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Dark Tranquillity

Dark Tranquillity is a melodic death metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden. They are one of the longest-standing bands from the 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 were later remastered and re-released in 2004). In 1993, 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.

Before the release of the band's 1999 album, Projector (later nominated for a Swedish Grammy Award), 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. Since then, the band has 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.

From 1995 to 2002, all of Dark Tranquillity's recordings were produced by Fredrik Nordström, who is known as one of the leading melodic death metal producers. After 2002 every recording the band released was self-produced until Fiction, released in 2007, which was co-produced with another well known melodic death metal producer, Tue Madsen.

Dark Tranquillity have recently toured with The Haunted, Into Eternity, and Scar Symmetry for the North America Metal For The Masses tour. 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 2008.

Bass guitarist Michael Nicklasson left the band in August 2008 due to personal reasons with no hard feelings between him and the band. This was announced on August 23 on the band's official homepage.

On September 19th, the band found a new bassist, Daniel Antonsson.

Members

Current members

Mikael Stanne – vocals (1994−present), guitar, backing vocals (1989−1994)
Niklas Sundin – guitar (1989−present)
Martin Henriksson – 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 – 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

Title	Release date	Notes	Label
Skydancer	August 30,1993	Debut studio album which featured former member, Anders Fridén of In Flames on vocals.	Spinefarm Century Media (re-release)
The Gallery	November 27, 1995	Second studio album, first to feature Mikael Stanne on vocals and their first album produced by Fredrik Nordström, containing many melodic guitar passages, and female vocals in various places.	Osmose Century Media (re-release)
The Mind's I	April 21, 1997	Third studio album, featuring a heavier sound and fewer melodic parts.	Osmose Century Media (re-release)
Projector	November 25, 1999	Fourth studio album; an experimental release, featuring pianos in many places, and clean, baritone vocals in some parts.	Century Media
Haven	July 25, 2000	Fifth studio album, which abandoned almost all clean vocals, and added many keyboard sounds.	Century Media
Damage Done	August 20, 2002	Sixth studio album and their last to be produced by Fredrik Nordström. It incorporated many electonic keyboard sounds and atmospheres and started a new, 'heavier' sound reflected in the guitars, brought by Martin Henriksson.	Century Media
Character	January 24, 2005	Seventh studio album, produced by the band itself. Credited to have showcased a new style of death metal, which contained guitars using thick, fast, and heavy style, futuristic and highly technical keyboard atmospheres, and Mikael Stanne's classic abstract growling.	Century Media
Fiction	April 17, 2007	Eighth studio album, co-produced with Tue Madsen. Considered an album that blended all of their previous styles together.	Century Media

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)

Other albums

Skydancer/Of Chaos and Eternal Night (reissue, 2000)
Exposures - In Retrospect and Denial (compilation, 2004, 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)