DARK TRANQUILLITY - Damage Filmed! Page 3
by Martin Popoff

"I don't want to go into all that stuff," dismisses Mikael, when asked if there is direct response to the problems of terrorism and the war in Iraq. "But it is about how we respond to situations like that, for instance. That is what it's about, but I don't want to write about anything political. But it is about people's reactions to it. We had a lot of big media events here in Sweden; it's been quite chaotic and frustrating. We had the stabbing of that politician, which has been on the news almost every day. There has been so much information and misinformation. As soon as they have a little strand of evidence, suddenly the media is all over it. There's sensationalism and people just buy into it. And I hear it everywhere, walking around or sitting on the bus. You hear people having their own interpretations of what's out there, and it's always way off. Nobody seems to really get it, or listen with a critical ear, to what they're being told. It's really sad."

Which begs the question, I suppose: are you interested in conspiracy theory stuff as well? "No, it's funny," responds Stanne. "It's funny in a way, but no. I get a good laugh out of it sometimes (laughs). It's great how people can connect all these different things and see a pattern and make it semi-believable. It's beautiful sometimes."

Mikael indeed believes, that if all goes well, the entire album will go this media-questioning route, making it in essence, a concept album. The record (as yet untitled) should be out in June or July, with heavy touring following, and with a short stint to Japan preceding, in May. Keep your eye on www.darktranquillity.com for more info.