by Chris Willow
— Guest Columnist —
Dark Tranquillity is a Swedish Melodic Death Metal group formed in 1989, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Mikael Stanne, vocal and lead guitarist Niklas Sundin were the founding members. Other three of them Anders Friden, Anders Jivarp and Martin Henriksson joined them later on and the band calls themselves initially ‘Septic Broiler’. They changed the name to ‘Dark Tranquillity’ because it reflected better the dark, murky metal music they were playing. Their debut album ‘Skydancer’ was released in 1993.
The most significant one, the dark driven album ‘Projector’ 1999 showcases their maturity and devotion to the death metal scene.
They recorded 11 full albums and ‘Atoma’ was on in 2016, as the last one. Since that time Dark Tranquillity has successfully toured Europe and the USA. Their new studio album is underway and they gonna land in Spain this June and bring on some Nordic, demonic tunes into that Spanish summer night of Rock The Coast Festival
I hardly managed to catch up with a band, when they were spinning over the Dark Tranquility phenomena at the other edge of the metal odyssey, to present this brief Mikael Stanne interview.
Chris: It is Chris Willow for HardrockHaven On-Line Music Magazine. How are you doing Mikael? You doing Rock The Coast Festival this June. How do you feel about the Spanish audience? Any previous experiences with Spain? What is the band’s touring line up for 2019?
Mikael: Really looking forward to coming back to Spain. We have had an amazing relationship with the Spanish audiences for a long time and playing this really fantastic festival will be one of the highlights of the summer for us. Our touring line-up features Chris Amott and Johan Reinholdz on guitars, Anders Iwers on Bass and Anders Jivarp and Martin Brändström on drums and keys respectively. Then there is me. Its been like this for almost two years and we hope to keep it this way.
C: Why didn’t you record any studio album after ‘Atoma’ released in November 2016? Any particular reason for that?
M: It´s been the busiest touring we´ve ever done for an album and it´s only now that we can get back to writing and recording again. So as good as it is getting off the road for a bit I have to say that this has been some of the coolest and most amazing tours we´ve ever done so I can´t wait to start another cycle next year as soon as we finish a new album.
C: You announced a new studio CD in 2019. How are things at the moment? Do you have the title for it ready? What vain your next album will be in? Will it be a follow-up album or something different?
M: So yes, there will be a new album but not necessarily this year. We are just starting out and we definitely don´t want to rush anything so as soon as we are comfortable committing to a release date we will. For now, all things are possible. And this is the most exciting time. The album can be anything basically but I think we will do our best to follow up and Atoma and the albums that preceded it.
C: Who, apart you is the main composer within the band currently?
M: Anders Jivarp and Martin Brändström are the main composers with me doing lyrics and vocal arrangements for the moment.
C: Your last official video ‘ Forward Momentum’ of your ‘Atoma’ very successful album is more lyrical. Is it a sign that you become more commercial?
M: Not sure about that but I think that we finally worked with a director that had a great vision for our music and the song. Vesa Ranta, we´ve known since the early 2000 and he has a spectacular eye for what suits this kind of music. I really hope we can work again in the future.
C: Are there any bands, on RTCF bill who you are friendly with, who you were touring with by the chance? And do you like to play big festivals?
M: Graveyard is from our hometown, Carcass guys I´ve known for a long time and Opeth we´ve toured with before and we´ve done shows and festivals with a lot of the other bands but I really look forward to hanging out and watching a lot of bands. Especially Rainbow! I really love festivals. I try to go to as many as I can and I love the vibe and the love between bands and fans.
C: I know it always takes a hell to do the set list when you have many albums behind you. But what you are going to play at RTCF 2019? Any new numbers in the list?
M: It really does and sometimes it takes forever to decide on what to play. Usually, at festivals, we stick to some classics but also throw in things we havn´t played in a while. No new material just yet though.
C: Thanks for your time Mikael and CU at The Coast! Cheers!
M: Thank you and see you soon!
http://www.darktranquillity.com/
https://www.facebook.com/dtofficial/
http://tarjaturunen.com/home-tarja/
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