By Jason Williams
February 22nd 2014, House Of Blues Sunset Strip, West Hollywood CA: When one talks about the ‘Big 3’ of melodic death metal, the first band that comes to mind is probably In Flames. At the Gates would be the second most likely choice. And in that same list, yet not quite as mentioned for some precarious reason, are Dark Tranquillity. Not many know it, but they actually formed before the aforementioned bands. 1989 would be the year that Mikael Stanne and Niklas Sundin created a band that would help pioneer one of the most popular genres of extreme, underground metal. Not going in the new direction that In Flames have gone for the past several years or reforming and playing select venues and festivals as At the Gates, Dark Tranquillity have been consistenly putting out quality albums for the past 23 years, and their tenth album Construct was met with wide acclaim. This was to be their first US tour in nearly four years. Joining the Gothenburg pioneers were techincal thrash band Exmortus and highly anticipated on their first US tour, Finland’s own Omnium Gatherum. This was to be my first time seeing any of these bands live and I couldn’t wait. With longstanding power metallers Manowar playing the very same night in Pomona, I was wondering how the attendance would be for this show, considering Manowar tours once nearly every half a decade in the US. Continue reading “Dark Tranquillity Play Unforgettable Show At House Of Blues Sunset Strip”
