Melodic death metal band Dark Tranquility was formed in 1989 by vocalist and guitarist Mikael Stanne and guitarist Niklas Sundin. In translation, the name of the group means "Dark Calm"
Initially, the musical project was called Septic Broiler. Martin Henriksson, Anders Frieden and Anders Jivart soon joined the group.
Formation of the band and album Skydancer (1989 - 1993)
In 1990 the band recorded their first demo called Enfeebled Earth. However, the group did not achieve much success, and soon they changed their musical style somewhat, and also came up with another name for the band - Dark Tranquility.
Under the new name, the band released several demos and in 1993, the album Skydancer. Almost immediately after the release of the full-length release, the group left the main vocalist Frieden, who joined the In Flames. As a result, Stanne took over the vocals, and Fredrik Johansson was invited to take the place of the rhythm guitarist.
Dark Tranquility: The Gallery, The Mind's I and Projector (1993 - 1999)
In 1994, Dark Tranquility took part in the recording of Metal Militia's A Tribute to Metallica album. The band performed a cover of My Friend of Misery.
1995 saw the release of the EP Of Chaos and Eternal Night and the band's second full-length album, titled The Gallery. This album is often ranked among the masterpieces of that period.
The Gallery was again accompanied by some changes in the band's style, but it retained the basis of the band's melodic death sound: growls, abstract guitar riffs, acoustic passages and vocal parts of smoothed vocalists.
The second Dark Tranquility EP, Enter Suicidal Angels, was released in 1996. Album The Mind's I - in 1997.
Projector was released in June 1999. It was the band's fourth album and was subsequently nominated for a Swedish Grammy Award. The album became one of the most revolutionary in the history of the development of the band's sound. Keeping the growl and death metal elements, the band greatly enriched their sound with the use of piano and soft baritone.
After the recording of Projector, Johansson left the band due to the emergence of a family. Around the same period, the band re-released Skydancer and Of Chaos and Eternal Night under the same cover.
Haven by Dark Tranquility (2000 - 2001)
Literally a year later, the Haven album was released. The band added digital keyboards as well as clean vocals. By this time, Martin Brendström had joined the band as keyboardist, while Mikael Nyklasson replaced bassist Henriksson. Henriksson, in turn, became the second guitarist.
For a tour in 2001, Dark Tranquility hired Robin Engström, as drummer Yivarp became a father.
Damage Done and Character (2002 - 2006)
The album Damage Done was released by the band in 2002 and was a step towards a heavier sound. The album was dominated by distortion guitars, deep atmospheric keyboards and relatively soft vocals. The band presented a video clip for the song Monochromatic Stains, as well as the first DVD called Live Damage.
Dark Tranquility's seventh album was titled Character and was released in 2005. The release was received very positively by critics around the world. The band toured Canada for the first time. The band also presented another video for the single Lost to Apathy.
Fiction and We Are the Void (2007–2011)
In 2007, the band released the album Fiction, which again featured Stanne's clean vocals. It also featured a guest vocalist for the first time since Projector. The album was in the style of Projector and Haven. However, with a more aggressive atmosphere of Character and Damage Done.
The North American tour in support of the released Dark Tranquillit album was held with The Haunted, Into Eternity and Scar Symmetry. In early 2008 the band also visited the UK where they shared the stage with Omnium Gatherum. A little later, the band returned to the US and played several shows with Arch Enemy.
In August 2008, information appeared on the band's official website that bassist Nicklasson was leaving the band for personal reasons. On September 19, 2008, a new bassist, Daniel Antonsson, who previously played guitar in the bands Soilwork and Dimension Zero, was recruited into the band.
On May 25, 2009, the band re-released the albums Projector, Haven, and Damage Done. On October 14, 2009, Dark Tranquility completed work on their ninth studio release. A DVD titled Where Death Is Most Alive was also released on October 26. On December 21, 2009, Dark Tranquility released the song Dream Oblivion, and on January 14, 2010, the song At the Point of Ignition.
These compositions were presented on the band's official MySpace page. The band's ninth album, We Are the Void, was released on March 1, 2010 in Europe and March 2, 2010 in the US. The band played at the opening of a US winter tour led by Killswitch Engage. In May-June 2010 Dark Tranquility headlined a North American tour.
Together with them, Threat Signal, Mutiny Within and The Absence appeared on the stage. In February 2011, the band played their first live performance in India.
Construct (2012- ... )
On April 27, 2012, Dark Tranquility re-signed with Century Media. On October 18, 2012, the band began working on a new album. On January 10, 2013, the band announced that the release would be called Construct and would be released on May 27, 2013 in Europe and May 28 in North America. The album was mixed by Jens Borgen.
On February 18, 2013, Antonsson left Dark Tranquility, stating that he still did not want to remain as a bass player, but plans to work as a producer. On February 27, 2013, the band announced that the recording of the album had been completed. On May 27, 2013, the teaser and tracklist for the Construct album was released.
