First time ever available domestically, this is the second album originally released on Osmose in 1996. This edition features songs from the rare "Enter Suicidal Angels" EP as an added bonuse plus 2 live enhanced video tr... more »acks. Updated artwork and layout by band member and renowned graphic designer Niklas Sundin.« less
First time ever available domestically, this is the second album originally released on Osmose in 1996. This edition features songs from the rare "Enter Suicidal Angels" EP as an added bonuse plus 2 live enhanced video tracks. Updated artwork and layout by band member and renowned graphic designer Niklas Sundin.
CD Reviews
Beyond The Realm Of Time Is The Mind's I
OzzyApu | Seattle, WA | 04/26/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Out of all the Dark Tranquillity albums, from the first to the latest, I truthfully have to say that -The Mind's Eye- was the hardest to endure. I heard of the beauty that lay herein, but there was nothing within my first listen of this that lended it's tunes to me. Some of -Skydancer/Chaos-, -The Gallery-, -Projector-, -Haven-, -Damage Done-, and -Character- have all hooked me, that is except for this one. Everyone I heard in reviews always brought up the fact that this was the greatest release from one of Sweden's finest. However, I could not tell where the love was for this. I merely went on enjoying the rest of the albums. Eventually I would return to this because I already sapped up most of the other ones, but I still could not see what made this one unique from the rest. I could easily tell that Stanne's vocals were more on the rasp scale like -The Gallery-, but he would later clear his throat for better growls from -Projector- and on.
The only feeling I reached from this, mainly on the cover and through the tone of the tracks, was a dark and melancholic piece (think Devil May Cry). Obviously, it will never take anyone one listen straight to enjoy what is really hidden on this record. Infact, after countless listens, I finally realized that the beauty isn't meant to be searched for, it is a feeling one would recieve through enjoyment and satisfaction. The cover was the strangest of all, besides -The Gallery-. This is the last album to feature the old Dark Tranquillity headlining, like In Flames' old slicing red logo. It looks like olden pens, with a raw jaw next to dried pedals. I can't decipher the purple behind it all besides some beads and necklaces, but there is a slice of paper with the apparent "Tranquillity" symbol (which would clearly be seen on the -Exposures- discs). I also feel that this album was purely more melodic, but countered by In Flames' -Whoracle- that same year.
The atmosphere of songs like fast opener "Dreamlore Degenerate" or the dark-melodic "Constant" is just gigantic. No matter, if the band steps on the pedal as during the short "Zodijackyl Light" or rather operates slow and oppressing as on "Hedon", it always results in a strong track. The two guitarists, Niklas Sundin (a Demi-God) and Fredrik Johansson (his last featured album with Dark Tranquillity), put their melodic guitar harmonies into all of their songs. Dark Tranquillity are masters of their trade. The good sound, of course, further strengthens this. The album was produced in the well-known Studio Fredman by the ever hard working Fredrik Nordstrom.
I am sure that you have had the feeling with a CD that it is something special, right? Most of us, and now me, feel that way with this disc. One thing to complain about is the length, which isn't enough because of the enjoyment one will recieve. The one way to truly enjoy this is to hear the album a few times and believe me, I have done so. Once this piece of music has grown a hold of your mind, you will never forget it."
Finally!
Sepulhead | Boston, MA | 04/24/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have been a Dark Tranquillity fan for a long time now, I have every DT album but I was never able to find this one. It is about time this (and "The Gallery") got released domestically. Now that I have heard it I am happy to say that this may very well be my favorite dark tranquillity album. It has the most in common with "The Gallery," but I think I like "The Mind's I" a little more. This is one of the more aggressive DT albums. This also includes the three song "Enter Suicidal Angels" EP. One of the songs is a weird almost techno electronic instrumental, it's very cool to hear. The other two songs are a GREAT addition to "The Mind's I," in fact they are a couple of the best DT songs in my opinion. Forget about in flames, they haven't released anything good in years, and NOTHING they've done can touch this or any DT album. DT is the one melodic death band that continually releases quality material. Also check out their new album, "Character". It's much different from this but still great.
After almost 10 years, fans in the states can finally find "The Mind's I" in stores. Don't miss this one, you won't be disappointed."
