Thoughts Of Decay

are one of three pioneering Swedish bands of the  Gothenburg melodic death metal genre, along with In Flames and At The Gates. Unlike In Flames, they have kept consistently to the style whilst still experimenting across their long career, and unlike At The Gates, they have consistently remained a band, bringing forth a new release every 2-3 years. Dark Tranquillity (DT) are the best melodeath band for me due to the unmatched vocals of Mikael Stanne and the heavy but evocative, keyboard-tinted songwriting from the rest of the band. This is one of my all-time favourite bands due to sheer overall quality. Here’s a rundown of all of their full-length records ranked by personal preference.

11. Haven (2000)

This one is yet to really click with me. As I was exploring melodic death metal music back in 2006, a couple of albums just did very little to warrant repeat listens and unfortunately this was one of them. Haven is the first album of what I would consider their modern, keyboard-driven approach, and although there is nothing really wrong with it, I just do not care for it in the same way I do their others. It’s actually a really good introduction to the band – the songs are concise and dramatic and they act as a great benchmark example of DT‘s sound. For me though, there aren’t any standout tracks and much of the album passes by unnoticed.

10. Skydancer (1993)

Featuring the vocals of Anders Fridén of In Flames before their lineup was properly established, ‘Skydancer’ is the band’s first major venture into the world. The quality of this album is certainly a sign of their youth as the production quality is unpolished, as well as their ambition as the tracks are diverse and full of invention. The key detail to take from this debut is the passion, which exists throughout DT’s discography. Highlights here are the two longer cuts; ‘A Bolt of Blazing Gold’, which is uplifted by the addition of a guest female vocalist in the chorus; and ‘Shadow Duet’, which depicts an abstract tale of two characters played by Fridén and guitarist Niklas Sundin.

9. The Mind’s I (1997)

With the band’s third effort, DT give a nod towards thrash. This music is fast, aggressive and concise. Half of the tracks on this album barely go beyond 3 minutes and whilst the highlight for me is the longest one: the layered and flowing drama of ‘Insanity’s Crescendo’, there is a lot of strong material to get stuck into. This feels like an edgy, troubled sibling of their 2^nd album, the majestic ‘The Gallery’, yet it is also a statement: “we are not going to make the same move twice.” This is the final album of what I consider their early, raw period before continuing to develop their sound beyond its origins. Although full of quality ideas, the reason it sits here in the list is that ‘The Gallery’ is better, and the band were yet to truly show their capability and supremacy in their field.

8. Construct (2013)

DT really have a knack for pertinent titling, as ‘Construct’ is rock-solid. The placement of it in your list depends on how much you like their fully-realised sound compared with their roots. In this case, this album finishes ahead of a couple of their earlier releases because it displays the band, 10 albums in, still full of songwriting ideas and flourish. Now settled into a slower, tri-annual release schedule but still forever touring, DT show no signs of faltering. Many of the songs do blend together, apart from the single, ‘Uniformity’, which is an essential track, with a memorable chorus presented with clean vocals. I did mention Mikael has the best voice in melodeath and that’s not just for the growls.

7. Atoma (2016)

The latest but not the last release, with ‘Atoma’, DT continues down the same path they have been walking since ‘Haven’. Not much has changed since 2013 except for the departure of long-time guitarist Martin Henrikkson, with bass duties filled in by Anders Iwers of Tiamat. ‘Atoma’ places slightly higher than the album before it simply because it feels fresher, even though it follows a similar structure of 12 well-balanced 4 minute songs. It’s enough to keep us satisfied for a few more years while we wait, hoping the next will be another masterpiece. Not that this is disappointing at all – it’s great, and better than almost all other melodeath out there. They are just capable of more…

6. We Are The Void (2010)

‘Void’ feels like a natural progression from their previous album, the modern opus ‘Fiction’, but with a flavour of black metal. Thinking about it, this has always existed in DT’s music. Their sound is very much a mixture of death metal and melody, but what sets them apart from the rest is how the atmosphere they create always feels grim, wretched and harrowed. On ‘Void’, this is brought further into the forefront on tracks such as the opener or the slow-burning ‘Arkengelsk’. This is their most dystopian album with the darkest atmosphere, as it builds to a truly devastating finale. DT have a few great closing tracks across their discography and ‘Iridium’ takes the grand prize for me. After a sombre, subdued opening verse, the song explodes into a swirl of dramatic keys and Mikael’s tortured screams continue to bury your soul. It’s a slow tempestuous and highly emotional climax that solidifies your faith that the band have yet more to give. 9 albums down, and it’s not over yet.

