Photo by Krichan Wihlborgs Underground Photo
Gothenburg legends Dark Tranquility have announced plans to release their milestone thirteenth studio album, Endtime Signals, marking their tenth studio release with longtime label, Century Media Records. The August 16th arrival of the album serves as the follow up to the band's hailed 2020 release, Moment - a presentation that earned the band a Swedish Grammis award.
Speaking on the latest configuration of the band and how that has resulted in a new sense of focus and creative drive, Dark Tranquility discussed how Endtime Signals is an especially pivotal release in the storied career of the death metal stalwarts. "Going back to what we fundamentally feel is the core of Dark Tranquillity, with a partly new line-up, has been a tremendous experience. It gave us the opportunity to re-evaluate and view what we have built from a new and exciting perspective.
This resulted in a focused and intense writing period where we have discovered aspects of our music anew and taken certain elements of it further than before. Joakim Strandberg Nilson has delivered above and beyond in terms of drumming, with Christian Jansson following through in fierce and precise fashion. This has driven the writing and recording process to feel challenging, different and inspiring in the best way possible."
Paired with the announcement of the album, Dark Tranquility dropped the first single from the project with the metal epic, "The Last Imagination". Showcasing a sense of narrative purposed into a driven, metallic anthem, the single offers an indication of the direction Dark Tranquility is headed.
The band spoke of the single and emphasized how it functions as their best foot forward. "It's been a while since Moment and we've gone through quite a lot in order to end up where we find ourselves today. But as we can reveal the first single from the upcoming Endtime Signals, the feeling is that of pride, accomplishment, and a fair bit of relief. 'The Last Imagination' showcases one of many facets of what we feel is our most diverse album to date."
Further detailing how the single plays into the overall theme of the album, the band shared how Endtime Signals is as cathartic a listening experience as the crushing compositions would suggest. "Thematically. the album deals with where we are heading, what has truly and fundamentally changed in us and how we find ways to cope with it. It has been hard finding that spark of positivity lately and there is a sense of grief running through the course of the album. Not only in the sense of mourning what we have lost on a personal level, but also where our sacrifices have taken us.
'The Last Imagination' in particular takes this to its logical conclusion and talks of what we leave behind and how hard it is for us to grasp that our significance might not be what we imagined."
The arrival of Endtime Signals is set for August 16th on Century Media Records. That is also the same date the band is set to perform at one of metal's most prestigious destinations in the Summer Breeze Open Air in Dinkelsbühl, Germany.
An updated list of international touring dates can be found - HERE
