Dark Tranquillity are a Swedish melodic death metal band founded in 1989 by guitarists Mikael Stanne and Niklas Sundin. The band's first line-up also included vocalist Anders Fridén, drummer Anders Jivarp and bassist Martin Henriksson. The band currently consists of Stanne (as lead vocalist since 1993), keyboardist Martin Brändström (since 1998), guitarist Johan Reinholdz (since 2017), bassist Christian Jansson and drummer Joakim Strandberg Nilsson (both since 2021), and rhythm guitarist Peter Lyse Karmark (since 2024).
History In 1993, the band released their debut album Skydancer. Soon after its release, vocalist Friden departed to join In Flames, a band which Stanne had coincidentally been singing with. Stanne then moved onto lead vocals and Fredrik Johansson took over second guitar. This line-up continued until 1999, when Johansson departed. In his absence Henriksson moved to second guitar, and the band were also joined by Martin Brandstrom on keyboards and electronics and bassist Mikael Niklasson.
This line-up was stable until Nikalsson's departure in 2008, apart for when Jivarp took a hiatus in 2001 due to becoming a new father. Nikalsson was replaced by former Soilwork guitarist Daniel Antonsson. Antonsson later departed in 2013, and was not immediately replaced, with Henriksson playing bass on Construct. In 2016, Anders Iwers (Tiamat, ex-In Flames) was announced as bassist, having played with the band since 2015. Henriksson left the band in late 2015, admitting that he had lost passion for music, although he is still involved with the band as manager.
Jens Florén took over rhythm guitar for festival shows in 2016. Henriksson was also replaced on tour by Sebastian Myrèn later in 2016, alongside Erik Jacobsson in place of Sundin who was staying home to be with his family. Jacobsson had previously filled in for Sundin in May 2015 for the same reasons. In 2017 the band found more permanent replacements in Christopher Amott (Armageddon, Arch Enemy) and Johan Reinholdz (Andromeda, NonExist and Skyfire), who were later upgraded to full members when Sundin announced his departure in March 2020. Although Sundin has still written songs for designed albums for the band.
In August 2021 founding member Anders Jivarp and bassist Anders Iwers both departed, leaving Stanne as the lone founding member of the band. Their replacements were Christian Jansson (Grand Cadaver) and drummer Joakim Strandberg-Nilsson (In Mourning, Nonexist), who were confirmed as full members in May 2023.
Amott departed the band later that month. Joey Concepcion (also of Armageddon) was announced as his temporary replacement, Concepcion had previously played with the band in 2022. Jonathan Thorpenberg (The Unguided) replaced Concepcion as touring guitarist in 2024, before Peter Lyse Karmark (Hatesphere) took over more permanently later that year.
Members
Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsMikael Stanne1989–presentall releasesMartin Brändström1998–presentall releases from Projector (1999) onwardsJohan Reinholdz2020–present guitarsall releases from Moment (2020) onwardsChristian Jansson2021–presentbass all releases from Endtime Signals (2024) onwardsJoakim Strandberg Nilssondrums Peter Lyse Karmark2024–present guitars none to date
Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsAnders Jivarp 1989–2021drums all releases until Moment (2020)Niklas Sundin1989–2020 guitars all releases until Atoma (2016)Martin Henriksson1989–2015all releases until Construct (2013)Anders Fridén1989–1993lead vocalsFredrik Johansson1993–1999 guitars Mikael Niklasson1999–2008bass all releases from Haven (2000) to Fiction (2007)Daniel Antonsson2008–2012Anders Iwers 2015–2021Christopher Amott2020–2023 guitars Moment (2020)
Touring
ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsNotesRobin Engström 2001drums Engström filled in for Jivarp in 2001.Erik Jacobsson guitars Jacobsson filled in for Sundin in 2015 and 2016.Jens Florén 2016Florén took over rhythm guitar following the departure of Martin Henriksson.Sebastian Myrèn2016–2017Myrèn filled took over second guitar from Florén.Mike Bear 2022bassBear filled in on bass in 2022.Joey Concepcion guitars Concepcion filled in for Amott in 2022, and took over from him in when in departed in 2023.Jonathan ThorpenbergThopenberg took over from Concepcion in 2024, and later returned to fill in on bass in 2025.
