Dark Tranquillity

Character is basically everything you might expect from a new Dark Tranquillity record. The usual keyboard accents are still kicking around, and the band has in no way neglected the melodic part of Swedish death metal, but Character’s emphasis is clearly on power. The band’s blistering rhythm section, scathing leads, and multidimensional vocal roar deliver an intense aural onslaught that’s only slightly diminished in the record’s lightest moments, as in the progressive lilt of "Am I 1?” The strength of the entire package makes it hard to identify any tracks that stand out more than the others, although "Lost to Apathy” and "The Endless Feed” have the lure of familiarity, thanks to last fall’s Lost to Apathy EP. But their success is easily matched by the catchy chorus of "One Thought,” the concussive battery of "Senses Tied,” and the persuasive melody of "My Negation.” Already charting high in Sweden, Character is bound to find equal appreciation on this side of the Atlantic as well.