Kev Rowland Can it really be twenty years since this Gothenburg quintet released ‘Skydancer’? Apparently so, and here they are back with their tenth studio album, and they show no signs at all of slowing down. When they came to write the album they started in the rehearsal room as normal, but soon realised that things weren’t going according to plan so instead Anders Jivarp (drums), Martin Brändström (keys) and Niklas Sundin (guitar) worked in the studio to literally ‘construct’ new material. Bassist Daniel Antonsson had left the band before they started work, but instead of using a session musician they managed to convince guitarist Martin Henriksson to again provide bass as he had in the past, although no decision has yet been agreed on for touring (singer Mikael Stanne of course completes the line-up). As well as changing the writing process they also moved on from Tue Madsen who had worked on the last two albums, and instead brought in Jens Bogren (Opeth, Katatonia, Kreator and many others).

The result of all of this is a death metal album that is pure DT, but that has loads of additional nuances and touches that add real class to proceedings. This is possibly their most melodic album to date, yet is still punchy and brutal – no compromise as it moves and grooves along. Everything fits together perfectly, with the arrangements being incredibly tight and when the band shifts gear it happens seamlessly.

This album captures a band still at the very forefront of the genre, still delivering the goods. If you ever lost your dandruff to DT in the past, then this is essential. www.centurymedia.de