Breathtaking and Groundbreaking all at the same time
L. Bazan | Brownsville, Tx USA | 04/16/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This reissue of the 1996 Minds I is awesome. It also comes with two music videos and two songs that were only on their earlier release "Enter Suicidal Angels" and these songs are also very killer.This is only the third band I've heard from the Gothenburg scene along with At the Gates and In Flames. These guys are a group of insanely talented musicians who have the magic to create something really special and unique.Although, these bands have their similarities,(Anders from In Flames use to sing for this band way back) these guys stand out to me the most. Especially because they are way too under-rated in the metal world today.I love this damn cd and I suggest you get this along with In Flames, "The Jester Race/Black Ash Inheritance" today. You will get two classic pieces of melodic death-metal that won't leave your cd for months on end and may even open up your ears to new horizons of musical interest.Get it now!"
Killer Reissue
Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 02/27/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Now this is what a reissue should look and sound like. After some disappointing reissues by In Flames, it's good to see that Dark Tranquillity went all out with their reissues of The Gallery and The Mind's I.
The Mind's I was a fantastic album to begin with. It builds on and advances the melodic technical style found on its predecessor The Gallery without straying too far from the death metal sound. Dark Tranquillity made a big stride forward with this album, and some of the songs on The Mind's I (such as "Zodijackyl Light", "Atom Heart 243.5" and "Insanity's Crescendo" with its haunting female vocals) remain among the band's best songs. The band's sound would make a major shift on their following album Projector, but The Mind's I is still a great example of a forward thinking melodic death metal band continuing to evolve (and excel).
As if the remastered sound wasn't incentive enough to buy the album, the entire Enter Suicidal Angels EP is included as bonus tracks. Enter Suicidal Angels was my first exposure to Dark Tranquillity, and despite the truly awful DT-gone techno closing track "Archetype", it is good to find it remastered here. Sealing the deal, the band has included expanded liner notes, which include lyrics, commentary, photos, and other relevant information.
The Mind's I is an excellent melodic death metal album, and this reissue should be on the shelves of anyone who is a fan of Dark Tranquillity as well as similar bands In Flames, At the Gates, Soilwork, Hypocrisy, or death metal in general.
"
This album is DT's best, no matter how incredible anything e
Sweden Is God | 11/06/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album has inspired me in so many ways, so much so that I am one of the many to have put the Mind's eye from the front cover on my arm in the form of a tatoo. This album is assuredly one of the best representations of lyrical power in music for all genre's, for all time. Sundin was always spectacular with his poetic style(especially everything he helped write for In Flames before Colony) and Stanne's work was equally well-done. I majored in English for a while and actually brought some of these lyrics in to my professor and she was equally impressed. The value of the words in these songs is truelly from a place within Stanne and Sundin and uses a style more closely resembling something from old english naritive than the current poetic form used for music.
Each and every song is a personal journey and creates something totally other-worldly. The drums are so tasteful and complete, guitar solo's are sparce but flavor the mood better than almost anything 50 times more complicated. Stanne's oice was also at its best on this album. So much went into this album's perfection that I can't even begin to describe it in words. If you like DT and don't own this yet, then get it now and prepare to be owned, you have no other choice. I still remember finding this cd in my local newbury comics almost a year after it was released. I had been looking for it ever since it came out and there weren't a lot of good online vendors at the time(unless you want to pay $50+ per cd...which I unfortunatelly had to do often =[ ). That original copy stands in my collection as one of my top 5 alltime favorite cd's. It also includes many typos in the booklet when it comes to lyrics, which made it sort of funny to me.
Funfact about a song on this album for fans btw. I corresponded with Stanne a little years back and asked him a question about the meaning behind the name of the seemingly non-sensically titled song Atom Heart 243.5 and he told me this. When he wrote the song and titled it Atom Heart originally, he felt that is needed something more for a name so he and Sundin came up with the rather unique idea to count how many heartbeats Sundin had throughout the course of the song. They thought to do this because it is one of the song's on the album with more time changes and tempo swings so he thought it might be interesting. So the 243.5 is nothing more and nothing less than amount of times Niklas Sundin's heart pulsed over the course of the tune. Pretty cool if you ask me.
Track Listings (17) - Disc #1