LIVE REVIEW: Dark Tranquillity @ Heaven, London

For one night only, extreme metal and London’s premiere gay club have collided for a co-headline tour between folk metallers ENSIFERUM and melodeath pioneers DARK TRANQUILLITY.

First, though, it’s the turn of self-described punk/metal hybrid BRUNHILDE to open the night. They’re perhaps an odd choice for tonight’s more extreme bill but they don’t let that or the sparse crowd faze them. Playing a brand of punky classic rock, they’re unfortunately stagnant onstage bar frontwoman Carolin Loy and their songs are similarly lacklustre without much to distinguish them from each other. With being so different from the other bands it should’ve been easy to stick out and be memorable; regrettably BRUNHILDE are neither.

Rating: 5/10

Sounding for all the world like an even deathier, more despondent PARADISE LOST, commanding drum fills open NAILED TO OBSCURITY‘s set as they launch into Black Frost. Sheer misery emanates from the stage to a crowd that’s at least doubled in size. Not only do they fit tonight’s bill better but they’re also musically far more interesting. Their goth-inspired death/doom is not just tonally heavy but emotionally too, stirring waves of emotion that crash across the gathered throng. There’s a hefty dose of early OPETH worship too, without simply sounding like a rip off. Delivering dirges of despondency across their set, they might not incite much crowd movement but they’re sure to win new fans.

Rating: 8/10

To call ENSIFERUM‘s backdrop colourful would do them a disservice; red, blue and gold shine from behind like stained glass as the band tear through their set of folky power metal. The problem with them, though, is that for all the folky, fist-pumping energy their songs should possess, it’s woefully lacking and the songs all blend together. It’s due perhaps in part to a muddy mix that neuters a lot of the punch their music should pack. The drums sound triggered, the bass drum being the principal offender, often threatening to drown out the already quiet guitars. In contrast, their keyboard player and clean singer, Pekka Montin, is not only overly loud but often sounds off-key which makes for uncomfortable listening. While there’s certainly an audience for them – as the energetic, clapping and shouting front rows show – they fall far short of the mark this evening.

Rating: 5/10

It’s been a rollercoaster of an evening, to say the least, by the time DARK TRANQUILLITY take to the stage. Making full use of the screen behind them for an animated backdrop, it’s a visual feast as well as audio. Despite the sound woes continuing – Heaven simply doesn’t seem suited to extreme music – they mostly overcome it by third song Focus Shift. They open with a storming Phantom Days followed immediately by Transient and Focus Shift which sets the scene for the remainder of the evening as any lulls are filled with roars of adulation from the now-near capacity crowd.

That the lead guitar is a backing track is a shame but entirely understandable – as Mikael Stanne explains, Christopher Amott is home looking after his pregnant wife and they’re waiting for a tour replacement to clear immigration. Stanne is as compelling a frontman as ever, basking in the reflected glory of the crowd and delivering his lyrics with an ever present smile to be back on stage. They might be a man down but DARK TRANQUILLITY are simply phenomenal, easily overcoming mix woes that plagued earlier acts and delivering a career-spanning set chock full of deep cuts and fan favourites. Tonight makes clear just how criminal it is that DARK TRANQUILLITY often go overlooked despite being arguably the most consistently great melodeath band from the genre’s very inception.

Rating: 9/10

Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in London from Karolina Janikunaite here: 

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