By the very term of term Death Metal, since the genres inception, the very nature of the music is savage, uncompromising and has a brutality all it's own. So when the description melodic Death Metal entered the genres vocabulary it did seem something of a contradiction in terms. Yet this is how Sweden's Dark Tranquility have been labeled throughout their career, and in fact with the likes of At The Gates and In Flames helped define what we all now know as the Gothenburg sound.

"Fiction" is the bands eight studio effort and their first since 2005's acclaimed "Character " opus. Stylistically, "Fiction" is more in keeping with earlier releases "The Gallery" and "The Minds I", and in stepping away from from the viciousness and savagery of "Character" would seem to some as kicking sand in the eyes of a winning formula; and many will be calling for "Character" part II. However in Henriksson and Sundin Dark Tranquility have two guitarist capable of changing the direction of their music while still retaining the trademark sound while loosing none of the bands impact. "Fiction" is unlikely to win a horde of new fans nor break the band into the mainstream. What it will however do is cement the bands standing within the community that already reveres them.

It is fair to say that "Fiction" owes as much to the newer genres of Metal as it does Death Metal. With Brandstrom's electronics interwoven through out, a balance is brought to proceedings, taking the sharp edges off such songs as "Empty Me"; where before the direction would have been straight ahead with no diversions. As is often the case when following a successful album a band will look to reinvent themselves for fear of perceived staleness, with often disastrous results. Dark Tranquility have not so much reinvented themselves but rather regressed to elements they have not used since their early years. Choosing to combine old and new with devastating efficiency.