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Track Listings
| 1. New Build |
| 2. Through Smudged Lenses |
| 3. Out Nothing |
| 4. Endless Feed |
| 5. Lost to Apathy |
| 6. Mind Matters |
| 7. One Thought |
| 8. Dry Run |
| 9. Am I 1? |
| 10. Senses Tied |
| 11. My Negation |
Product Description
DISC 11. THE NEW BUILD2. THROUGH SMUGGED LENSES3. OUT OF NOTHING4. THE ENDLESS FEED5. LOST TO APATHY6. MIND MATTERS7. ONE THOUGHT8. DRY RUN9. AM I 1?10. SENSES TIED11. MY NEGATION
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Hedon
Format:Audio CD
I've been into DT for a while now but i hadn't picked up Character untill really recently. I'm mostly a fan of their older works (Minds I and backwards) but after being completly blown away by Fiction i decided to start working backwards through Character, Damage Done and Haven to complete the collection. And i had no idea what to expect from this, but in true DT fashion my eardrums were destroyed in the most glorious way.
True, Character (and Fiction) is quite a different beast from the DT of yore. While previously the band created collosal atmosphere whith incredibly delicate and complex riffing, the band has progressed into a slighly different sound. Now the guitars are a bit more simple, stripped down and surprisingly heavy while the melody is mainly provided by some great keyboards with some fluorishes of the beatiful leads we all know and love. But the thing is, its still the same old DT, the same breakneck intensity, the same great sense of heart rending melody, the same creativity and the same beauty and the beast approach. they haven't sold out or gone 'nu-metal', they simply progressed their sound, album by album, little by little, and built up a titanic beast of futuristc melo-death that blows more recent efforts from In Flames and Soilwork out of the water. And the best bit is, rather then watering down, THEY GOT HEAVIER!!!!!!!!!
Give the intense opner 'The New Build' a play and you'll see what i mean. The song opens with a heavy yet melodic riff of epic proportions played over a huge BLAST BEAT ( i didn't know they still had it in them) which explodes into a killer verse of Stanne's blood curdling screams. He really gives his best performance in years. He switches up between the higher range of his earlier days and the monsterous roaring of more recent albums to wonderful effect. As always, he puts a huge amount of emotion and conviction into his delivery and i always find him a notch above your average growler. I was actually surprised by the heaviness and aggression of the track Yet the chorus tuggs on your heart strings with some Depeche Mode esque electronics soaring over the huge power chords and solid drumming beneath.
'Through smudged lense' takes things a step heavier throwing in some chunky palm mutes; when Stanne bellows 'burn it to the ground' your spine will shudder. I love this heavier DT, but Character is far from a one trick pony. 'Senses Tied' and 'Mind Matters' blend old school gothenburg melodies with the new electronics, while 'the Endless Feed' goes for a slightly more subdued but no less emotional approach. Another real fav is 'Am I I?' which sees the guitars taking a back seat and the keyboards taking over for a more spaced out vibe but still metal as hell. And then there's the titanic closer 'My negation' which slowly sludges through the most melancholic and desperate sounds of the album and easily jumps from raw throated metal to quiet piano and acoustic interludes. Seriously, if there ever was a song to watch the world end, it would be 'My negation'. as the final soft keys slowly fade out it feels like the end of a long journey through melo-deaths equivilent of the Matrix - forward thinging, stylish and packed to the guts with action.
All in all this album is characterised (snigger) by some genius song writing, out of this world ethereal electronics, fantastic guitar work that ranges from classic DT riffing to epic chugging and jagged aggression, some truly great drumming and everything simply oozes a sense of masterful composition and true emotion that only comes from years on the road and a constant desire to improve and write better songs. And thanks to a proffesional and thick production each of the instroments is given room to breathe and fully encompass your eardrums. A perfect blend of their older material and newer influences, this album should be next to the word 'epic ' in your metal dictionary.
True, Character (and Fiction) is quite a different beast from the DT of yore. While previously the band created collosal atmosphere whith incredibly delicate and complex riffing, the band has progressed into a slighly different sound. Now the guitars are a bit more simple, stripped down and surprisingly heavy while the melody is mainly provided by some great keyboards with some fluorishes of the beatiful leads we all know and love. But the thing is, its still the same old DT, the same breakneck intensity, the same great sense of heart rending melody, the same creativity and the same beauty and the beast approach. they haven't sold out or gone 'nu-metal', they simply progressed their sound, album by album, little by little, and built up a titanic beast of futuristc melo-death that blows more recent efforts from In Flames and Soilwork out of the water. And the best bit is, rather then watering down, THEY GOT HEAVIER!!!!!!!!!
