Swedish melodic death metal pioneers Dark Tranquillity have released a live DVD Where Death Is Most Alive, which was filmed in Milan, Italy. They've also just finished their next studio CD, set for a February, 2010 release. DT vocalist Mikael Stanne fills us in on the DVD and all the extras, the next album, tour plans, and what he'd do if he was put in charge of the music business.
Chad Bowar: You've had a lineup change recently. What led to bassist Michael Niklasson's departure, and how did you decide on Daniel Antonsson as his replacement?
Mikael Stanne: After ten years in the band, Michael felt that he needed to go on to do different things, and we agreed. It was very much a natural thing where we basically grew apart and it came to an end. Daniel has been a friend of ours pretty much since we started doing gigs in Gothenburg and we´ve hung out over the years. We toured together when he played for Soilwork.
We had started considering replacements when Daniel called and told us he was not in Soilwork anymore, and if we still needed a bass player. We hesitated for half a second and then he was in. We have a history of adding old friends into the DT camp, so this was another case of that. And it has worked out amazingly well. He fits right in and we have all felt energized since he joined. We feel like a complete unit now more than ever.
What was the response to this year's Yesterworlds compilation release?
Since this release was mainly for the die-hard fans who already have all the other releases, it received great response from the fans. There is stuff on there that no one has heard before, as well as the best sounding versions of the old and rare material. It was interesting to go back and listen to these songs, and I feel I have a new found appreciation for the madness we were up to back then.
Read the complete Dark Tranquillity Interview
(photo courtesy Century Media Records)
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