Metal Reviews

No, not at all. In Flames has clearly modernized their sound more than Dark Tranquillity, but I still hear a lot of musical similarities between both bands. In Flames tends to get trashed for it, while Dark Tranquillity—and a lot of other bands—get a free pass.

And I still don't understand the hatred toward Soundtrack to Your Escape. That's a damn good album. A drastic shift in style from the predecessor, maybe, but I don't think it deserves all the negative press it gets.

These guys just do the same thing over and over again... Is this even anything new or another slice of the usual from DT?

I love IF and STYE is my least favorite album, just sayin'.


In Flames at least tries to do something different and influence the genre and bands/fans. Comparitively Clayman/R2R/STYE/CC/ASoP are all In Flames, but the sound on each album is different while still bearing the In Flames brand of sound.

DT has been singing the same tune for awhile.

Also I wouldn't really say they've touched the nu-metal since STYE. I'd say they have a more touch of hardcore-ish stuff. I mean, nu metal isn't even really around anymore like it once was years ago. You're welcome to point out otherwise, but that's just what I think.

Oh come on, if the albums you mentioned are different then so are the likes of Damage Done, Character and Fiction, again whilst having that DT sound.

So the In flames brand of sound is Friden's improv of Jonathan Smith? That's pretty damn cool and lets not mention such memorably lyrics such as


"Hopeless times approach just give into the chaos
Strangely I find comfort here
Impatient and curious of what may come
...And so the rampage begins
Against the headache I can't win
DRAIN ME"!!
Oh my lord, they've reached the apex of human creativity! Face it they died even after "The Jester race", and I'll be nice and say that they had a few good moments on "Reroute to remain". At the very least Dark tranquillity, have remained far more consistent through their career. Which is far more then I can say for Anders and his group of clowns.

Who the fuck is Jonathan Smith?

In Flames' sound is found in all their albums, I don't really think I need to explain considering they're one of the pioneers of that sound and genre. You know what I'm talking about and just are trying to make a few smart ass comments that don't really contribute anything or make an argument.



Consistently trite.



What's the difference between any of those albums? They not only have a similar sound and production, but style as well. I'll admit it's been awhile since I've touched any of those, but if memory serves me correct my analysis isn't too far off.

How close a difference are we admitting here? I can hear plenty of difference between DD and Fiction, at least as much as between Soundtrack and CC. Calling DT trite in the same breath as praising IF is ridiculous.

Guess we'll just have to agree to disagree.



DT is the cool melodeath band to like, don't you know that?

Consistently 'trite'?, coming from the band that released "A sense of purpose" that's an entirely different level of playing. I don't know if you noticed a bit of history, both bands played in the same era and both bands helped define the sound. Considering how deep In flames have dug their own graves, I'll take that comment at face value.

I never meant to imply that Dark Tranquillity somehow aren't as talented as In Flames. Far from it, I have nothing but respect for both bands. My only issue is that with DT I have been essentially been getting bored with them releasing the same album over and over. Yes it's a good album, but I've heard it before. Personally I think both bands' creativity began to wane after 2000. In Flames knew this and tried to compensate by changing their sound. Sometimes it didn't work out all that well. Dark Tranquillity just said fuck it, we're going to keep writing the same shit that we know. I don't criticize either band for making one decision or the other, I just happen to like IF's variety more than DT's consistency most of the time.

Yes, exactly. Thank you.



I don't really understand what you're trying to say here.



How deep they've dug their graves? They're one of the more successful and recognizable metal acts out there. They've taken charge of their band and aren't afraid to try new things. They're not going anywhere anytime soon.

Also, no. I know nothing about the history of my favorite genre of metal.

Were you guys fans of this band when Projector came out? Do you remember the outrage and whiny rants from "fans" about that album? Maybe that's why they haven't drastically altered their sound again.

Still, I think this new one is far different than the last few. Easily the most unique since Haven.

