Right after the first time I listened to the CD, I started having unintentional feelings of trying to compare Character with Damage Done and The Mind\'s I as if the music has been recorded to reflect the achievements of the band in the previous couple of years. Only the 1999th Projector stands aside because the new album lacks clear vocals and the electronic insets in it are few.
There are no apparent hits like in Heaven or Projector, but the music isn’t designed to be hit-like and under no circumstances “pop-like”, the material is powerful and reap!
I distinguished The Endless Feed at once. It’s expressive because it is slower in comparison to the other tracks on the album.
You will hear no female vocals on the CD, and it wouldn’t match the material anyway.
The album is “sophisticated” and very good, but it’s the same DARK TRANQUILITY anyway, there’s nothing really new here.
It’s more like a careful step back than a definite breakthrough…
Another plus is a beautiful and a little enigmatic booklet, designed in an obscure manner, which will add black colours to your mind’s vision of the world while you’re listening to the record.
Those who like 95-97th DARK TRANQUILITY can have my strong recommendations! Though if you really want to taste and understand Character you’ll have to do it more than once.