4.5 superb

Jom STAFF | August 30th 07

Last year, In Flames showcased to fans new and old that they were still musically relevant at the midway point of this decade. With 2007's 'Fiction,' Dark Tranquillity meet - perhaps even surpass - sheer relevance in the industry. This album is somewhat of a hybrid between 'The Gallery,' 'Damage Done,' and 'Character,' which preceded this album. I say this because between 'Fiction' and 'Character,' one won't find very many glaring differences; in fact, the electronics and keyboard melodies are what make these two albums so memorable. Yet, there's enough crunch to bring to mind the other aforementioned albums. Songs like "Terminus (Where Death is Most Alive)" and "Nothing to No One" are incredibly catchy, and tracks such as "Misery's Crown" and "Icipher" exemplify the band's more melancholy, shadowy traits. Ultimately, fans of 'Character' will undoubtedly enjoy this album, whereas fans of the band's older material may not as much. However, in all, this album should go down as one of metal's best releases in 2007, because it's extremely beautiful, yet grippingly intense. 4 Bumps | Bump

5.0 classic

Rugter32 | December 19th 08

Melodeath with some electronic stuff added which actually worked in Character and works in this too, amazing quality songs (Terminus, Icipher, Misery's Crown, The Mudane and The Magic, all amazing tracks) and powerful growling which you can actually understand. With this release, Dark Tranquillity proves that they don't need constant experimenting to be as good as they are, seeing how this is simply Character part 2, and it's even better than Character. 2 Bumps | Bump

4.5 superb

Bob | April 19th 07

DT newest album does nothing new in terms of experimentation. In fact, it is just Character number 2, where Charactor left of, Fiction picked it up to go further. This, however, isn't necercerly a bad thing. Sometimes an album doesn't need the uniqueness to be superb. Fiction is like that. The lead guitars and keyboard do excellent riffs until infinity. From the industrial Nothing to No One until the emotional closer The Mundane and the Magic, a song that picks up where Negation left of. Terminus and Blind at Heart are the two highlights, densely followed by Icipher. Those three songs feature the ultimate Dark Tranquillity riffs, the most raspy vocals and the most subtile layout. With the exception of Focus Shift, a decent track, every song is from incredible state. This album is probably the best Dark Tranquillity has ever done. Including The Gallery and Character. 2 Bumps | Bump

4.5 superb

Steven McMahan | November 25th 08

It doesn't seem very often that a band almost touches a classic so long after releasing it, but that's exactly what Dark Tranquillity has done here. Twelve years after the essential melodic death metal album The Gallery, Fiction sees the band pouring every one of their strengths into 10 ridiculously good songs. Almost like an unintentional greatest hits, the ten songs here musically encapsulate everything that has and still makes DT such an amazing band. When it's all over (ending with their best closer since, well, The Gallery), this album serves as hope that Dark Tranquillity won't be burning out anytime soon. (although honestly, have they ever made us worry about that?) 1 Bumps | Bump

4.0 excellent	Charles David Ham | August 14th 08
The first three songs on the album are monumental, but the latter of Fiction lives up to it, blending soft techno and classical piano with fiecre deadly guitar riffs so perfectly, they're on the same level as Opeth. 1 Bumps | Bump

4.0 excellent	rockosmodurnlife | October 3rd 07
Basically, if you like earlier Dark Tranquillity releases then you will like this one. And if you're a fan of the Gothenburg sound then you'll enjoy the sound of it being done right without sounding tiring or overdone. Review was right, this isn't much different from Character but the tracks don't blend together like some other melo-death bands. 1 Bumps | Bump

1.5 very poor	500a5 | October 27th 08
This is pretty boring. Basically all the songs sound the same, they also have no creativity with the music, riffs, or lyrics. They keep using the same riffs the entire song. In Flames and Kalmah beat the crap out of DT. DT needs to evolve their music for gods sake, they run out of riffs.. Bump

3.0 good	Travis Marmon | July 2nd 08
I guess the gothenburg sound isn't really my thing. This album has some great songs, like Focus Shift and Inside the Particle Storm, but sometimes I feel like I'm listening to Lacuna Coil with harsh male vocals. I think I'll look into DT's early works, because I like the songs I've heard from them. Bump

3.5 great	Jim | March 6th 08
A solid release that proves to be as consistent as it is unspectacular. A few more catchy numbers and this may have entirely lived up to the hype. As it stands, Empty Me and Focus Shift remain my personal favourite cuts, and I'll certainly look to add some more Dark Tranquility to my collection - provided it's not quite full price. Bump

3.5 great	Matthew "Axl" Peck | December 11th 07
Yet another positive notch in a long and illustrious career for this band. I have been consistently impressed with each and every album, and this album proves no difference. Extremely solid, though a bit boring after a while. "Nothing to No One" and "Icipher" are great songs. The album as a whole is very well written, just nothing particularly catchy past the album's midway point. Bump