Dark Tranquility

Sweden has turned out some of the world's foremost heavy metal musicians, and Dark Tranquility is no exception. Formed in 1989 by vocalist Anders Freiden, the group would take a few years to warm up before releasing their debut album in 1993. The album was a decent effort, but it would be their 1995 follow-up, The Gallery, that put them on the map both with fans and critics alike. A number of lineup changes have plagued the band over the years but they've managed to retain their trademark sound and their talent. Their latest effort, Fiction, is due in April 2007.
Dark Tranquility sounds like they got their start in the wrong decade-their sound borrows heavily from that of '70s heavy metal but updates it for the '90s/2000s crowd. Their songs are incredibly tight, each sounding like it was carefully crafted by musicians who have a sincere case of perfectionism. It also helps that the tunes are extremely solid and prominently feature one of the most underrated rhythm sections in the genre. Dark? Yes. Tranquil? No.