How can you people complain about all DT albums being the same ?
Have you not listened to their whole discography ?

The Gallery and The Mind's share similarities and is more traditional Death.

Projector sounds like a mixture of Goth and Melodeath metal.

Haven borrows from projector but manages to sound nothing like it.

Damage Done is ultra melodic with more flying solos, harmonics and blazing guitars than before. Very catchy, immediate stuff and a lot more in your face than previous stuff. This is their most accessible album to casual listeners

Character brings the Death Harshness back from their early albums and tenfold. Stane hasn't sounded this ferocious.

Fiction and We are the void are a mixture of Character with projector. We are the void has the most keyboards since a long while.

Some of these albums have a huge contrast between each other
listen to The Gallery then Projector, Damage Done followed by Character and it'll be pretty damn clear.

I get that some bands may have more differences between releases but they are in minority as most people don't like change. But to say Dark Tranquillity hasn't changed at all since the start of the 90's is simply fallacious because a look at their whole discography tells the real story.

Yeah I was.

Personally I think Projector is probably one of the best albums DT has ever made.

Anyway, back to the subject at hand. I think this is probably the best of the new DT albums, I don't think Stannes voice has ever sounded this good. (The clean vocals on "Her Silent Language" are excellent). Sadly enough they will never be able to do it live.

.:crast:.

I think Projector kicks ass.

I have listened to every single DT album that has come out. I'm a fan. All I'm saying is that since Haven/Damage Done era there hasn't been any real change to their sound IMO. You just helped prove my point grandbazaar. Listen to their discography from the early 1990s to 2000 and you have to admit you'll hear a lot more variety than from Damage Done onward.

I did include up to character.

The last two are somewhat similar but they are still great albums IMO.

Nah man, I started listening to the band strictly in 05, when I had picked up Character first. I would like to know what 'modernizing' means, because In flames pulled a 180 in every form possible. From the nu-metal thematics, to getting on Ferret and turning into some godawful alternative ensemble. At the very worst Dark tranquillity pulled a gothic metal move on 'Projector' and 'Haven', though it can be argued that the band has always had that more gothic edge. Yet I'm sure you've been listening to them far longer then me. If one was to argue on the grounds of consistency and quality, then DT has only gotten maybe a little bit more predictable. Granted In flames has gone completely to shit, and DT remaining far more metal in the end.

Their albums since Damage Done all sound pretty similar, but I can't make that claim about this album because I haven't listened to it and I doubt I will. I probably should have cleared that up in my original statement, sorry.

Projecter is probably the only album by them I ever really listened to on many occasions and enjoyed. Freecard is a cool song.

Still have to listen to this, DT are my 2nd favourite band, one the rare few with a long career and not one shit album.

Those who say IF are better are fucking having a laugh, anything after Clayman is shit, especially if you remember how awesome they used to be on Jester Race and Whoracle. You guys saying that at least they tried different things, well there's no point in doing it if the new direction sucks, and let's face it, would anyone here honestly complain if they said the next album would be in the Jester Race style?

DT are consistently awesome, they have a style they stick with, but unlike Slayer as Zad said in the review, they already include a lot of different musical elements in their music, so they are easily able to craft musically interesting songs which are varied in content. And that's without mentioning the superior lyrics Stanne is capable of writing, especially when compared to the emo ramblings In Flames are spouting these days.

Yes, I would complain. This isn't 1995. I want an album that has some heart and thought into it, not some carbon copy of an old success.

Yeah, TJR and Whoracle are great... But you know what, that shit is played out. So many other bands have copied it and played it out. I mean, I must have had TJR and Whoracle on repeat for years when I was in highschool, along with the rest of the IF discography at the time. I still do.

I don't want to hear the same album over and over again. If I want that I'll listen to Vader.

Ok, that does it!

*Finally throws all my DT post-Projector and IF post-Colony albums in the trash. Exits Thread. Doesn't look back.*