Projector (album)
| Projector | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Dark Tranquillity | ||||
| Released |
10 August 1999 (see release history)[1] | |||
| Recorded |
September 1998 Studio Fredman | |||
| Genre | Melodic death metal, gothic metal | |||
| Length | 54:23 | |||
| Label | Century Media | |||
| Producer | Fredrik Nordström | |||
| Dark Tranquillity chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Alternative Cover | ||||
 Japanese Edition Cover |
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| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [2] |
Projector (stylized : projector, or on the reissue, p.r.o.j.e.c.t.o.r.) is the fourth full-length studio album by the melodic death metal band Dark Tranquillity.
Lineup Change
In January 1999, with the album recorded months prior and its release months ahead, Fredrik Johansson was fired by the rest of Dark Tranquillity, due to Johansson wanting to focus more on being a father, meaning also he couldn't tour with the band and leave his family anymore and he wanted to keep a day job as opposed to the difficulties of being in the music industry. There were mutually no hard feelings between both parties, but with all of Johansson's reasons, the band still saw it as a lack of commitment to Dark Tranquillity as well. The album marks the last new release with Johansson.
With difficulties always finding a new guitar player, a switch then occurred in the band when Johansson's empty guitarist position was then taken the band's bassist Martin Henriksson, who was reluctant at the time to do the switch, due to his belief of being an average guitar player, but still went on to do so. To take Henriksson's bassist position, the band hired Michael Nicklasson.
Lastly, since the album included a lot of piano, keyboards and electronics and the band wanting it to become an integral part of the band's later sound, the band also hired an additional full-time member, Martin Brändström as their first keyboardist ever to complete the new lineup to tour for the album. With the lineup, they played live bonus tracks of the reissue of this album and filmed a music video for "ThereIn".
Style
It marked a departure for the band renowned as one of the founders of the Gothenburg Sound. Eschewing much of their trademark dual-guitar passages and death growling, Dark Tranquillity's Projector album featured some piano and clean guitar parts akin to that of gothic metal. The album was also the first to include vocalist Mikael Stanne on clean vocals; Stanne delivered some of the lyrics in an operatic baritone, far removed from his typical metal growls. Because of its massive deviation from the band's previous efforts, Projector was met with mixed opinions by longtime fans, but it also attracted a fair amount of new listeners.
Track listing
Writing credits adapted from liner notes
All lyrics written by Mikael Stanne.
| No. | Title | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "FreeCard" | Henriksson, Sundin, Jivarp | 4:31 |
| 2. | "ThereIn" | Henriksson, Sundin | 5:55 |
| 3. | "UnDo Control" | Sundin, Jivarp, Henriksson | 5:10 |
| 4. | "Auctioned" | Jivarp | 6:06 |
| 5. | "To a Bitter Halt" | Henriksson, Johansson | 4:48 |
| 6. | "The Sun Fired Blanks" | Henriksson, Sundin, Johansson | 4:17 |
| 7. | "Nether Novas" | Jivarp, Sundin, Henriksson | 6:14 |
| 8. | "Day to End" | Stanne | 3:08 |
| 9. | "Dobermann" | Henriksson, Sundin | 4:38 |
| 10. | "On Your Time" | Henriksson, Jivarp, Johansson | 5:37 |
| Total length: | 54:23 | ||
| Dope Music Digipak Korean 2004 Bonus Track | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Additional Notes | Length |
| 11. | "UnDo Control" | Live at Krzemionki Studio TVP, Kraków, on 7 October 2002, from the Live Damage DVD | 3:49 |
| 2009 Reissue | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Music | Additional Notes | Length |
| 11. | "Asleep in the Bandaged Light" | Jivarp | Instrumental orchestral track, some melody of "FreeCard", previously unreleased | 3:20 |
| 12. | "No One" | Henriksson, Sundin | from Exposures – In Retrospect and Denial | 4:41 |
| 13. | "Exposure" | Henriksson, Johansson, Sundin | from Exposures – In Retrospect and Denial | 3:52 |
| 14. | "ThereIn" | Live at the Rolling Stone, Milan, on 31 October 2008, from the Where Death Is Most Alive DVD, previously unreleased | 6:11 | |
Release history
The limited edition digipak, which includes the bonus track "Exposure". However, there were problems with the pressings because not all the digipaks include "Exposure" and there are some traditional releases that include the track. The Japanese version of the album has different cover art and includes a booklet with more photos and biographical information. The 2009 reissue has digitally remastered audio.
| Date | Note |
|---|---|
| August 10, 1999 | |
| November 25, 1999 | |
| May 25, 2009 | Reissue |
Credits
Dark Tranquillity
|
Production
On "ThereIn" (Live)
|
Additional Musicians |