Dark Tranquillity Album: “The Mind's I + Enter Suicidal Angels”

Out of all the Dark Tranquillity albums, from the first to the latest, I truthfully have to say that -The Mind's Eye- was the hardest to endure. I heard of the beauty that lay herein, but there was nothing within my first listen of this that lended it's tunes to me. Some of -Skydancer/Chaos-, -The Gallery-, -Projector-, -Haven-, -Damage Done-, and -Character- have all hooked me, that is except for this one. Everyone I heard in reviews always brought up the fact that this was the greatest release from one of Sweden's finest. However, I could not tell where the love was for this. I merely went on enjoying the rest of the albums. Eventually I would return to this because I already sapped up most of the other ones, but I still could not see what made this one unique from the rest. I could easily tell that Stanne's vocals were more on the rasp scale like -The Gallery-, but he would later clear his throat for better growls from -Projector- and on.

The only feeling I reached from this, mainly on the cover and through the tone of the tracks, was a dark and melancholic piece (think Devil May Cry). Obviously, it will never take anyone one listen straight to enjoy what is really hidden on this record. Infact, after countless listens, I finally realized that the beauty isn't meant to be searched for, it is a feeling one would recieve through enjoyment and satisfaction. The cover was the strangest of all, besides -The Gallery-. This is the last album to feature the old Dark Tranquillity headlining, like In Flames' old slicing red logo. It looks like olden pens, with a raw jaw next to dried pedals. I can't decipher the purple behind it all besides some beads and necklaces, but there is a slice of paper with the apparent "Tranquillity" symbol (which would clearly be seen on the -Exposures- discs). I also feel that this album was purely more melodic, but countered by In Flames' -Whoracle- that same year.

The atmosphere of songs like fast opener "Dreamlore Degenerate" or the dark-melodic "Constant" is just gigantic. No matter, if the band steps on the pedal as during the short "Zodijackyl Light" or rather operates slow and oppressing as on "Hedon", it always results in a strong track. The two guitarists, Niklas Sundin (a Demi-God) and Fredrik Johansson (his last featured album with Dark Tranquillity), put their melodic guitar harmonies into all of their songs. Dark Tranquillity are masters of their trade. The good sound, of course, further strengthens this. The album was produced in the well-known Studio Fredman by the ever hard working Fredrik Nordstrom.

I am sure that you have had the feeling with a CD that it is something special, right? Most of us, and now me, feel that way with this disc. One thing to complain about is the length, which isn't enough because of the enjoyment one will recieve. The one way to truly enjoy this is to hear the album a few times and believe me, I have done so. Once this piece of music has grown a hold of your mind, you will never forget it.

Now this is what a reissue should look and sound like. After some disappointing reissues by In Flames, it's good to see that Dark Tranquillity went all out with their reissues of

and The Mind's I.

The Mind's I was a fantastic album to begin with. It builds on and advances the melodic technical style found on its predecessor The Gallery without straying too far from the death metal sound. Dark Tranquillity made a big stride forward with this album, and some of the songs on The Mind's I (such as "Zodijackyl Light", "Atom Heart 243.5" and "Insanity's Crescendo" with its haunting female vocals) remain among the band's best songs. The band's sound would make a major shift on their following album

, but The Mind's I is still a great example of a forward thinking melodic death metal band continuing to evolve (and excel).

As if the remastered sound wasn't incentive enough to buy the album, the entire Enter Suicidal Angels EP is included as bonus tracks. Enter Suicidal Angels was my first exposure to Dark Tranquillity, and despite the truly awful DT-gone techno closing track "Archetype", it is good to find it remastered here. Sealing the deal, the band has included expanded liner notes, which include lyrics, commentary, photos, and other relevant information.

The Mind's I is an excellent melodic death metal album, and this reissue should be on the shelves of anyone who is a fan of Dark Tranquillity as well as similar bands In Flames, At the Gates, Soilwork, Hypocrisy, or death metal in general.

it seems _the mind's I_ is the most neglected of Dark Tranquillity's many albums. i think even more people own _Skydancer_ than this one. Being the last and most perfect album of Dark Tranquillity's "gothenburg style" albums, a genre they helped define and for which they set the highest standards. Perhaps because it fell between the immediate classic masterpiece _the Gallery_ and the weird style-shift on _projector_, people just don't mention it much. Or maybe because it doesn't have any songs as fun to sing along with as "Punish My Heaven" ("THAT'S RIGHT...YOU'LL SUFFER MY PUNISHMENT"). Or maybe the progressive song structures and relative lack of hooks just make it hard to get into. but if you give it a chance, you might agree with me that this is probably the best Dark Tranquillity album overall, in terms of the consistent quality of songs and the heights it reaches on its best moments. The album is basically the same in style as _The Gallery_, but the melodic acumen even better, stanne's vocals more growly and vicious, and the songs more awesome. Otherwise, it is the same goodness you would expect from this band. Epic songs often with movement-like structures, mad driving speed, graceful riffing that is ambiguously dripping with prog-like AND gothenburg-like attributes, and one of the most deft and tasteful bassists out of Scandinavia.

Dark Tranquillity is a band that stands strongs and plays some of the best melodic death metal to date. Let me give you an insight of one of the band's less known, and possibly their greatest, albums that is making an impact on our music scene, The Mind's I.

The 3rd album by these fellow Swedes creates the perfect atmosphere. The production fits well with the music, and the tracks are varied and memorable. For example, "Zodijackyl Light" is a track that has the band at a faster pace, and the drumming is excellent. "Hedon" is my favorite and a definite classic track, with its ballad-esque tempo and its excellent guitar work. This band displays some excellent musicmanship, and the vocals are excellent. This is melodeath in its true form.

Also, this reissue features 3 tracks from their rare "Enter Suicidal Angels" EP, which were rare tracks recorded during "The Mind's I" sessions. It's very interesting to listen to.

Overall, you MUST have this if you are a melodeath nut.

I'll keep it short and sweet. This release is the benchmark of melodic death metal and is one of the finest releases in the metal world. The production is great, everyone can be heard fine. The guitar parts are great as are the vocals. This CD represents everything melodic death should be. It is fast and brutal at times and yet it is also filled with complicated interweaving melodies that are sublime.

Pros: The instrumentation is steller. The guitars are truely great. Better melodic death vocals one could not ask for. Production is crystal clear with out sounding to over produced. "Insanity's Cresendo"

Cons: Its hard to find. Some of the extra tracks aren't that great.

Final Word: Highly recommended for any metal cd collection.