Dark Tranquillity

Dark Tranquillity

Dark Tranquillity is a Swedish melodic death metal group from Gothenburg, formed in 1989 by singer Mikael Stanne and guitarist Niklas Sundin under the name Septic Broiler before adopting the current name in 1991. The band is regarded as one of the early pioneers of the Gothenburg metal style and is associated with death metal, melodic death metal and metal. It is active from 1989 to the present and records on Century Media.

Line-up and development

The band keeps a mostly stable line-up over its history. Anders Jivarp joins soon after formation and plays drums for the group. Anders Fridén and Martin Henriksson are part of the early line-up, while Mikael Stanne moves from rhythm guitar to lead vocals after Fridén leaves. When Fredrik Johansson departs in 1998, Henriksson switches from bass to guitar and Michael Nicklasson joins on bass shortly before the recording of Haven. Martin Brändström also joins at this stage as the band’s electronics player.

Michael Nicklasson leaves in 2008 and is briefly replaced by former Soilwork member Daniel Antonsson, who later leaves in 2013 shortly before the recording of Construct. In 2016, Martin Henriksson leaves the band. Other members associated with the group include Sebastian Myrén, Anders Iwers, Christopher Amott and Johan Reinholdz.

Name and wider association

The band name is often misspelt as “Dark Tranquility”, using the American spelling of tranquillity. Niklas Sundin is also known for graphic design and album artwork.