Review Summary: Dark Tranquillity on Autopilot.
Before the release of
Moment, Dark Tranquillity revealed that Christopher Amott and Johan Reinholdz would be joining them on guitars. With such talent on board, many expected a return to the band’s classic guitar-driven sound. However,
Moment turned out to be the mellowest and most atmospheric Dark Tranquillity album since
Projector, largely due to the dominant contributions of Mikael Stanne (vocals) and Martin Brandstrom (keyboards). Following the departure of Amott and the entire rhythm section after the album's tour, there was little reason to expect
Endtime Signals’ songwriting dynamic to differ much. However, instead of keeping things status quo, they opened the songwriting to Johan Reinholdz. While
Endtime Signals doesn’t revisit the classic melodic death metal style of
The Gallery, it is their most guitar-driven release since
We Are the Void. Unfortunately, it also ranks as their least compelling album since then.
To be clear,
Endtime Signals is a solid album, but it also feels fairly standard. In interviews, Mikael Stanne mentioned that Johan Reinholdz was finally allowed to contribute to the songwriting, and his influence is evident in the guitar work. However, his guitar parts often blend into the background, partly due to their low placement in the mix and partly because they just aren’t very compelling. While Reinholdz's leads and melodies are better, they still rarely drive the songs. Similarly, although much was made of new drummer Joakim Strandberg Nilsson's (In Mourning) technical prowess bringing a fresh edge to the band’s sound, the difference is subtle, mainly manifesting as a more prominent double-bass performance. Consequently, the best tracks are those that showcase the strengths of long-time members Mikael Stanne and Martin Brandstrom.
In fact, one of my favorite tracks is “False Reflections,” penned by Niklas Sundin and described by Mikael Stanne as the album's ballad. This song stands out as the most keyboard-driven on the album, delivering an emotional, moody, and atmospheric performance featuring Mikael's clean vocals throughout. Another standout is “One of Us is Gone,” a touching tribute to former guitarist Fredrik Johansson, who passed away from cancer after leaving the band. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that “One of Us is Gone” follows a similar formula to “False Reflections,” since it is the style the band has perfected over the past decade. The guitar-driven tracks that resonate most are those that retain elements from the band's recent work, such as the pre-release single “Not Nothing” and “Our Disconnect” – both of which seamlessly integrate melancholic keyboard melodies with guitar-driven leads and quick tempos.
Many fans were disappointed when Dark Tranquillity brought in two talented guitarists before
Moment and then proceeded to do nothing with them. It’s possible, however, this turned out to be for the best.
Endtime Signals is a notably guitar-driven album where their guitarist has been given a fair bit of freedom, but by Dark Tranquillity standards, it remains mostly unremarkable. While the album does have its standout moments and isn't inherently flawed, it often comes across as a bit too sterile and safe to be considered a top contender in the band’s discography. If you’ve spent the last ten years hoping for Dark Tranquillity to drop the moody keyboard-driven compositions and return to a more guitar-dominated sound, you are in luck and there just might be enough here to satisfy. For those of us that enjoyed the previous three releases, however, there’s just not enough here to truly justify the change.
