TracksWonders at Your Feet, Not Built to Last, Indifferent Suns, Feast of Burden, Haven, Same, Fabric, Ego Drama, Rundown, Emptier Still, At Loss for Words
NotesThis is the one Dark Tranquillity CD that draws me back time and again. I own six of their albums, but if I was ever pressed to decide on just one to keep in my collection, "Haven" would be my undeniable choice. There is zero filler on this recording, the production value is exemplary, and there are hooks everywhere. The musical arrangements are excellent, with no one instrument overwhelming any other, altogether combining to create a masterful experience. The songs are mostly mid-tempo Progressive Metal excursions, but with none of the overly technical or busy guitar work that might imply. The intricacy comes through in the songcraft, itself, with intelligence and thoughtful attention to detail. The listener is offered a journey through a wide range of emotions and memorable songwriting that is over all too soon. The only drawback that might give a buyer pause are the vocals, which are a little harsh and rarely change tone, so I recommend sampling a couple of the tracks beforehand to get a foretaste of what to expect throughout. The only time the vocals really change is on the song "Emptier Still" where the crooning baritone which dominated their previous release, "Projector," is mixed in with the guttural inflections in a way I found reminiscent of many songs from the band Opeth. That was a compliment. If you end up enjoying "Haven" as much as I do, their following album, "Damage Done," is an excellent continuation along similar musical lines. Both CDs are easy to recommend, but "Haven" would be my first choice.