Give the intense opner 'The New Build' a play and you'll see what i mean. The song opens with a heavy yet melodic riff of epic proportions played over a huge BLAST BEAT ( i didn't know they still had it in them) which explodes into a killer verse of Stanne's blood curdling screams. He really gives his best performance in years. He switches up between the higher range of his earlier days and the monsterous roaring of more recent albums to wonderful effect. As always, he puts a huge amount of emotion and conviction into his delivery and i always find him a notch above your average growler. I was actually surprised by the heaviness and aggression of the track Yet the chorus tuggs on your heart strings with some Depeche Mode esque electronics soaring over the huge power chords and solid drumming beneath.
'Through smudged lense' takes things a step heavier throwing in some chunky palm mutes; when Stanne bellows 'burn it to the ground' your spine will shudder. I love this heavier DT, but Character is far from a one trick pony. 'Senses Tied' and 'Mind Matters' blend old school gothenburg melodies with the new electronics, while 'the Endless Feed' goes for a slightly more subdued but no less emotional approach. Another real fav is 'Am I I?' which sees the guitars taking a back seat and the keyboards taking over for a more spaced out vibe but still metal as hell. And then there's the titanic closer 'My negation' which slowly sludges through the most melancholic and desperate sounds of the album and easily jumps from raw throated metal to quiet piano and acoustic interludes. Seriously, if there ever was a song to watch the world end, it would be 'My negation'. as the final soft keys slowly fade out it feels like the end of a long journey through melo-deaths equivilent of the Matrix - forward thinging, stylish and packed to the guts with action.
All in all this album is characterised (snigger) by some genius song writing, out of this world ethereal electronics, fantastic guitar work that ranges from classic DT riffing to epic chugging and jagged aggression, some truly great drumming and everything simply oozes a sense of masterful composition and true emotion that only comes from years on the road and a constant desire to improve and write better songs. And thanks to a proffesional and thick production each of the instroments is given room to breathe and fully encompass your eardrums. A perfect blend of their older material and newer influences, this album should be next to the word 'epic ' in your metal dictionary.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By John
Format:Audio CD
Having never released a weak or uninspired album since 1995 (The Gallery), Dark Tranquillity come back with another melodic death metal masterpiece in 2005's "Character".
"Character" is in a way a back to the roots album for the band. The speed of their first three albums comes back to the songwriting together with Stanne's higher pitched death metal vocals. The album grabs the listener from the first seconds and never let's go. Fast drum speeds, with the inclusion of lot's of double bass and several blast beats, melodic-sharp-heavy guitar riffs, several guitar leads and solos, some memorable bass lines and screaming vocals, characterize the whole direction of this album.
There are some really shinny tracks to be found on Character. "The New Build" is the perfect album opener. After a few drum fills a fast blast beat backed by heavy yet melodic riffing give way to Stanne's screaming vocals. The song maintains its fast pace throughout with fast and slower sharp guitar riffs succeeding one another. "Lost To Apathy" is certainly the most catchy track to be found here. While being fast and aggressive it is greatly enriched by infectious melodic riffing, some remarkable death vocals and an amazing chorus followed by melodic guitar tapping. "Mind Matters" is also another catchy tune with a very melodic, bouncy type, intro guitar riff. My favorite track though is "Dry Run". Sharp riffing, varying drumming with sparse double bass drum fills provide the backbone for Stanne's most memorable vocal performance on the album. Keys on the other hand elevate the track to another atmospheric dimension throughout the chorus. But the best part comes in the 2:10 minute mark were sharp riffs heard from one speaker at a time are enriched with nice guitar leads, great cymbal work and low range almost whispering vocals. This is the best track by far in my opinion.
But besides those tracks mentioned above, the rest kind of fall short. 'Character' definitely has its weaknesses, although hardcore death metal fans and Dark Tranquillity fans will never admit to it. Due to the fast pace of almost all tracks and the sharp guitar riffing (which sounds very similar in some instances), the album sounds kind of monotonous. On the other hand, there are some truly amazing songs (the ones mentioned above) succeeded by considerably weaker ones and that isn't a good thing. The last flaw lies with Stanne's vocal delivery. Although I believe that the guy is the most outstanding vocalist in the genre, he doesn't impress me on this release. For some reason he doesn't sing so deep and heavy as on the two previous albums (Damage Done, Haven) he rather follows the approach of the vocals he used in 'The Gallery' and 'The Minds I', which is a higher pitched death-black vocal delivery. Admitably his voice doesn't sound so great nor unique in that short of pitch, he should have tried to blend the two techniques together...
