We Are The Void Cd Review

In 2009 Dark Tranquillity celebrated their 20th Anniversary making them one of the longest standing Swedish Melodic Death Metal bands from the original Gothenburg Metal scene (Since 1989). During the early 90’s Dark Tranquillity had a huge impact on all kinds of modern heavy music, with their inimitable sense for combining hard, catchy metal riffs with progressive elements.

We Are The Void is the band’s ninth album and sold around 2, 100 copies in the United States in its first week of release. Much like all their previous albums, this one guarantees head-banging hits throughout. The CD landed the Number 15 spot on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists. Drums by Anders Jivarp were recorded at new bassist, Daniel Antonsson’s studio (replacing Mikael Niklasson); while guitars (Martin Henriksson and Niklas Sundin), vocals (Mikael Stanne), electronics (Martin Brändström) and bass were all tracked at Brändström’s Rogue Music Facility. Tue Madsen (Halford, Behemoth, Kataklysm, and The Haunted) was the master behind all the mixing done, which was handled at his studio in Denmark.

“In My Absence” and “I Am The Void” brings in faster and crunchier riffs with intricate and melodic power solos, whereas you can hear short and effective techno-electronic sections in certain songs like “Dream Oblivion”. “The Grandest Accusation” holds simple yet beautiful piano pieces that are bound to bring those Goosebumps arising! The sextet succeeds to surprise the listener by bringing in some Black Metal vibes in “Shadow In Our Blood” as well as some Battle Metal similarities in track five. Vocalist and growler Mikael Stanne uses clean vocals in certain songs, and although it works in “Iridium” (unlike what fans are used to from this band) at times sounding like Type O Negative with a Gloomy-Gothic touch, it does not work so well in “Her Silent Language” with Stanne’s voice becoming too monotonous.

Jivarp’s performance on drums, much like some melodies from Sundin and Henriksson, remain mostly unchanged and very much like their styles from previous albums. However, while keeping with their style, they have also introduced faster solos and hooks, interesting tempo changes and notation, as well as some captivating harmonies.

We Are The Void is unquestionably a good album and will undoubtedly continue to impress fans. However, both Fiction and Character were also good albums that impressed the fans… It just seems that Dark Tranquillity are stuck in their own personal style and need to blow fans away with something out of the ordinary. Who knows, maybe “Iridium” is merely a teaser for what is still to come.

Reviewed By: Tamlyn Grey

We Are The Void Tracklist

01. Shadow In Our Blood
02. Dream Oblivion
03. The Fatalist
04. In My Absence
05. The Grandest Accusation
06. At The Point Of Ignition
07. Her Silent Language
08. Arkhangelsk
09. I Am The Void
10. Surface The Infinite
11. Iridium

Bonus tracks:

Limited edition:

12. Star of Nothingness (Instrumental)
13. To Where Fires Cannot Feed

Japanese edition:

12. Star Of Nothingness (Instrumental)
13. Out Of Gravity

Itunes edition:

12. The Bow And The Arrow

Dark Tranquillity Line-up

Mikael Stanne – vocals
Martin Henriksson – rhythm guitar, sound recording
Niklas Sundin – lead guitar
Anders Jivarp – drums
Martin Brändström – keyboards
Daniel Antonsson – bass, guitar solo "Shadow in our blood" and "At the Point of Ignition")

Production:
Tue Madsen – Mixing & Audio mastering at Antfarm Studio in Århus

Other:
Anders Björler - filmed "Studio Report 2009"

Dark Tranquillity Weblinks

Buy/Downloads