Search - Dark Tranquillity :: Projector

At Loss For Words...

Ravi S. Madapati | California, US | 02/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well, I am really not articulate enough to write a proper review of what is one of worlds best metal bands, DARK TRANQUILLITY (DT). I will try anyway since I want to express my gratitude to DT for making such a masterpiece.



DT started in early 90s and had quite a lot of lineup changes and record label false starts. Initially, Anders Fridén (now singer of another great band, IN FLAMES) was in charge of vocals while the current screamer Mikael Stanne was handling rhythm guitars. But for whatever reason, Stanne switched to vox and Fridén left to join In Flames. In 1995, DT released Of Chaos And Eternal Night with Stanne singing. Then came Gallery and Mind's I. I wonder where the term melodic death came from but underground metal circles in Sweden and around started refering to In Flames and DT as originators as the Melodic Death Metal movement, also known as melodeath now. But I strongly think that even At The Gates was part of that movement (check out the ass ripping Slaughter of The Soul).



In 1999, Dark Tranquillity released Projector (recorded and mixed at Studio Fredman, September 1998, Produced with Fredrik Nordström). The album experiments with electronic elements and an equivalent distance to melodeath really, while Stanne sang Projector with an extremely sad voice. Projector is a killer album with a great focus on melodies and sadness. But the beauty of this album lies in the fact that the metal sound was not left behind. If someones says Projector is not metal, I doubt he/she knows anything about what metal is. This is a METAL album albeit with experimentations.



Anyway, out of the 10 tracks on the CD, I dont think there is a bad one. The album opens with the fantastic FREECARD, Stanne's vocals bringing blood out of my eyes. What a song and Stanne ripps us apart by singing from his stomach. But wait, what come next is equally pleasing/disturbing in the name of THEREIN, another excellent song. Followed by track after track of carefully crafted melodic, metal masterpeices.



From the entire album, my pick is DOBERMANN. Coming in the second half of the album, this one kicks in so hard right from the begining...I am never amazed at the shelf life of this song. Every single time I hear this, I see sun shine. I mean it, the opening riff makes me so optimistic about life and crave more music of DT, I cannot explain in words what this song is, if you havent heard it. Great song, one of DT's best in the league of Feast of Burden (Haven), Monochromatic Stains (Damage Done) and Lost 2 Apathy (Character).



Great album, and anyone with an interest in metal and its various fascinating sub genres, Projector is highly reccommended. I believe that this album will still sound fresh and great after 10 years. Thats the quality of music here."