Dark Tranquillity Biography

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Biography Dark Tranquillity

Dark Tranquillity


Dark Tranquillity is a melodic death metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden. They are one of the longest-standing bands from the original Gothenburg metal scene and one of the pioneers of the melodic death metal genre, along with In Flames and At the Gates.

Background

Dark Tranquillity was formed in 1989, under the name Septic Broiler as a thrash metal band. Since its formation the band has had a fairly stable line-up. In 1990, the band recorded a demo cassette tape entitled Enfeebled Earth before they would change their name to Dark Tranquillity and change their musical style. It was followed by two more demos: Trail of Life Decayed (1991) and A Moonclad Reflection (1992) -- both of which were later remastered and re-released on Exposures - In Retrospect and Denial in 2004. In 1993, Skydancer was released, and Anders Fridén, Dark Tranquillity's original lead vocalist, left the band and later joined In Flames. Mikael Stanne, who formerly played rhythm guitar and provided backing vocals, then became the lead vocalist, and Fredrik Johansson was recruited to take over rhythm guitar duties.

In 1995, Dark Tranquillity released The Gallery, considered a landmark in melodic death metal, which saw the band tightening their production details to a great extent, and showed that the new line-up was an essential change that furthered the band as a whole. In 1997, The Mind's I was released, which saw a slight change in sound. Before the release of the band's 1999 album, Projector, Fredrik Johansson was asked to leave Dark Tranquillity due to his lack of devotion to the band. Martin Henriksson then switched from playing bass to guitar to replace Johansson, and the band added Michael Nicklasson on bass and Martin Brändström on keyboards and electronics. At this point the band also signed to Century Media Records. Until 2008, the band had remained stable in its line-up and its musical style; blending layers of rapid guitar lines with harmony-rich electronic keyboard washes and extremely precise rhythms underneath Stanne's abstract growled lyrics.

In 1999, Projector (later nominated for a Swedish Grammy Award) became the fourth output from the band, and saw a change in songwriting. While retaining growled vocals and their signature death metal sound, pianos, baritone soft vocals, and verse-chorus fashion song structures were now integral parts of Dark Tranquillity's sound. Year 2000 saw the release of Haven which saw the addition of slight electric keyboard sounds, but also abandoned most all of the clean vocals in favor of a slightly heavier sound. In 2003, Dark Tranquillity released Damage Done, and was intended to be a step in a heavier direction, adding thicker guitar distortion, deep atmospheric keyboards, and abandoning soft vocals altogether. Character was the seventh release from Dark Tranquillity, released in 2005, and was held in much critical praise. It featured the first music video released by Dark Tranquillity to feature the band itself, with the single "Lost to Apathy." In 2007, Fiction was released, which in turn, saw a return of Mikeal Stanne's clean vocals, and the first female guest vocalist since Projector.

Dark Tranquillity have recently toured with The Haunted, Into Eternity, and Scar Symmetry for the North America Metal For The Masses Tour. Century Media Records They returned to the U.S. during the Spring of 2008 with Arch Enemy. They have also toured the UK in early 2008 along with Omnium Gatherum. They are preparing for a live DVD to be released sometime in 2009. On the band's official website they announced that bass guitarist Michael Nicklasson left the band in August 2008 due to personal reasons with no hard feelings between him and the band. On September 19, the band found a new bassist, Daniel Antonsson, who was a guitarist for Soilwork.

Members

Current members

  • Mikael Stanne – vocals (1994−present), rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1989−1994)
  • Niklas Sundin – lead guitar (1989−present)
  • Martin Henriksson – rhythm guitar (1998−present), bass guitar (1989−1998)
  • Daniel Antonsson - bass guitar (2008-present)
  • Martin Brändström – keyboards and electronics (1998−present)
  • Anders Jivarp – drums (1989−present)


Former members

  • Anders Fridén – vocals (1989−1993)
  • Fredrik Johansson – rhythm guitar (1993−1998)
  • Michael Nicklasson – bass guitar (1998−2008)


Session members

  • Robin Engström – drums (tour 2001)


Guest musicians

  • Anna-Kajsa Avehall (Skydancer)
  • Eva-Marie Larsson (The Gallery)
  • Sara Svensson (The Mind's I)
  • Johanna Andersson (Projector)
  • Nell Sigland (Fiction)


Discography

Studio albums



EPs, MCDs and singles

  • Of Chaos and Eternal Night (MCD, 1995, Spinefarm)
  • Enter Suicidal Angels (MCD, 1996, Osmose)
  • Lost to Apathy (EP, 2004, Century Media)
  • Focus Shift (single, 2007, Century Media)
  • Where Death Is Most Alive (EP, 2009. Century Media)


Other albums

  • Skydancer/Of Chaos and Eternal Night (reissue, 2000)
  • Exposures - In Retrospect and Denial (compilation, 2004, Century Media)
  • A Closer End (rarities, 2008)
  • Manifesto of Dark Tranquillity (compilation, 2009, Century Media)


DVDs and videos

  • Zodijackyl Light (VHS, 1996, Osmose Productions)
  • World Domination (VHS, 1998, Osmose Productions)
  • Live Damage (DVD, 2003, Century Media)


Demos

  • Enfeebled Earth (1989, released under the name Septic Broiler)
  • Trail of Life Decayed (1991), (1992, re-release, Guttural Records)
  • A Moonclad Reflection (1992, Slaughter/Exhumed Records)
  • Tranquillity (1993, cassette compilation containing Trail of Life Decayed and A Moonclad Reflection, Carnage Records)


References

External links



Musical groups established in 1989Swedish heavy metal musical groupsSwedish death metal musical groupsMelodic death metal musical groups

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Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark Tranquillity
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