Bengt Mikael Stanne[1] (born 20 May 1974) is a Swedish musician, best known as the vocalist and a former rhythm guitarist for the melodic death metal band Dark Tranquillity. Since the departure of original drummer Anders Jivarp in 2021, Stanne is the only remaining original member of the band. Stanne is also the vocalist for bands Grand Cadaver, The Halo Effect and Cemetery Skyline, which formed in 2020, 2021 and 2023, respectively. He was also an ex-vocalist for HammerFall and In Flames.
Stanne, along with Niklas Sundin, formed Dark Tranquillity because they were bored, along with interest in metal from their influences. He played guitar and performed clean backing vocals on Dark Tranquillity's first album, Skydancer, as well as on their early demos, including Enfeebled Earth released under the name Septic Broiler. In 1994, Anders Fridén, Dark Tranquillity's original vocalist, left the band to join In Flames. Stanne then became the new vocalist and discontinued playing guitar.
In addition to his usual growling vocals, Dark Tranquillity's 1999 album, Projector, showcased his operatic "clean" singing abilities. After Haven, however, the clean style was mostly abandoned until the release of Fiction in 2007.
Stanne is the vocalist for death metal band Grand Cadaver (formed in 2020) and for gothic metal band Cemetery Skyline (formed in 2024).
Stanne was the original vocalist for HammerFall from 1993 until 1996, after which he was replaced because he couldn't perform with HammerFall due to his commitment to Dark Tranquillity.
In 2008, Stanne performed guest vocals in the band Scar of the Sun, for a track named “Ode to a Failure”.
In 2010 Stanne guested on Solution .45's debut album by contributing the lyrics for most of the tracks and providing vocals on the tracks "Bladed Vaults" and "On Embered Fields Adust".
In 2010, Stanne provided vocals in the song “Weather the Storm” by Insomnium.
In 2010, Nightrage released the song “Gallant Deeds”, an unreleased track recorded by Stanne from the Descent into Chaos sessions. It is now available on the Nightrage re-issue Vengeance Descending.
In 2011, Stanne appeared on the track “Wastelands Within” by Mourning Caress, for their album Deep Wounds, Bright Scars.
In 2012, Stanne appeared on the track “Skin Changer” by Helcaraxë for their album Red Dragon.
In 2015, Stanne appeared on several tracks in the album The Great Lie by Melted Space.
In 2018, Stanne provided vocals for the album Darkening Light by Melted Space.
In 2020, Stanne appeared on the track "Whispers from the Wicked" by Carthagods, on their album The Monster in Me.
In 2020, Stanne provided additional vocals on the track "A Meditation Upon Death" by Nonexist, from their album Like the Fearless Hunter.
In 2022, Stanne acted as a guest vocalist for six tracks for the video game Metal: Hellsinger.
In 2023, Stanne provided vocals for the tracks "PEREGRINATION" and "BEINGS OF LIGHT" in the album STARS & EMBERS by ISON.[3]
Media related to Mikael Stanne at Wikimedia Commons