Someone may argue that the faults I'm mentioning are nit picking, in a way, or personal preferences. Well for me they count a great deal and hold back 'Character' from being better than 'Damage Done' for example. Nevertheless Dark Tranquillity should be applauded for making a back to the roots, heavier, faster and rawer album and thus keeping the tradition of altering their sound on every release. All the faults of this album will be diminished and perfected on their next release 'Fiction', but this is another review...
"Character" is in a way a back to the roots album for the band. The speed of their first three albums comes back to the songwriting together with Stanne's higher pitched death metal vocals. The album grabs the listener from the first seconds and never let's go. Fast drum speeds, with the inclusion of lot's of double bass and several blast beats, melodic-sharp-heavy guitar riffs, several guitar leads and solos, some memorable bass lines and screaming vocals, characterize the whole direction of this album.
There are some really shinny tracks to be found on Character. "The New Build" is the perfect album opener. After a few drum fills a fast blast beat backed by heavy yet melodic riffing give way to Stanne's screaming vocals. The song maintains its fast pace throughout with fast and slower sharp guitar riffs succeeding one another. "Lost To Apathy" is certainly the most catchy track to be found here. While being fast and aggressive it is greatly enriched by infectious melodic riffing, some remarkable death vocals and an amazing chorus followed by melodic guitar tapping. "Mind Matters" is also another catchy tune with a very melodic, bouncy type, intro guitar riff. My favorite track though is "Dry Run". Sharp riffing, varying drumming with sparse double bass drum fills provide the backbone for Stanne's most memorable vocal performance on the album. Keys on the other hand elevate the track to another atmospheric dimension throughout the chorus. But the best part comes in the 2:10 minute mark were sharp riffs heard from one speaker at a time are enriched with nice guitar leads, great cymbal work and low range almost whispering vocals. This is the best track by far in my opinion.
But besides those tracks mentioned above, the rest kind of fall short. 'Character' definitely has its weaknesses, although hardcore death metal fans and Dark Tranquillity fans will never admit to it. Due to the fast pace of almost all tracks and the sharp guitar riffing (which sounds very similar in some instances), the album sounds kind of monotonous. On the other hand, there are some truly amazing songs (the ones mentioned above) succeeded by considerably weaker ones and that isn't a good thing. The last flaw lies with Stanne's vocal delivery. Although I believe that the guy is the most outstanding vocalist in the genre, he doesn't impress me on this release. For some reason he doesn't sing so deep and heavy as on the two previous albums (Damage Done, Haven) he rather follows the approach of the vocals he used in 'The Gallery' and 'The Minds I', which is a higher pitched death-black vocal delivery. Admitably his voice doesn't sound so great nor unique in that short of pitch, he should have tried to blend the two techniques together...
Someone may argue that the faults I'm mentioning are nit picking, in a way, or personal preferences. Well for me they count a great deal and hold back 'Character' from being better than 'Damage Done' for example. Nevertheless Dark Tranquillity should be applauded for making a back to the roots, heavier, faster and rawer album and thus keeping the tradition of altering their sound on every release. All the faults of this album will be diminished and perfected on their next release 'Fiction', but this is another review...
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.7 out of 5 stars
76 reviews
31 of 32 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Pantheon to Genius
1 Mar 2005
By Barry Dejasu
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD
Dark Tranquillity has created yet another masterpiece with their latest album, _Character_. With each album, they re-define their sound; while there are many similarities, every collection of their work is highly unique from each other. _Skydancer_ was a dark, harsh album, with some songs bordering on black metal in their sounds. _The Gallery_ emphasized beauty and classical song structures, with brooding vibes of desperation and tragedy. _The Mind's I_ had shorter, more riff-based songs, yet retained much of the aforementioned qualities. On _Projector_, song after song featured clean vocals and a less aggressive nature (causing many a foolish listener to believe that Dark Tranquillity "sold out"). And their past two albums, _Haven_ and _Damage Done_ incorporated many electronic elements and monstrously deeper vocals. While _Character_ is not a great departure from these latter two albums, it shows that Dark Tranquillity is exploring every nook and cranny in their new blend of industrial/melodic/death metal - and by exploring, they are continuing their progressive nature.
The lineup on this album is the same as it's been for the past six years, with the guitar team of Martin Henriksson (formerly the band's bassist) and Niklas Sundin, bassist Michael Nicklasson, drummer Anders Jivarp, electronics guru Martin Brandström, and vocalist Mikael Stanne. The band is in top shape on _Character_, with particularly shining performances by the latter two. While Martin Brandström's contributions might be no less prominent on this as they were on _Haven_ or _Damage Done_, he has refined his sound, experimenting with much more atmospheric and unusual sounds. Mikael Stanne's vocals have returned to their higher rasp as heard on _The Mind's I_ and _Projector_ (but still deeper than they were on _The Gallery_), and just as emotional and urgent as ever. He occasionally will drop his voice to a whisper, or howl with that same terrific roar which made Dark Tranquillity's past two albums so effective.
