Album Review: Dark Tranquillity - Construct

They've never been particularly trendy, flashy or marketable, but one quality Dark Tranquillity have emanated throughout a career well into its third decade is almost peerless consistency. While their Swedish melodic death metal pioneer brethren have completely lost their creative mojo (In Flames), scored a delayed, but deserved victory lap (At The Gates) or carved a commercial niche (Arch Enemy), a heads-down work ethic ensures their reputation as a haven for articulate extremity.

Predecessor We Are The Void was predominantly Gothenburg-by-numbers, but a rare blip on the radar. Each record has a unique character, and LP number ten indicates their knack for constructing brutal, yet melodic exercises oozing class hasn't diminished. They just aren't pushing boundaries. Bustling with an urgency derived from melody and emotional depth rather than intricate riffing, this record is less guitar-driven, arrangements and production (assisted by in-demand mixer Jens Bogren) bringing the keys to the fore. They do so without neglecting potent hooks and allowing Mikael Stanne's distinctive bipolar vocals their share of airtime. Opener For Broken Words offers zero surprises, yet is classic Dark Tranquillity; equal parts aggression, spaciousness, atmosphere and catchiness. The thrash of Apathetic, Uniformity (recalling 1999's maligned, yet hauntingly under-valued Projector) and hefty closing double of Weight Of The End's sheer intensity and deeply layered None Becoming rank among their stronger compositions of late.

Given their catalogue has provided an extensive database of riffs for their American peers to pilfer, and sophisticated exploration of dynamics fodder for the same, expecting innovation from Dark Tranquillity circa 2013 is rather churlish. Fans aren't settling with this album, though. That's no work of fiction.