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Dark Tranquillity
We Are the Void


2.0
poor

Review

by fireaboveicebelow USER (107 Reviews)
February 19th, 2010 | 21 replies


Release Date: 2010 | Tracklist


If the denial we put in our heads from the half of Fiction that was awesome was enough to retain high hopes for the new record, Dark Tranquillity has finally entered the point of redundancy and proved most of us wrong. We Are The Void, bluntly and regrettably, pretty much lacks most everything that made every single past release enjoyable, this being strong lyrics (which make a handful of appearances), atmosphere with purpose, and the uncanny ability to write basic songs that are still awesome. Haven showed the band had faults, but was excusable since they were still experimenting. Damage Done through Fiction brought them back to a familiar yet re-polished style, and, most evident on Fiction (Blind At Heart, Terminus), still presented all too similar riffing patterns and cliché mistakes for a veteran band, but once again had enough awesome material to excuse it (Inside The Particle Storm, The Mundane And The Magic). We Are The Void is just another melodic death metal record with no redemption or character.

Usually I would say that “this just isn’t something I enjoy”, but honestly this is just purely poor. It pains me to say this, considering I adore most everything else they’ve done, but after multiple listens of trying to find something worth hearing, all I find is the same thing I heard the past 3 records. One may throw on the opening track and confront this point due to the Eastern influence, but after Dream Oblivion, The Fatalist, In My Absence, and so on, it’s almost indisputable that the songs are mechanical, and don’t convey the impression of passionate songwriting. The keyboards rarely have their own identity as a separate instrument since most of the time they play something similar to the guitar line, which is something too many bands do today, especially in doom and black metal. Keyboards can be done well, the idea is not fiction, but it's as if they lost their sense of purpose on this. Also, the intro to Surface The Infinite sounding identical to Machine Head by Bush is damage done by itself; maybe it’s time for Niklas to step up to the writing table for the next record to produce something off the wall, but what will help the band as a whole is to do what they’ve done in the past and explore new ways of composition. It's as if their songwriting has been afflicted with a terminal spirit disease This is only the first time Dark Tranquillity made a full-on misstep, so it wouldn’t be fair to write them off. They will, however, need a new route to remain relevant today.

To continue elaborating on this would lead the review to redundancy, so the positives would have to include Arkhangelsk, which is actually pretty awesome compared to the songs that precede it, as well as the closer, Iridium. Arkhangelsk has this really dark atmosphere and deters from the standard song format, making it a very refreshing track, and Iridium has this great metallic tone that doesn’t really resemble anything else they’ve done before, which is obviously noteworthy on this record, but even so gets a little old after the first half of the track.

At the end of the day, Dark Tranquillity will just have to be one of the less spectacular parts of their 9 album gallery.Contentment with a sound is the root of all evil, and the band are going to start burning bridges if they keep it up. They’ve been around for over 20 years though, so they’re entitled to make a mistake, and if they’re legitimately pleased with this release, then kudos, but hopefully they regain inspiration to write a different record next time…or they might be nearing a closer end.



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user ratings (824)
3.2
good
other reviews of this album
1 of
  • Kyle Ward EMERITUS (3)
    When all is said and done, it is likely that the vast majority of We Are The Void will sli...

    Observer EMERITUS (3)
    A case where merely delivering a good album almost equates to failure....

    Darkvoid67 (3.5)
    The Kings of Gothenburg finally let their crown slip on album number nine. It’s not quit...

    Nicksta101 (3.5)
    With the release of We Are The Void, Dark Tranquility’s foundation which their music has...

  • bodiesinflight57 (4)
    Sometimes an album doesn't live up to your expectations. In following the classic '[b]Fict...



Comments:Add a Comment 
fireaboveicebelow
February 19th 2010


6835 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0

also the new arsis blows

TheSpirit
Emeritus
February 19th 2010


30304 Comments


People miss you, so this review will get fappd on

SCREAM!
February 19th 2010


15755 Comments


Review will get fapped on because of how pun-tastic it is.

And old arsis sucked too

jingledeath
February 19th 2010


7100 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

dannnnyyyyyyy

Willie
Moderator
February 19th 2010


20311 Comments

Album Rating: 3.2

Welcome back. Nice concept there... I seen what you've done ;)

FadeToBlack
February 19th 2010


11043 Comments


i don't think it's quite as bad as you say, but it's still probably the worst DT album

oh and welcome back

Nagrarok
February 19th 2010


8656 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

Djeezus, 3 reviews for this on one day. And quick after one another, too.

chaos17
February 19th 2010


296 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

I don't think its that bad; in fact some of the songs are some of the best they've written (Shadow in our Blood, Her Silent Language, Iriduim). Unfortunatly though, they are in the minority and I do have to agree that a lot of the album seems a bit to formulatic...

Phantom
February 19th 2010


9010 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

OMG FireAboveIceISBACK



Never really dug DT that much so I wouldn't have bothered with this anyway, great review though.

Crysis
Emeritus
February 19th 2010


17640 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

Welcome back from the dead Fire.

Ulsufyring
February 19th 2010


1748 Comments


by the way, the extended pun idea was mine

OllieS
February 19th 2010


2280 Comments


'Usually I would say that “this just isn’t something I enjoy”, but honestly this is just purely poor.' Ha! Great review.

HenchmanOfSanta
February 19th 2010


1994 Comments


I like the new Arsis but I don't think I'll get this.

Ire
February 19th 2010


41944 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0

omg omg no no gunna have to neg

Observer
Emeritus
February 19th 2010


9471 Comments


Good to see that you are back.

cvlts
February 19th 2010


9943 Comments


aww shit, its a fireaboveicebelow review!

Hawks
February 19th 2010


94803 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I knew you couldn't stay away fireabove!

Metalstyles
February 19th 2010


8576 Comments

Album Rating: 2.4

great review [although it's exactly they way I'm doing my future Nonpoint review, and since now you made it, it will make me look like a copycat =( ] and good too see you back and reviewing

R6Rider
February 19th 2010


5282 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

where the hell have you been fireaboveicebelow!?



way to make a comeback

Ulsufyring
February 20th 2010


1748 Comments


they all love you danny



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