"The Endless Feed" opens with trancelike electronic sounds, before a wall heaviness blasts in like an explosion. Mid-tempo in the verses, Niklas and Martin play a sort of lockstep rhythm as Martin Brandström , the pace picks up in the choruses, largely driven by the chugging guitar riffs. In the bridge, there is a moment of quiet as Mikael's voice (under a sort of effect) lurches out from behind the electronic pulses: "I can take what's being given/ I can down whatever comes/ I will do what you deem necessary." And framed by explosive guitar riffs, he then screams "MY FEAR COMPELS ME!"
The first single, "Lost to Apathy," features heavy usage of electronics to texture and complement the guitars. There are some lightning-fast riffs in this song, evenly balanced out by sweeping waves of melodies. Mikael also drops his voice to roar during parts of the choruses, adding to the multifaceted nature of this album.
There are also a few surprises peppered throughout the album. One such is the main rhythm which "The Endless Feed" follows - just listen to the galloping guitar riffs which charge over Anders Jivarp's propulsive drumming. Long has Dark Tranquillity been labeled "melodic death metal," largely because of the vocals, but this is the closest to death metal they have ever been, for Anders creates highly effective blast beats! This song sounds almost like it could be a re-creation of a track from _The Mind's I_.
Album closer "My Negation" is epic-themed, with a sort of desperation in Mikael's voice which evokes feelings of finality and yearning. There are some clean electric guitar leads and brilliant harmonies. Just imagine a cousin to the instrumental closer to _Damage Done_, "Ex Nihilo," but with vocals which only add to the tragic, yet beautiful, themes. This was a perfect choice of a song to end the album with.
Finally, the artwork on this album (once again designed by Niklas Sundin with his own Cabin Fever Media studios) is among Dark Tranquillity's best. It perfectly complements the music, highlighting technology's integration with life.
There are no signs of Dark Tranquillity slowing down, losing ideas, or getting tired on this album. With this album, they have really outdone themselves. By highlighting all their best qualities, they can collect a wide range of sounds, styles, and vibes and incorporate it all into good music. _Character_ is, without a doubt, Dark Tranquilllity's pantheon to their true nature: a progressive band in the finest form.
The lineup on this album is the same as it's been for the past six years, with the guitar team of Martin Henriksson (formerly the band's bassist) and Niklas Sundin, bassist Michael Nicklasson, drummer Anders Jivarp, electronics guru Martin Brandström, and vocalist Mikael Stanne. The band is in top shape on _Character_, with particularly shining performances by the latter two. While Martin Brandström's contributions might be no less prominent on this as they were on _Haven_ or _Damage Done_, he has refined his sound, experimenting with much more atmospheric and unusual sounds. Mikael Stanne's vocals have returned to their higher rasp as heard on _The Mind's I_ and _Projector_ (but still deeper than they were on _The Gallery_), and just as emotional and urgent as ever. He occasionally will drop his voice to a whisper, or howl with that same terrific roar which made Dark Tranquillity's past two albums so effective.
"The Endless Feed" opens with trancelike electronic sounds, before a wall heaviness blasts in like an explosion. Mid-tempo in the verses, Niklas and Martin play a sort of lockstep rhythm as Martin Brandström , the pace picks up in the choruses, largely driven by the chugging guitar riffs. In the bridge, there is a moment of quiet as Mikael's voice (under a sort of effect) lurches out from behind the electronic pulses: "I can take what's being given/ I can down whatever comes/ I will do what you deem necessary." And framed by explosive guitar riffs, he then screams "MY FEAR COMPELS ME!"
The first single, "Lost to Apathy," features heavy usage of electronics to texture and complement the guitars. There are some lightning-fast riffs in this song, evenly balanced out by sweeping waves of melodies. Mikael also drops his voice to roar during parts of the choruses, adding to the multifaceted nature of this album.
There are also a few surprises peppered throughout the album. One such is the main rhythm which "The Endless Feed" follows - just listen to the galloping guitar riffs which charge over Anders Jivarp's propulsive drumming. Long has Dark Tranquillity been labeled "melodic death metal," largely because of the vocals, but this is the closest to death metal they have ever been, for Anders creates highly effective blast beats! This song sounds almost like it could be a re-creation of a track from _The Mind's I_.
