DARK TRANQUILLITY Singer Dismisses IN FLAMES Comparisons: 'We've Gone In Very Different Directions'

In a new interview with the "BREWtally Speaking Podcast", DARK TRANQUILITY vocalist Mikael Stanne was asked about the connection between his band and IN FLAMES, given that he sang on IN FLAMES' debut album, 1994's "Lunar Strain", and IN FLAMES frontman Anders Fridén was the singer for DARK TRANQUILLITY's first LP, 1993's "Skydancer". He responded (see video below): "We are kind of forever linked, just because of our connection early on. I sang on the first IN FLAMES album, and Anders sang on the first DARK TRANQUILLITY album, and this is still a cause of great confusion for some reason. But, yeah, we toured together, we are friends and we grew up together in the same area outside of town [in Gothenburg, Sweden]. So, of course, it's obvious. And I'm okay with that — that's fine. It just becomes a little bit old, because there's not much to say about it anymore, because we've gone in very different directions. So it's not relevant, but, of course, you do make comparisons — that's how people work, how you go, 'I like this band better than that band.' And if there is a link somehow, and there are many between the two of us, then you use that as some kind of reference or, 'This is better than that,' or, 'The guitar player is better in that band' — that kind of stuff. So I'm okay with it. It doesn't change anything. And sometimes questions about it tend to be uninspired. It's just like, 'Oh, what do you think of the other band's albums?' It's, like, 'It doesn't matter, but I'm a huge fan. I love it.' And it's the same with, of course, AT THE GATES as well, even though we haven't shared any members together, but we still kind of grew up together, so, obviously, there's a huge connection there as well. And I don't mind talking about my friends and the awesome bands that are from this town — it's fine — but sometimes the direct comparisons seem… Maybe they meant something in the '90s, but they really don't anymore."

DARK TRANQUILLITY will release its new album, "Moment", on November 20 via Century Media. The effort will be available as a digipak, black LP, silver LP, and CD jewel case.

The follow-up to 2016's "Atoma", "Moment" was recorded at Nacksving Studios and Rogue Music by Martin Brändström and then mixed/mastered by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios. The LP features DARK TRANQUILLITY's new guitarists Christopher Amott (ex-ARCH ENEMY) and Johan Reinholdz (NONEXIST).

Founding DARK TRANQUILLITY guitarist Niklas Sundin announced his departure from the band in March, explaining in a statement that he "always enjoyed the creative process more than the performance aspects of being in a band, and the required extensive touring held less and less appeal with every album."

In early 2017, DARK TRANQUILLITY released a seven-inch single featuring the two songs — "The Absolute" and "Time Out Of Place" — which had previously only been released as bonus tracks of the limited-edition CD version of "Atoma". These cuts were the most experimental and daring numbers ever from the DARK TRANQUILLITY camp, featuring a very different approach to their usual brand of melodic death metal.

DARK TRANQUILLITY is:

Mikael Stanne - Vocals
Martin Brändström - Electronics
Anders Jivarp - Drums
Johan Reinholdz - Guitars
Christopher Amott - Guitars
Anders Iwers - Bass