Band:	Dark Tranquillity
Album:	Fiction
Style:	Gothenburg metal
Release date:	April 2007

Disc I
01. Nothing To No One
02. The Lesser Faith
03. Terminus (Where Death Is Most Alive)
04. Blind At Heart
05. Icipher
06. Inside The Particle Storm
07. Empty Me
08. Misery's Crown
09. Focus Shift
10. The Mundane And The Magic [feat. Nell Sigland]
11. A Closer End [Japanese bonus]
12. Winter Triangle [Australian bonus]
13. Below The Radiance [expanded edition bonus]
14. Silence In The House Of Tongues [instrumental version] [expanded edition bonus]
15. Terminus (Where Death Is Most Alive) [Live at Summer Breeze 2007] [expanded edition bonus]
16. The Lesser Faith [Live at Summer Breeze 2007] [expanded edition bonus]

Limited Edition Special Features:
+ The New Build [video]
+ Focus Shift [video]
+ Focus Shift [Live in rehearsal room]
+ Wallpapers, AIM buddy icons

Disc II [Expanded Edition bonus DVD]
01. Focus Shift [video]
02. Terminus (Where Death Is Most Alive) (brick-movie) [video]
03. Focus Shift [Live in rehearsal room]
04. Blind At Heart [Live at Bang Your Head Festival 2007]
05. Final Resistance [Live at Bang Your Head Festival 2007]
06. Misery's Crown [Live at Bang Your Head Festival 2007]
07. Terminus (Where Death Is Most Alive) [Live at Summer Breeze 2007]
08. The Lesser Faith [Live at Summer Breeze 2007]
09. The New Build [Live at Summer Breeze 2007]
10. The Endless Feed [Live at Summer Breeze 2007]

Ever since 2002's "Damage Done", the pioneers of the Gothenburg sound [alongside fellow musicians from In Flames] have mastered their newer sound with "Character" [2005] and now "Fiction" [2007]. In a way, their newest release can be considered as the twin album of "Character". The same formula was once again brought into daylight, resulting to a great album but with as many surprises as a Manowar album.

The band once more relied heavily on Martin Brändström keyboards ability to boost every track. By now, Dark Tranquillity does not need any further praise, as everybody knows what these guys are about. This is simultaneously their strength and their weakness. An element of novelty would have been welcome even though I totally dig this album. Okay, the last song ("The Mundane and the Magic") is a step towards something different. I'll grant you that. Flawless production is another trait of the Swedish band, and once again that's what you get with "Fiction".

As expected, Dark Tranquillity released another imposing album of polished newer Gothenburg Metal. Problem is, even though it is still working somehow, there is a lack of progression in their last two albums that might start to bore the heck out of some people. Not counting the nostalgic listeners who wish the band would take a step back towards their "The Gallery" era sound (Sorry but ain't gonna happen!). Regardless, "Fiction" will be amongst the best releases of the year.


Highlights: 'The Lesser Faith', 'Icipher' and 'The Mundane and the Magic'