review by: Roberto Martinelli

I've read and personally heard from a good deal of Dark Tranquility fans that this originator of the "Gothenburg sound" of Swedish death metal had wimped out. Well, the demise of this band has been greatly exaggerated.

I'd really love to say that Damage Done is a total return to form to the glory of Dark Tranquility, except I'm not all that familiar with this band. I know, I know. Somehow, I just missed them. Anyway, the repeated enjoyment I got from listening to the masterful melodies on Damage Done impressed me so much that I checked out Dark Tranquility's The Mind's I, which is also really good, but nowhere near as good as this new album.

I think fans were annoyed that Mikael Stanne was trying to sing. I think he heard you. All the vocals are harsh, but ironically they are given a melodic ring to them despite their scathing nature by the brilliant way they are laid over the melodic constructions. This is especially the case on track two, "Hours Passed in Exile," which features wonderful hooks through its use of Goth-influenced melodies on keyboard and enrapturing melodies.

Keyboards play a large part on this album; not so much in how much they are played, but rather in how well they are used to highlight the tracks. Damage Done has just the right balance of driving metal, beautiful melody, harshness and quiet to provide a perfect pacing for the listener to enjoy time and again. After at least eight listens of this album, Damage Done has proven to be in the same league of instant and enduring classics as At the Gates' Slaughter of the Soul.