"Fiction" CD by Dark Tranquillity

by Jürgen Tschamler (20.03.2007) Once celebrated as the founders of the Gothenburg sound, Dark Tranquillity have long established their own musical cosmos. "Fiction" is basically a rather positive album. Already in the first listening, there are several tracks getting a hook in you, such as e.g. "Terminus (where death is most alive)" with its razor-sharp riffs and convincing by the many tempo changes, and sounding very friendly by the very cool, and yet, sparse synths. Completely different: "Blind at heart", massively pushing forward and asking a lot of vocalist, Mikael Stanne. Striking is also that there a more calm instrumental passages than usual. Interesting example is the very atmospheric, tight, and very variable "Inside the particle storm", clearly showing why and how Dark Tranquillity manage to be different than the rest, capturing the listener with outstanding compositions. "Fiction" is beyond any doubt one of the best albums of the Swedes!