DARK TRANQUILLITY + OMNIUM GATHERUM
FIBBERS, YORK 08/02/08
The Gothenburg sound comes to York, and upon finding out melodic death metal outfit Dark Tranquillity were due to play at Fibbers this became a must see gig. I arrived to find the venue full but not quite packed out, just in time to see support act, the Finnish death outfit, Omnium Gatherum, hit the very small stage. Blasting their way through an energetic and satisfying forty-five minute set fronted by the deep gutteral growls of frontman Jukka Pelkonen, the band hinted at a greater potential. Not as melodic as the headliners, but they never the less kept the crowd entertained with their style of death metal.
After a small break it was time for what we had come to see; pioneers of the Gothenburg sound, Dark Tranquillity, unbelievably playing in such a small and intense venue. Mikeal Stanne surely has one of the best voices in the death metal genre, slipping effortlessly from his trademark growls to a wonderfully emotional clean voice. Sadly few glimpses of this were on show tonight as only one track from Projector made the setlist. Standout tracks were the prog-tinged opener ”Terminus”, with the commercial “Focus Shift” and “For Your Apathy” been crowd favourites. Dark Tranquillity benefitted from an excellent soundsystem and the band played a very tight set following a week of touring the UK.
In summary, Dark Tranquillity more than lived up to my expectations and this sent us all home with a sense of satisfaction at what was an excellent night of melodeath.
Simon Boyes
Click here for interview with Dark Tranquillity
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