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DARK TRANQUILLITY
Construct

Century Media (2013)
Rating: 9/10

One of the original handful of bands that changed metal forever with their “Gothenburg sound”, Dark Tranquillity return with their tenth studio album, Construct.

Since the addition of a full-time keyboardist in 2000 on the Haven album, Dark Tranquillity has relied more and more heavily on the atmosphere of its music to carry the weight. While staying “heavy”, the band has drifted a good distance from its extreme roots over the last few albums. Construct, however, is all about balance and the Swedish band have rarely sounded better.

‘For Broken Words’ sets the stage here with growling vocal work by Mikael Stanne (who really has this sound down to a science by now), atmospheric guitars and bouncy keyboard work that toss you into the nothingness without regard. The song is incredibly dynamic and is a precursor really to each part of the album to come.

‘Uniformity’ starts out with a deep, almost Depeche Mode-esque, keyboard sound that blends together with spacey guitars before becoming a goth-laced growler that trades the spotlight with a clean-vocaled melancholy. ‘What Only You Know’ is also very much in line with the band’s last few albums, boasting a dynamic between the clean and the dirty sounds that few bands have the talent to pull off in a lasting way. Niklas Sundin and Martin Henrikkson’s guitar work here is so powerful and anthemic, yet retains the overt aggression that keeps you from entirely separating it from the melodic death metal of yesteryear. ‘State Of Trust’ even features moments of pure rock ’n’ roll. These are the perfect cap to what Dark Tranquillity have been doing over the last few albums.

The bigger, cleaner guitars and anthemic sound of ‘Apathetic’ is another excellent moment, bringing back Dark Tranquillity’s earlier, faster sound while keeping the progressive edge that the band has developed over the last decade. ‘None Becoming’ flips back and forth between the atmospheric darkness of the industrial scene and the crushing brutality of early death metal, reminding me a lot of Haven and Damage Done (2002) in particular. A few other songs back these up, bringing a faster, more potent feeling to the album overall.

Construct is quite likely the band’s greatest achievement to date. I’m free to admit that they have lost my attention over the last couple of albums but the new album sets the record straight. Dark Tranquillity are still here and they are at their most creative in 2013. Everything about Construct, from the keyboards to the guitars to the rhythm section to some of Stanne’s best vocal work screams classic. This is an album you should not miss out on!

Mark Fisher

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