Moment

Moment is an album on which DARK TRANQUILLITY brought together the core of its melodic death metal — sharp guitars, cold keyboards and an introspective lyrical world — within a supple flow. Under a lineup that welcomed new guitarists following the departure of a long-serving member, Mikael Stanne’s growl keeps its ferocity while functioning as a narrator conveying each song’s sorrow. A stance that places both aggression and delicacy within the same scene, rather than choosing one, runs throughout. On “Phantom Days,” “Transient,” “Eyes of the World” and “The Dark Unbroken,” the space never feels cramped even in fast passages, as layers of synthesizer create a depth like a city at night. On “Remain in the Unknown,” “Standstill,” “Ego Deception” and “Empires Lost to Time” too, drive and melodic beauty link smoothly, with striking hooks placed throughout. On “Identical to None” and “In Truth Divided,” the shadow of the melody and a sunken lyricism are carefully drawn. Through the change of lineup the band’s aesthetics do not waver in the least; if anything the record shows a maturity charged with fresh vitality, vividly announcing the start of a new chapter where cold lyricism and melodic beauty intersect.