UMUR
"Skydancer" is the debut full-length studio album by Swedish melodic death metal act Dark Tranquillity. The album was released through Spinefarm Records in August 1993. "Skydancer" was re-released in 2000 through Century Media Records with a different cover artwork. It´s the only Dark Tranquillity album to feature later In Flames vocalist Anders Fridén in the lineup. Mikael Stanne who would take up the lead vocal duties after this album primarily plays guitar on this album and sings some backing vocals.
The music on the album is melodic death metal with an occasional progressive edge. Especially the two longer tracks on the album "A Bolt Of Blazing Gold" and "Shadow Duet" feature progressive song structures and ideas. The remaining tracks are more straight forward but never simple. In addition to the "core" elements in the music, which are raspy/higher pitched growling vocals, a tight rythm section and melodic guitar work in spades, there are also occasional clean male and female vocals on the album. They are not that impressive though and could easily have been omitted.
While the songwriting is adventurous enough and the musicianship strong, the sound production isn´t that great. Especially the guitars feature a rather powerless sound and are as a result, not as effective as they could have been. It´s too bad, because "Skydancer" would have been a much more enjoyable album with a more professional and sharp sound production. Still a 3.5 star (70%) rating isn´t all wrong.