Album closer "My Negation" is epic-themed, with a sort of desperation in Mikael's voice which evokes feelings of finality and yearning. There are some clean electric guitar leads and brilliant harmonies. Just imagine a cousin to the instrumental closer to _Damage Done_, "Ex Nihilo," but with vocals which only add to the tragic, yet beautiful, themes. This was a perfect choice of a song to end the album with.
Finally, the artwork on this album (once again designed by Niklas Sundin with his own Cabin Fever Media studios) is among Dark Tranquillity's best. It perfectly complements the music, highlighting technology's integration with life.
There are no signs of Dark Tranquillity slowing down, losing ideas, or getting tired on this album. With this album, they have really outdone themselves. By highlighting all their best qualities, they can collect a wide range of sounds, styles, and vibes and incorporate it all into good music. _Character_ is, without a doubt, Dark Tranquilllity's pantheon to their true nature: a progressive band in the finest form.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Top 10 of 2005 easily!
10 Jun 2005
By Matt Philth
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD
You don't have to be a big fan of the gothenburg scene to enjoy Dark Tranquility's Character. I feel these guys are the best the genre has to offer. In Flames has some spectacular releases (such as Whoracle, and Colony..must haves) but are sometimes a bit "poppy" for my tastes, Soilwork does absolutely nothing for me, and Opeth, despite the fact that they are incredible musicians have a tendency to excite me one moment then bore me to tears the next (I really need to be in the right mood for them). What seperates DT from these bands is the fact that they are more aggressive with their sound, they have a little more oomph to go with the Iron Maiden on meth melodies that make up the sound of this genre and I beleive that this album is a strong example of that. Like the cover art this album just has a huge sound and feel to it, very apocalyptic, but at the same time very serene. Musically these guys are awesome, the guitarwork is brilliant, the drums pound, the keyboards add atmosphere, and the vocals soar, coming together to form one hell of a complex sound that is very pleasing to the ear. My favorite song on the album is Through Smudged Lenses hands down, but I would have no problem saying that each track is just as strong as the next being that they all flow seemlessly to create this massive work that is Character. I also really enjoyed their previous release Damage Done but I feel this one has a bit more emotion and is just a notch better. I have truly not found a flaw large enough to mention on this record and I endorse it completely. If you are new to the Gothenburg sound I would suggest starting here and if you like what you hear check out Whoracle from In Flames IMO these are the two CD's that best represent the genre.
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Combines the best of the old, with the best of the new...
30 Jan 2005
By Tom Z
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD
...I know that phrase is something you'd typically see on those stickers record labels place on albums in an attempt to cover for a new album not living up to the hype, yet in the case of Dark Tranquility that statement is absolutly true. Is it possible for band to still be in their prime 15 years after they formed? A few days ago I would have said it to be impossible, but after hearing this I'm not so sure.
The heavy riffs and thundering drums are back, that becomes apparent in about 5 seconds. I'm not a big fan of keyboards in Death Metal but it's done well here. The synths are very subtle and add another dimension to the atmosphere of the record versus the loud, obnoxious drone of something like Cradle Of Filth. Mikeal Stanne gives his best performance in years as well. The annoying whispers and raspy shrieks of the Haven and Projector era are gone, and the roaring growls of Minds Eye and Gallery are back. All the songs flow seemlessly together to create the whole. The glue that binds them is a loose lyrical concept about life in the world today.
Character is an album already in my proverbial Melo-death hall of fame, from a band that secured their place there long ago. Like another reviewer said, if this isn't their best album yet then I'd have a hard time picking a better one. This is an album that raises the bar for all metal in 2005. Though it's only January, I think it's safe to say this will be the best release of 2005, or at the least, will be damn close.
The heavy riffs and thundering drums are back, that becomes apparent in about 5 seconds. I'm not a big fan of keyboards in Death Metal but it's done well here. The synths are very subtle and add another dimension to the atmosphere of the record versus the loud, obnoxious drone of something like Cradle Of Filth. Mikeal Stanne gives his best performance in years as well. The annoying whispers and raspy shrieks of the Haven and Projector era are gone, and the roaring growls of Minds Eye and Gallery are back. All the songs flow seemlessly together to create the whole. The glue that binds them is a loose lyrical concept about life in the world today.
Character is an album already in my proverbial Melo-death hall of fame, from a band that secured their place there long ago. Like another reviewer said, if this isn't their best album yet then I'd have a hard time picking a better one. This is an album that raises the bar for all metal in 2005. Though it's only January, I think it's safe to say this will be the best release of 2005, or at the least, will be damn close.
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