It was in the late 1990s when melodic death metal became the most important metal genre. Such names as Amorphis and Paradise Lost gave inspiration to a wave of Swedish bands which quickly became known as Gothenburg scene: At the Gates, In Flames, and Dark Tranquillity. The last two gained wide-spread publicity by following slightly different paths.
Though Dark Tranquillity's albums have all been different, they all share a love for deep sounds and balanced atmosphere. Unlike their colleagues and followers, Dark Tranquillity does not rely so much on choruses as on the overall control of plain and unassuming melodies: their songs fold like a black rose's petals around Gothenburg-style guitars, glorified by fine but insightful programmed parts. On their two most recent albums Dark Tranquillity is faster than ever, rougher and less meditative. Instead of trivial nonsense all too often heard in rock music, their sagacious lyrics deal with the problems of an individual in the modern world, such as the relationship between man, science and technology.
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