Dark Tranquillity – Endtime Signals (Review)

This is the thirteenth album by Dark Tranquillity, a melodic death metal band from Sweden.

I last caught up with Dark Tranquillity on 2016’s very enjoyable Atoma, so really wanted to check out Endtime Signals. With 14 songs and 59 minutes of music, (including the two bonus tracks), there’s a lot of material here. Don’t be put off though, as Endtime Signals is Dark Tranquillity firing on all cylinders.

Since their last album, (2020’s Moment, which I missed), Dark Tranquillity have had a lineup change and now have a new bassist and drummer, the former of which is also in Grand Cadaver with Dark Tranquillity’s singer. Their impact on this new release seems to have been a positive one. Let’s dive in.

From the first track Shivers and Voids onwards the timeless Dark Tranquillity sound is on effect and it’s great to hear the band once more. The next song – Unforgivable – is faster than the band have played in a while and is a welcome development, while obviously also calling back to the band’s old-school roots. Neuronal Fire has an epic mournful feel to it that’s captivating, and is one of my favourites here. Not Nothing benefits hugely from the singer’s clean singing – an aspect of Dark Tranquillity that I love, but that we don’t always get anywhere near enough of for my tastes.

After this is the beefy Drowned out Voices, which leans more into the band’s death metal side, (despite a delightful softer, cleanly sung section). One of Us Is Gone boasts an actual orchestra, is driven by emotive clean singing, creates luscious atmospheric feeling-rich depth, and is absolutely fantastic. The Last Imagination has the same timeless vibe as Shivers and Voids, and is another solid cut. Enforced Perspective is more similar in character to Unforgivable, with high-octane speed and cutting riffs augmented by keyboard-drenched hooks that are infectious.

Our Disconnect is the longest track on the album, and delivers an immersive atmospheric song with ease. Conversely, the next track – Wayward Eyes – is the shortest, and is a mid-paced beast that alternates a riffy groove with choruses that will worm their way into your brain before you know it. A Bleaker Sun sounds designed to wake up crowds and get mosh pits moving, while also having those classic Dark Tranquillity hooks. The final song of the album proper is the absorbing False Reflection; a cleanly sung piece that’s mood-focused, deeply atmospheric, and a strong way to end the record.

Of the bonus tracks, Zero Sum makes good use of the Dark Tranquillity formula once more to produce a decent song. In Failure, however, is darker and more impactful, combing melodic heaviness with clean choruses that are especially potent.

Overall Endtime Signals is a thoroughly enjoyable slab of metal that blends professional aggression with melancholic emotion. It’s a formula that Dark Tranquillity might be experts at, but here they sound revitalised and on fire. Endtime Signals is a particularly strong and diverse example of the band’s work, and I heavily recommend you spend some time with this cracking record.