Fiction is the eighth studio album by the Swedish melodic death metal band, Dark Tranquillity. The album was released by Napalm Records on April 19, 2007,[2] and by Century Media in the UK on April 23, and in the US on April 24.[3]
This is the last new material to feature Michael Nicklasson as their bassist before leaving in August 2008 and the last release to be recorded at Studio Fredman.
Background
This album marked a few returns of previous quirks the band had done in the past - the song "Inside the Particle Storm" marks the return of Sundin writing lyrics again since "Tongues" from The Mind's I, Mikael Stanne utilizes clean vocals in addition to his usual growled vocals on "Misery's Crown" since "In Sight" from 2009 reissue edition of Haven and a guest female vocalist on "The Mundane and the Magic" since "Undo Control" from Projector.
An expanded edition was released in North America on May 27 and was scheduled for Worldwide release on June 23, 2008, containing two bonus tracks previously released in Australia and Japan, two previously unreleased tracks and two tracks taken from the band's live performance in Summer Breeze Festival in 2007. The expanded edition also contains a bonus DVD with live songs, behind the scene footage, Character's "The New Build" promo video, and the "Focus Shift" video clip. In addition, the expanded edition features an extended booklet layout, an alternative cover artwork, and includes also a free Dark Tranquillity patch.
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| About.com |   [4] |
| AllMusic |  [5] |
| Metal Hammer |   |
| PopMatters | [6] |
| Sputnikmusic | [7] |
The album was generally well-received,[8][9] with the album being called "another worthwhile addition to Dark Tranquillity's impressive discography."[10] It was also noted that the album was similar to Character, in terms of musical style.
Track listing
All lyrics are written by Mikael Stanne, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Nothing to No One" |
| 4:10 | |
| 2. | "The Lesser Faith" |
| 4:37 | |
| 3. | "Terminus (Where Death Is Most Alive)" |
| 4:24 | |
| 4. | "Blind at Heart" | Henriksson | 4:21 | |
| 5. | "Icipher" |
| 4:39 | |
| 6. | "Inside the Particle Storm" | Sundin | Sundin | 5:29 |
| 7. | "Empty Me" | Henriksson | 4:59 | |
| 8. | "Misery's Crown" |
| 4:14 | |
| 9. | "Focus Shift" | Henriksson | 3:36 | |
| 10. | "The Mundane and the Magic" |
| 5:17 |
| No. | Title | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11. | "A Closer End" |
| 4:10 |
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Winter Triangle" | Instrumental | Sundin | 2:18 |
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11. | "A Closer End" |
| 4:10 | |
| 12. | "Winter Triangle" | Instrumental | Sundin | 2:18 |
| 13. | "Below the Radiance" |
| 3:26 | |
| 14. | "Silence in the House of Tongues" | Instrumental | Sundin | 3:24 |
| 15. | "Terminus (Where Death Is Most Alive) (Live at Summerbreeze Festival 2007)" |
| 4:40 | |
| 16. | "The Lesser Faith (Live at Summerbreeze Festival 2007)" |
| 4:48 |
Expanded Edition DVD
The expanded version also contains a bonus DVD with over 45 minutes of live recordings and promo videos:
- "Focus Shift" (promo video)
- "Terminus (Where Death Is Most Alive)" (brick-movie)
- "Focus Shift" (rehearsal room video)
- "Blind At Heart" (live)
- "Final Resistance" (live)
- "Misery's Crown" (live)
- "Terminus (Where Death Is Most Alive)" (live)
- "The Lesser Faith" (live)
- "The New Build" (live)
- "The Endless Feed" (live)
Personnel
Dark Tranquillity
- Mikael Stanne − vocals
- Niklas Sundin − lead guitar
- Martin Henriksson − rhythm guitar
- Martin Brändström − keyboards, electronics
- Michael Nicklasson − bass
- Anders Jivarp − drums
Other credits
- Nell Sigland − additional vocals on "The Mundane and the Magic"[11]
- Album artwork and design by Cabin Fever Media
Charts
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[12] | 19 |
| French Albums (SNEP)[13] | 145 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[14] | 59 |
| Italian Albums (FIMI)[15] | 34 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[16] | 12 |
References
- ^ "The official DARK TRANQUILLITY homepage". Darktranquillity.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-06. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
- ^ "Dark Tranquillity - Fiction / CD". Napalm Records. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ Blackie, Andrew (July 30, 2007). "Dark Tranquility: Fiction". PopMatters. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ http://heavymetal.about.com/od/cdreviews/gr/darktranfiction.htm
- ^ Fiction at AllMusic
- ^ https://www.popmatters.com/dark-tranquility-fiction-2496240192.html
- ^ http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=16748
- ^ http://heavymetal.about.com/od/cdreviews/gr/darktranfiction.htm
- ^ http://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Dark_Tranquillity/Fiction/143716
- ^ https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/11776/Dark-Tranquillity-Fiction/
- ^ "Nell Sigland - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives". Retrieved 2014-02-05.
- ^ "Dark Tranquillity: Fiction" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – Dark Tranquillity – Fiction". Hung Medien.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Dark Tranquillity – Fiction" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts.
- ^ "Italiancharts.com – Dark Tranquillity – Fiction". Hung Medien.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Dark Tranquillity – Fiction". Hung Medien.