Science of Noise” (from Construct, 2013)

Honestly, Dark Tranquillity fell off my radar for a while there. The five years from 2008 through 2012 brought us only We Are the Void, which wasn’t one of their more memorable efforts. In 2013, however, the band returned to form with Construct. From start to finish, the album really didn’t have any weak moments, and it was more musically diverse than the band had been in years. I personally think it was one of the better releases in 2013. “The Science of Noise” is definitely the track to discuss. The introduction and chorus guitar lines are clever, Mikael offers a perfectly harsh growl to match the sound, and it serves as an awesome opener to a live set. Again, bonus points for the live aspect. More on that later as well.

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“Single Part of Two” (from Damage Done, 2002)

Our second track from 2002’s Damage Done stands out for me because of its general construction. While DT’s frequently-utilized keyboard elements mark the introduction and choruses, they never overwhelm the sound. The cadence gallops along through rather heavy verses, hallmarked by relentlessly crunching guitars and equally-as-ferocious percussion. The four minutes or so display a lot of musical technique, all surrounding Stanne’s vocals with plenty of substance. As such, “Single Part of Two” is a standout on a number of levels.

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“Lost to Apathy” (from Character, 2005)

Easily the highlight track from Character, “Lost to Apathy” is an absolute blitz. It has a dark personality to it, highlighting more than enough instrumental work, especially when you focus on Martin Henriksson and Niklas Sundin’s guitars. Yet, within all this ferocity, Dark Tranquillity still shows a willingness to pause everything from time to time and bring the focus back to their melodic side. Every second of this thing is absolutely amazing. It’s the highlight track from the highlight album. So why didn’t I close with it?

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“The Wonders at Your Feet” (from Haven, 2000)

Because we can’t close with anything other than “The Wonders at Your Feet!” The opener to Haven is understandably one of the most popular tracks DT has ever released. It’s got an incredible hook, it’s brief (three minutes…barely), and is the most fun song I’ve ever seen performed live by any band. Hands down. It’s so catchy and so much fun to listen to, you can’t help but headbang along. It starts with the opening keyboards and Mikael’s distinctive “Allll-right!” and just keeps you fired up until the dying notes. The best track Dark Tranquillity has ever written? I don’t think so. But the most fun? Without a doubt. As such, I couldn’t close this list in any other way.

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Sadly, a number of “honorable mentions” just missed out on this list. And, quite frankly, given Dark Tranquillity’s extensive track list, I highly doubt any two people would compile the same “Nine Circles ov…” for these guys. But that should give you an idea of what one of the founders of Gothenburg death metal is all about. Enjoy.

“Ein Bier… bitte.”
-Corey