Dark Tranquillity
Of Chaos And Eternal Night

THE REVIEW

Stanne and associates crafted this short chapter in their brilliant career in the autumn of 1995. Intended as an "appetizer" to the subsequent masterpiece "The Gallery," this mini features four furious tracks imbued with gentle and intriguing melodies.

The title-track, preceded by a dark and brief intro, is a frontal assault with hyper-fast drums and ferocious guitars, where Mikael "gracelessly" screams lyrics of great value, truly intimate compared to the immediacy of the musical offering. Towards the end, there is room for melodies with a vaguely folk flavor where the twin solos of Sundin and Johansson showcase great technique.
"With the flaming shades of fall" is thoughtful, celebratory. Opened by a lavish and solemn riff, it unfolds into delicate harmonies, though always supported by the violence of the singer and guitars that remain very aggressive. Once again, I highlight the class of the Swedish axemen's leads.

The following "Away, delight, away" does not stray much from the winning melo-death formula pioneered by 'At the Gates' except for a grand finale crescendo where once again Stanne dominates with a captivating and bitter-as-poison singing.
"Alone" (a reprise of the final track from "Skydancer") gently sweeps us into a whirlwind of sorrowful notes. Slow and epic, it harks back to the acoustic-folk atmospheres of the aforementioned debut album, benefiting from a more rounded and careful production, thanks to the glorious Fredman, then as now.

A small gem of Nordic beauty "Of Chaos and eternal night" will serve in the future as a source of inspiration (and mimicry) for numerous acts that will never reach the same heights.