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Archived Reviews
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Sometimes when I'm writing I want music to shield me from the outside world. It can't be any band, there needs to be something that provides onward motion. Musically October Tide fit the bill. Vocally I find the gravelly male vocals disappointing, but I guess you'll already know if this sort of thing puts you off. The music is beautiful in places, there is a languid interlude in "Grey Dawn" that makes the heavier, faster side of the song more palatable. This isn't prog-rock, but there's a pleasing progression of moods.
The refusal to adhere to the one-speed-fits-all style of song writing is demonstrated in "October Insight", which features changing tempos. When one leans towards the lighter side of metal, as I do, there are inevitably going to be parts of the song I prefer over others. Past the two-minute mark in "Sweetness Dies" we are treated to a Porcupine Tree-esque festival of FX-driven guitars. Sadly the gravelly vocals mar the beauty. Sometimes the grit in an oyster really is just grit. Once again around the two-minute mark "Heart of the Dead" impresses, but the heavy riffing that follows is bludgeoning rather than invigorating. "Floating" shows the band's fine grasp of dynamics. The rest of the album passes in a similar manner until we get to the highlight "Dear Sun". It is also the least representative song on the album, which tells you something about my relationship with October Tide. It's a gentle, acoustic guitar driven elegy. It's also entirely instrumental. Go figure. If you're a fan of Katatonia then the presence of two members will entice you towards this album. For me it is a good, but largely forgettable, release. The songs don't echo in your head once the CD finishes. On the other hand if you want a slab of metal to take you away from everyday life now might be the time to let yourself get swept away by the October Tide... |
