Interview by Angela Croudace
One of the architects of The Gothenburg Sound, Dark Tranquillity are about to storm Australian shores for the first time in over a decade, delivering three exclusive shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
The masters of melodic death metal emerged from Sweden’s west coast in the early '90s, alongside titans like In Flames, At The Gates, and Soilwork. Known for their genre-defining mix of razor-sharp riffs, icy keyboards, and Mikael Stanne's haunting vocals, the band melds death metal intensity with gothic and progressive experimentation. 
Through 13 albums, including iconic releases The Gallery, Character, and their latest, 2024’s Endgame Signals, Dark Tranquillity has forged a sound that is as melancholic and thought provoking as it is ferocious.
Joining Dark Tranquillity for their momentous return are Melbourne’s own melodic metal heavyweights, Eye of the Enemy. Renowned for their crushing riffs and soaring melodies, Eye of the Enemy has earned accolades including a Global Metal Apocalypse Award and numerous Album of the Year mentions. With a history of international tours and supporting the who’s who of metal’s elite, they’re the perfect complement to Dark Tranquillity's atmospheric mastery.
Dark Tranquillity will dig deep from their rich catalogue to deliver a sonic journey through the past, present, and future of melodic death metal, but just to make sure, HEAVY caught up with vocalist Mikael Stanne just days out from the first show of the tour.