Timeline
Line-ups PeriodMembersReleases1989 – early 1993 Anders Friden – vocals Mikael Stanne – guitars, backing vocals Niklas Sundin – guitars Martin Henriksson – bass, acoustic guitar Anders Jivarp – drums Trail of Life Decayed (1991) A Moonclad Reflection (1992) Skydancer (1993) The Dying Fragments (2009)early 1993 – late 1999 Mikael Stanne – vocals Niklas Sundin – guitars Martin Henriksson – bass, acoustic guitar Anders Jivarp – drums Fredrik Johansson – guitars Of Chaos and Eternal Night (1995) The Gallery (1995) Enter Suicidal Angels (1996) The Mind's I (1997) Projector (1999) The Dying Fragments (2009)late 1999 – August 2008 Mikael Stanne – vocals Niklas Sundin – guitars Martin Henriksson – guitars Anders Jivarp – drums Mikael Niklasson – bass Martin Brändström – keyboards, programming Haven (2000) Damage Done (2002) Live Damage (2003) Lost to Apathy (2004) Character (2005) Fiction (2007)October 2008 – February 2013 Mikael Stanne – vocals Niklas Sundin – guitars Martin Henriksson – guitars Anders Jivarp – drums Martin Brändström – keyboards, programming Daniel Antonsson – bass Where Death Is Most Alive (2009) We Are the Void (2010) Zero Distance (2012)February 2013 – early 2015 Mikael Stanne – vocals Niklas Sundin – guitars Martin Henriksson – guitars, bass Anders Jivarp – drums Martin Brändström – keyboards, programming Construct (2013)mid – late 2015 Mikael Stanne – vocals Niklas Sundin – guitars Martin Henriksson – guitars Anders Jivarp – drums Martin Brändström – keyboards, programming Anders Iwers – bass Erik Jacobsson – guitars none early – late 2016 Mikael Stanne – vocals Niklas Sundin – guitars Anders Jivarp – drums Martin Brändström – keyboards, programming Anders Iwers – bass Jens Florén – guitars Atoma (2016)late 2016 – early 2017 Mikael Stanne – vocals Niklas Sundin – guitars Anders Jivarp – drums Martin Brändström – keyboards, programming Anders Iwers – bass Erik Jacobsson – guitars Sebastian Myrèn – guitars none early 2017 – March 2020 Mikael Stanne – vocals Niklas Sundin – guitars Anders Jivarp – drums Martin Brändström – keyboards, programming Anders Iwers – bass Christopher Amott – guitars Johan Reinholdz – guitars March 2020 – August 2021 Mikael Stanne – vocals Anders Jivarp – drums Martin Brändström – keyboards, programming Anders Iwers – bass Christopher Amott – guitars Johan Reinholdz – guitars Moment (2020)August 2021 – mid 2023 Mikael Stanne – vocals Martin Brändström – keyboards, programming Christopher Amott – guitars Johan Reinholdz – guitars Christian Jansson – bass Joakim Strandberg Nilsson – drums none mid – late 2023 Mikael Stanne – vocals Martin Brändström – keyboards, programming Johan Reinholdz – guitars Christian Jansson – bass Joakim Strandberg Nilsson – drums Joey Conception – guitars Endtime Signals (2024)early 2024 Mikael Stanne – vocals Martin Brändström – keyboards, programming Johan Reinholdz – guitars Christian Jansson – bass Joakim Strandberg Nilsson – drums Jonathan Thorpenberg – guitars mid 2024 – present Mikael Stanne – vocals Martin Brändström – keyboards, programming Johan Reinholdz – guitars Christian Jansson – bass Joakim Strandberg Nilsson – drums Peter Lyse Karmark – guitarsnone to date
References