Dark Tranquillity has been leading the Swedish melodic death metal scene next to In Flames for the better part of three decades, continuously challenging the norm in the scene while simultaneously members rotating through other band lineups. They recently released “Endgame Signals” in August of 2024, which arguably is one of the best metal albums of the year already and proves that they are nowhere close to calling it a career, thankfully for us and for future generations that are gravitating towards this style of music.
I’ve been lucky enough to see DT several times over the last twenty plus years, I’ve seen some fantastic lineups and fantastic sets from them specifically,
But I have to say that this show from Goldfield Trading Post in Roseville, CA, co-headlining with Amorphis may have been one of the better sets
I’ve seen from them.
Goldfield was absolutely jam packed already at 6pm as I meandered my way in, which was surprising to say the least, as most people in Sacramento
Don’t show up to shows until after 8pm, but lucky for them (and me) they made it in time not to miss the metal set of the year (so far) from DT.
They opened with “Rivers and Voids” off of Endtime Signals which was a great opener to get everyone in place and allow the crowd to soak in the
amazing sound and lighting that accompanied this show. But quickly, the band pivoted into “Hours Passed in Exile”, off of their acclaimed 2002’s Damage Done,
which was a true crowd pleaser and got the middle of the crowd moving.
After that, it was a very healthy mix of songs through their entire discography, sprinkling in a few new ones, but as I have said in the past about
Swedish metal bands that I love is that they always bring a different energy than American bands, it’s always a much more positive, fun vibe they bring
with smiles all around, love for the crowd is said over and over again, and a mix of that with the crowd singing song after song with them always makes
these types of shows and absolute blast!
I will always highly recommend Dark Tranquillity live if you’re any kind of metal fan because they really do bring something for everyone, and if you’re new to
the Swedish melodic death metal scene, I would highly suggest starting with DT and In Flames, from there, you’l be taken down a fantastic
rabbit hole!
SETLIST:
- Shivers and Voids
- Hours Passed in Exile
- Forward Momentum
- Unforgivable
- Atoma
- The Last Imagination
- Nothing to No One
- Neuronal Fire
- Encircled
- Cathode Ray Sunshine
- Not Nothing
- Empty Me
- Phantom Days
- Lost to Apathy
- Misery’s Crown
