Metal Family Tree

This is a project aimed at making it easy to see who inspired the bands you love or even hate. For this I try not to use any influences that the band don’t claim themselves. There will be a focus on predecessors but successors will be added as they site the band. These trees become more and more interactive as new bands are added, allowing you to click any band that has a tree and jump to it.

We want our lists to be better. If you know something that belongs on this list, let us know. When in doubt we will leave it out, so we need reliable sources.

Dark Tranquility are one of the pioneers of melodic death metal. They would play with other sounds on occasion most notably a gothic sound on a few albums. Their line up had been fairly consistent until more recent years. Mikael Stanne played guitar on the first album but has been on vocals since then. Anders Jivarp has been on drums since the beginning. Niklas Sundin was on guitar for every album except the most recent (Moment). Martin Henriksson played bass on the first three albums then switched to guitar; he did both on Construct. Martin was with the band till 2016. Fredrik Johansson was on guitar was on two albums, 1994-1999 Martin Brändström has been on keyboards since 1999. Mikael Niklasson was on bass from 1999-2008, Daniel Antonsson 2008-2013, and Anders Iwers 2015-present. This tree will feature influences of members who have contributed to writing. Although some members may write most of the riffs the band as a whole work on arrangements. I will not be including newest guitarists Christopher Amott and Johan Reinholdz who have been with the band since 2017.

(note: Below “Mikael” refers to Mikael Stanne not Niklasson. “Martin” refers to Henriksson not Brändström.)

Iron Maiden are one of the most influential metal bands, known for their harmonies. Niklas named them as an influence.

Mercyful Fate are known for King Diamond’s vocals but should also be known for their technical arrangements of traditional metal. Niklas named them as an influence.

Depeche Mode were an influential new wave band. Niklas says he listened to a healthy dose of them although he probably wouldn’t have admitted that in the early days. Mikael was also into Depeche Mode and other synth music before discovering metal.

Metallica are the fathers of thrash. Niklas named them as an influence.

Sodom are a very important German thrash band. Mikael named them as an influence.

Death Angel are prominent bay area thrashers. Niklas named them as an influence.

Slayer were on of the most aggressive thrash bands in the early days. Niklas at one time when asked about influences said he was influenced by Slayer and Satan.

Not Fragile are a speed/power metal band from Germany. Niklas named them as an influence.

Helloween are one of the most important power metal bands, often being seen as the originators. Niklas and Martin named them as an influence.

Thanatos are a death/thrash band from the Netherlands. Niklas named them as an influence. (There are several bands by this name but I’m fairly certain this is the one he means.)

Destruction are one of the baggiest German thrash bands. Mikael named them as an influence.

Sabbat were British Thrashers. Niklas named them as a big influence on them and was Niklas’s favorite band for a time. Mikael also named them as an influence, particularly on the way he does lyrics.

Kreator are among the most important German Thrash bands. Niklas and Martin named them as an influence. Mikael named Kreator and Mille as an influence.

Testament are bay area thrash legends. Niklas named them as an influence.

Morbid Angel are among the most important and influential death metal bands. Niklas named them as an influence. Mikael named them and David Vincent as an influence.

SDI are a German Thrash/Speed metal band. Niklas named them as an influence.

Crimson Glory are a traditional/progressive metal band often considered part of the US power metal movement. Niklas named them as an influence.

Sindrome were an underground thrash band. Niklas named them as an influence in the tape trading days.

Atrophy are a lesser known American Thrash band. Niklas named them as an influence.

Merciless are a Swedish Death/Thrash band. Niklas named them as an influence. Mikael named Rogga as an influence.

Blind Guardian have become one of the most influential power metal bands. Niklas and Martin named them as an influence.

Scanner are a German power metal band very similar to Helloween. Niklas named them as an influence.

Forbidden are bay area thrash. Niklas named them as an influence.

Intoxicate were an underground Swedish Thrash/Speed metal band. Niklas named them as an influence.

Atheist are a progressive death, death/thrash band. They were released a few demos under the name R.A.V.A.G.E., Niklas named them both as an influence. Mikael named Atheist as an influence.

Nihilist was the early version of Entombed. Niklas named them as an influence.

Dr. Shrinker were an underground death metal band. Niklas named them as an influence in the tape trading days.

Fatal were a underground death/thrash band from Detroit. Niklas named them as an influence.

Varathron are a Greek black metal band. Niklas named them as an influence.

Zemial are another Greek black metal band named as an influence by Niklas.

Niklas says he is not interested in the guitar hero type of players. He is impressed by Blixa Bargeld of the German industrial band Einstürzende Neubauten for his originality. He names a band Assassin but there are several bands by this name that he could mean. He says they listen to traditional folk and classical music.

Anders Jivarp names drum influences as “Mike Portnoy, I think he's number one. I like Neil Pert of course, Joey Jordinson from Slipknot, Brad Wilk from Audioslave and Rage Against the Machine I think he has amazing groove, and Dirk Verbeuren from Soilwork”.

Besides his metal influences, Mikael said he got into a lot of 60’s and 70’s progressive rock and in more recent years Doom and Sludge. Before finding metal with bands like Iron Maiden and Helloween Mikael was into synth music like Depeche Mode.

Anders Fridén was the vocalist on the first album before being in In Flames. His influences will be on an inflames tree when it exists.

Fredrick was part of the second and third albums but I have not found his influences.

Martin has been on keys with the band since 1999, I haven’t been able to find his influences.

Mikael Niklasson played bass for five albums; I have been unable to find his influences.

Daniel Antonsson played bass on only one album and is not noted as contributing a significant amount to writing.

Current bassist Anders Iwers has yet to have writing credits in the band (prior to Moment).

Bands influenced by Dark Tranquility!

As this project advances, bands will be added here… there are many!

Sources:

https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2013/09/09/niklas-sundin-dark-tranquillity-interviewed/
https://metalbite.com/interviews/267/dark-tranquillity-with-niklas-sundin-guitar
http://rockrevoltmagazine.com/interview-dark-tranquillity/
http://www.apeshit.org/features/dark-tranquillity-slayer-and-satan/
https://www.mixcloud.com/TheAgeOfMetal/martin-henriksson-of-dark-tranquillity-chats-with-the-age-of-metal/
https://sickdrummermagazine.com/news/off-beat-interviews/tyranny-a-bloodshed-tour-interviews/
https://www.nationalrockreview.com/interviews/moments-mikael-stanne
https://crypticrock.com/interview-mikael-stanne-of-dark-tranquillity/
https://www.rockarena.co.uk/dark-tranquillity-one-of-the-earliest-pioneers-of-the-gothenburg-melodic-death-metal/
https://rockoverdose.gr/mikael-stanne-dark-tranquillity-rock-overdose-people-still-listen-music-different-way/