Melodic Death Metal is an ever-evolving genre, and one with which if you were to hold a lens to many of the premier acts today compared to when it exploded onto the scene in the early ’90s, the disparities between the sounds would be quite stark. As one of the genre’s forefathers, and an act that has experienced the ebb and flow of changes throughout their entire career, Dark Tranquillity have always found ways to innovate and shape their sound to bring new dimensions to it and keep it reflective of the current soundscape. So, it comes as little surprise that four years on from their Swedish Grammy-nominated album Atoma, the band has again shaped their sound to create their 12th studio album Moment.
From the outset, Moment sets a very bold tone. The subtle introduction to opener Phantom Days forms the basis for not only the track but also the album with its foreboding instrumentation easing the listener in. It’s a memorable opening track, that will instantly draw comparisons to the bands back catalogue, but still sets the bar for the album very high. Transient follows and is a more melodic affair that utilises the strong key melodies the band is known for. It’s a barrelling track that has a pretty steady pace and continues to set strong expectations about the album overall.
For those wanting a faster-paced offering, third track Identical To None is perhaps one of the band’s finest to date. The track exhibits some of the most poignant lyrics on the whole album and is a rousing track that is constructed in a way that makes it one of Moment’s most impactful. The Dark Unbroken is a more melancholic affair that leans heavily into the gothic-rock sound the band has carried throughout their career. There’s brilliant guitar work layered over the key melody in this track that gives the pre-chorus a big impact and is the first track on Moment to exhibit vocalist Mikael Stanne’s clean vocals which absolutely shine. Adding in one of the albums standout guitar solos, this track has all the hallmarks of being a classic for the band.
Perhaps the defining piece of this album was for this listener was album midpoint track Standstill. Seemingly drawing a key melody from the band’s Fiction-era that still feels in tune with the bands current sound, Standstill packs one of the most unexpectedly upbeat choruses that the band has created in years, ear worming its way into your subconscious for several hours since its last listen. However, as a true credit to the dichotomy of the album, subsequent track Ego Deception opts for a more aggressive delivery in its verses with frenetic chugging and distorted guitar tone, before breaking into a cleaner sung chorus, perfectly blending the clean/harsh sounds.
The latter half of the album continues the trends already established over the opening salvo, with tracks like Eyes of the World taking full advantage of the harsh/clean dichotomy; Failstate thriving off the more upbeat melodic tone, and In Truth Divided having the more gothic-esque melancholy the band has quite often employed.
It’s important to note that this may not be an album that grabs the listener straight out of the gate. There is a large degree of nuance to these songs which makes this album more of a slow burn effort, rather than an impactful “in your face” delivery. It’s only after a few listens that you can really begin to understand the depth and layering that the band has incorporated into these songs, and that in of itself is a wonderful thing to experience the first few times through.
Mikael Stanne’s vocal delivery seems more impressive than usual. While it remains similar to his previous efforts, it feels like there is a much more profound enunciation in his lyrics. It’s very difficult for unconventional listeners who may normally be turned off by “not being able to understand the lyrics” to use that argument when there is a distinct clarity in both Stanne’s clean and harsh vocals, and this delivery is one of the clear standouts on Moment.
As the first release of the band without any of its long-time guitarists, it was expected that the sound on Moment could be a little different this time around, particularly with the addition of distinguished guitar duo Johan Reinholdz and Chris Amott into the fold. It’s always good to see artists bring their own influence into a project, and overall it seems like both Reinholdz and Amott have honoured the legacy of the band with their playing, but have still noticeably managed to bring in their own expertise to help rejuvenate the band’s overall sound, most noticeably through their guitar solos. While Dark Tranquillity has never shied away from solos in the past, each solo on Moment feels different to anything offered before – and that’s a good thing. The interplay between these two and Martin Brändström on keys really helps to establish the bands overall sound on the album, and its good signs for the future.
It would be remiss not to point out perhaps the most understated work on Moment through Anders Jivarp’s drumming. While the mix at times doesn’t offer it the best chance to shine, it is undoubtedly one of the key hallmarks on what makes these songs have the impact that they have and deserves its own mention. The bass lines employed by Jivarp and Anders Iwers on bass guitar give these songs the best platform to spring from.
Production-wise, Brändström has again outdone himself. The album is a polished masterpiece from beginning to end, with the mix appropriately layered throughout. In house production by bands can be fraught with danger, but with all the tools at their disposal, Dark Tranquillity – and particularly Brändström himself – have done an amazing job on the production.
Similar to Atoma before it, Moment is an enjoyable experience. Much like its predecessor, the existential messaging within the lyrics provides a profoundly introspective and thought-provoking message that is difficult to ignore. While this won’t be an album that grabs everyone outright, it is an album worth investing time into with its multiple layers helping to keep it feeling fresh over several listens. If nothing else, it provides a pivotal and refreshing platform for the band to springboard into their third decade together, and if they continue releasing music of this calibre, it is difficult not to see them doing it for decades to come.
