Haven (Dark Tranquillity album) explained

Haven
Type:studio
Artist:Dark Tranquillity
Cover:Haven album cover.jpg
Recorded:March–April 2000 Studio Fredman
Genre:Melodic death metal
Label:Century Media
Producer:Dark Tranquillity[1] & Fredrik Nordström
Prev Title:Projector
Prev Year:1999
Next Title:Damage Done
Next Year:2002

Haven is the fifth studio album by Swedish melodic death metal band Dark Tranquillity, released on 25 July 2000. This release is the first recorded as a six-piece, the first to feature Mikael Niklasson and Martin Brändström, and the first release with Martin Henriksson on guitar, switching from his previous position on bass.

Style

Haven retains the electronic music elements of past albums, along with appealing song composition and more polished production. Mikael Stanne mostly uses harsh vocals, but his clean vocals that were introduced in the previous album, Projector, were used in "Emptier Still" and bonus track "In Sight", the latter showing more of a cleanly-sung rock style.

Track listing

Videos

Reception

Like the previous album, Projector, critical reception was mixed. Guitarist Niklas Sundin has been quite critical of the album, stating that this is his least favourite Dark Tranquillity album, considering it "too safe in places" and stating that the album "could probably benefit from more variation".[2] Despite the mixed feelings towards Haven, MetalGuru listed it #5 in its "Retro 2000 Top 5 Albums."[3] AllMusic called it "inspired" and a "career milestone".

Release history

DateNote
7 July 2000
5 May 2009Reissue

Credits

Dark Tranquillity

Other Personnel

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The official DARK TRANQUILLITY homepage . Darktranquillity.com . 20 February 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120118065718/http://www.darktranquillity.com/music/haven.html . 18 January 2012 .
  2. Web site: DARK TRANQUILLITY Guitarist Niklas Sundin Discusses the Old Days, Re-Released Albums. Bravewords.com.
  3. http://www.metalguru.net/p/2000-top-5.html