Dark Tranquillity - Construct (2013)

As a veteran band of the melodic death metal scene, Dark Tranquillity had a lot riding on this record especially after the rather mediocre "We Are the Void" which didn't really do anything to advance the band's sound. Fortunately, DT have remedied that problem on "Construct" and decided to try something new. The songs are more focused on atmospherics this time than catchiness. This approach is risky in that it distances the band somewhat from their roots, but it pays off in terms of both reinvigorating their sound and simply putting out a good album. Musically, "Construct" is a very dark, synth-laden record that can, in some respects, be compared to modern Katatonia. One can see this most clearly on tracks such as "Uniformity" and "State of Trust" which both feature stellar clean vocals and both have a nice doomy tinge to them. On the other hand, "Endtime Hearts" and "Apathetic" are excellent, aggressive nods to old-school fans. While it does take time to get used to this record's style, I can safely say that this is a great album and another artistic achievement in this band's storied career.
9/10