Artist: Dark Tranquillity
Title: “Character”
Label: Century Media Records
Release Date: 1/24/2005
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
I want to start this Music Milestone reflection by saying that 2015 is a big year for me personally because my PiercingMetal.com site will reach its tenth year online just before tax time in April and with that being the case I am paying a close level of scrutiny on many of the Metal albums that are reaching their own tenth year over these next few months. Now let’s get this underway and raise a couple of pairs of horns for the great Gothenburg Metal band Dark Tranquillity and their album “Character” which reaches its tenth year on this very day. The album was the bands seventh release and came to the fans care of Century Media Records (where they are still dishing out new and exciting material). When I first heard this I didn’t have too much of a background in this type of Metal because I was sheltering myself in the safety of bands like Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden along with copious amounts of KISS. Fortunately getting some suggestions to focus on this kind of band and others of their type allowed for a greater personal musical growth and this is a practice I recommend to any fan that finds themselves content with three or four bands and nothing more. With “Character”, Dark Tranquillity reminded fans why they are such a legendary provider of the Gothenburg Metal sound and through it all, Mikael Stanne growls his points home. There are no clean vocals to be found on “Character” but with the intensity of the melodies behind Stanne’s rage I don’t think anyone will mind. This is as satisfying a listen at ten years that it was at one year. Before I reflect upon my favorite tunes from the album I wanted to stress how almost all of the members on this release (Stanne, Sundlin, Jivarp, Henriksson and Brandstrom) are still a part of the lineup in today’s music world with the exception of bassist Niklasson. I should also mention that when DT recently blew through town on tour only a few weeks ago there was NO bassist in the lineup and parts were done via keyboards. Perhaps they are not looking to replace him but if they are I suggest any readers with sufficient skill get their chops up and their resumes ready.
Continue reading Dark Tranquillity’s “Character” Strong With Integrity @ 10 Years (2005-2015)