5. Character (2005)

‘Character’ is an example of a band riding the waves of seemingly effortless skill and creativity (I’m sure this isn’t true. It probably took a lot of hard work). The masters of melodeath deliver another timeless slab of dark and brooding metal. It features a few outstanding tracks, such as ‘The New Build’, ‘Out of Nothing’ and ‘Lost To Apathy’, which could arguably be the best song they’ve written. Others are a bit more forgettable, perhaps marred slightly by the quality of those already mentioned, which is why it places below the similar records that surround it. I still return to this one often as it reminds me of the early days of discovering them, and it’s getting difficult to give meaningful criticism at this point. Also, ‘My Negation’ is yet another great closing track!

4. Fiction (2007)

If I were to recommend one album to a new fan of the band, or even of melodic death metal in general, this would be it. ‘Fiction’ is DT at peak maturity and guile. Each of the 10 tracks are so refined, memorable and anthemic. It’s astonishing how focused and impactful this album is: the guitars are catchier and heavier than ever and the lyrics are striking, both of which are elevated by a haunting, sinister atmosphere. Objectively, this is likely the band’s best album, but personal preference wins over: the only reason this isn’t in the top 3 is because I have more of a soft spot for those above it. Believe me, the band has never sounded this good. This album is essential.

A special mention goes out to their live DVD ‘Where Death is Most Alive’ which features a concert in Milan as part of this album’s touring cycle. It’s an epic show and seriously one of the best recorded performances I’ve seen.

3. The Gallery (1995)

Revered among fans as their masterpiece, ‘The Gallery’ certainly is special. After a debut which only hinted at what the band could achieve, their true talent is clearly on display here. There is so much passion and fury to draw you in; the riffs bite at your chest whilst the vocals dive down into your throat, both aiming for the heart. This is particularly shown in the live staple, ‘Punish My Heaven’, or the anguished, lovelorn rhapsody, ‘Lethe’. If you’re searching for a picture of accomplished melodeath in the 90s, look no further.

2. Damage Done (2002)

After the underwhelming ‘Haven’, the band put out 3 stunning releases during the decade and this is the best of them, because it succeeds everywhere that album does not. Like ‘Haven’, it’s relatively short, with 11 tracks averaging at around 4 minutes in length, but they’re all vicious and, most importantly, memorable. The intensity barely lets up for the duration, as every song brings forth more energy and more cathartic guttural screams and melody. I’m a huge fan of lengthy releases but with ‘Damage Done’ I appreciate the lack of filler. It feels like a re-imagined version of ‘The Gallery’ at times, with how the guitars play such a defining role to both aggression as well as emotion. When the battle is over, there really is nothing more that needs to be said.

1. Projector (1999)

This one may come as a surprise to you if you’re new to the band as it is their most experimental and melancholy work. However, if you are familiar with my taste and this album already, you probably could have guessed it would sit at the top of the list. ‘Projector’ is the band’s greatest stylistic shift, as they keyboards and electronics take on a larger role in the writing, as well as a much more frequent use of clean vocals. Mikael’s singing voice naturally carries a mournful tone and is much more prevalent throughout here than anywhere else in their catalogue. For me, it fits perfectly with the densely textured sound brought into play by the increased use of electronics. This release certainly is challenging at first for those exploring the band and I imagine it was divisive upon release, but I realised quite quickly that this is a special achievement as a result of a bold step away from their roots and the death metal crowd. I appreciate progression and the tenacity to divert away from normality, and DT delivers a soulful journey in this unique and enchanting record. I’ve been listening to them for over 13 years now and ‘Projector’ has become my favourite experience when the time comes around to play it again.