It was DARK TRANQUILLITY that introduced me to death metal and, more broadly, led me beyond listening exclusively to heavy/power metal. It was a cassette of Skydancer (1993) / Of Chaos And Eternal Night (1995). Since those days, the lineup has changed and the music has gotten softer and more melodic, but that has not made the band any less beloved. And now, for fans of the Swedes' work like myself, the double-disc compilation "Exposures - In Retrospect and Denial" has been released. The first disc contains tracks from the band's two earliest releases — the demo "Trail Of Life Decayed" and the EP "A Moonclad Reflection" — as well as previously unreleased songs (or ones that appeared only as bonus tracks) recorded during the sessions for the three most recent full-lengths: "Haven," "Projector," and "Damage Done." The second CD is a DARK TRANQUILLITY concert recorded in Krakow, Poland on October 7, 2002, which the band previously released as the DVD "Live Damage." None of the material was specially re-recorded, though some tracks received remastering. Oh, I think I forgot to mention the occasion for "Exposures - In Retrospect and Denial" — it is the band's 15th anniversary. The 20-page booklet includes lyrics for the first disc's songs, along with the band's history and photos.
If you are heading to a DARK TRANQUILLITY fan's birthday party, you will not find a better gift!