Dark Tranquillity "The Gallery" Osmose Productions (1995)

This album is one of they defining moments in the melodic death genre. The three main bands that sprouted this type of music (Dark Tranquillity, In Flames, and At the Gates) all sounded completely different. "The Gallery" is the second full-length studio album by the Swedish melodic death metal band Dark Tranquillity, released on November 27, 1995.

At the Gates had the thrashy sound. In Flames had the power metal sound. And Dark Tranquillity had the most unique sound. A mix of several sounds combining to have a most epic and grandeur sound.

The Gallery for that latter half of the last paragraph was born and dead with Dark Tranquillity. Even the band now has all but abandoned their old sound. The Gallery never got boring. It drew folk influence at times, it never recycled riffs a repeatedly throughout a song, and futures dynamic vocals. Get this; the bass was AUDIBLE, strange for a metal release. The drumming had blast beats and double bass, but maintained a more controlled pace. Everything about The Gallery was perfectly done.

Tracklist:

1 Punish My Heaven 4:46

2 Silence, And The Firmament Withdrew 2:37

3 Edenspring 4:30

4 The Dividing Line 5:02

5 The Gallery 4:08

6 The One Brooding Warning 4:14

7 Midway Through Infinity 3:30

8 Lethe 4:43

9 The Emptiness From Which I Fed 5:44

10 Mine Is The Grandeur... 2:27

11 ...Of Melancholy Burning   6:17

"Punish My Heaven" is the opener. This song alone would make you fall in love with this album; the opening riff feels so powerful. Not only that but the lyrics to the song feel like a medieval poem, a struggle between God and man. Heaven and Hell. The self and the universe. It's just empowering to say the least. The last two minutes are what sets cd's this apart. Most songs end in typical fashion, but Punish My Heaven ends with an epic closing two minutes that never get boring, no matter how many listens you take. No amount of words typed can justify the completeness and grandeur of this song.

The title track is another track much like the opening track. It has several passages that you wouldn’t expect, and even has some female vocals that really assist in making this song one worth noting. Dark Tranquillity really set in this song to capture the atmosphere of The Gallery as a whole. Well-composed music, intricate song writing and the talent of the band helps this song really set you in the mood Dark Tranquillity intended. The bass lines stick with you and aren’t always used for rhythm. The riffs constantly change to keep the dreaded monotony at a low. The guitars are crystal clear. The Gallery is a perfect example again of what melodeath used to be.

"... Of Melancholy" is the closer track. A closing track should do just that. Bring closure to an album. This fails to live up to that. But don't think that's a bad thing. For it just lingers on long enough and ends in such an epic fashion it begs the listener wanting for more. Just like any great movie or book does. Dark Tranquillity has succeeded on doing this through music. The song structure of this album really makes it a great listen. Of Melancholy never follows any sort of systematic formula. It had continuity through good writing, and some mind-blowing melodies. Whether it’s the leads, rhythm, bass, or drums carrying you through the song. Female vocals kick in a bit to help set the mood at one point. Just as you feel it may get to be a little repetitive. They kick off with the best closing 2 minutes to a cd. It has you pumping your fist in the air, humming the melody, and feeling every message the song is attempting to convey. Through all this they close it out with about five seconds of an acoustic melody that just really lets your mind take in the album you just listened to.

If you got the re-release you get some covers, of which I wasn’t to thrilled about. Their Uriah Heap cover of "Lady in Black" wasn’t too bad. Only because it reminds me of the Projector album which I highly approved of. Overall this cd is for the music fan that is looking for more than sheer brutality and gut wrenching speed. This is for the music fan than sit back and take in the atmosphere.

In Flames "The Jester Race" (Nuclear Blast, 1996)

"The Jester Race" es el segundo álbum de estudio de larga duración de la banda sueca de death metal melódico, In Flames. Fue grabado y editado en el año 1995, y publicado el 20 de febrero del año 1996. Es el primer trabajo de la banda que presenta a Anders Fridén como vocalista y a Björn Gelotte en la baterìa. También es el primer álbum de la banda con la discográfica Nuclear Blast. Fueron publicados dos vídeos para este álbum, uno para la canción Artifacts of the Black Rain y otro para la homónima The Jester Race, siendo así los primeros vídeos musicales de la banda.

Considerado por muchos como el mejor álbum de In Flames hasta la fecha, éste disco, junto con "The Gallery" de Dark Tranquillity y "Slaughter of the Soul" de At the Gates, es considerado también como uno de los clásicos (y más representativos) dentro del estilo de Gotemburgo, consolidándose así la banda como una de las más grandes del subgénero. Que a mediados de los años '90s habían catapultado a la cima del éxito a dichas bandas, marcando como referencia la escena sueca del estilo melódico junto a la ya emblemática del Old School Death Metal. 

La alineación que integró éste disco de In Flames estuvo integrado por Anders Fridén en la voz, Jesper Strömblad en la guitarra y teclados, Glenn Ljungström en la guitarra acompañante, Johan Larsson en el bajo y voz secundaria, finalmente Björn Gelotte en la batería. Todos ellos producidos por Fredrik Nordström un habitual productor en la escena sueca.

El listado de canciones: 

1. Moonshield

2. The Jester's Dance

3. Artifacts of the Black Rain

4. Graveland

5. Lord Hypnos

6. Dead Eternity

7. The Jester Race

8. December Flower

9. Wayfaerer

10. Dead God in Me

El disco te engancha desde la inicial "Moonshield", que posee una adictiva intro de guitarras acústicas, poderosos riffs, diversas y variadas melodías solistas, y demás sutilezas que la convierten en toda una masterpiece. Si "Moonshield" no fue suficiente para convencerte del virtuosismo y talento que poseen estos suecos, la pieza que le sigue titulada "The Jester's Dance", otra canción con una excelsa técnica, calidad y por sobre todo, muchísima inspiración compositiva resumida en una breve instrumental de poco más de dos minutos

impecable derroche de inolvidables trallazos que combinan caña y melodía en dosis compartidas, destacándose joyas como "The Jester Race" o "Lord Hypnosis". Los que quieran apreciar las grandiosas melodías de In Flames y descanzar por un instante de los alaridos de Anders Fridén, pueden ir directo a "Wayfaerer" segunda y nuevamente excelente instrumental del disco.

Se ha reeditado ésta obra junto con el estupendo Ep "Black Ash Inheritance" (1997). en la cual viene otra pieza emblemática de toda la discografía de la banda "Goliaths Disarm Their David" una excelsa demostración de técnica melódica. Un verdadero disfrute de la 

Tras escuchar esta magna obra que duda puede quedar respecto de la grandeza de In Flames, si aquí resulta más que evidente que estamos en presencia de una agrupación repleta de talento, originalidad, potencia, técnica y demás cualidades que le permitieron ganarse el respeto y admiración de gran parte de la escena metalera de los 90. Respeto y admiración adquirido sobre todo con sus primeros álbumes como este notable "The Jester Race" o el siguiente "Whoracle". Absolutamente imprescindibles para todos los metalheads.

"The Jester Race" live in 1996

"The Jester Dance"

"Moonshield"

"Goliath Disarm Their David"