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October Tide
Rain Without End


4.0
excellent

Review

by fireaboveicebelow USER (107 Reviews)
November 17th, 2008 | 47 replies


Release Date: 1997 | Tracklist


1996 was an extremely significant time in Sweden. Opeth was touring for Morningrise, Edge of Sanity just released Crimson, and Katatonia…well, they broke up. No one really knew about it because only a year later they released Brave Murder Day, but it did happen. During this time, Anders started his Diabolical Masquerade project, leaving Jonas and Fred to themselves. So, what does the pair do? Well, they’re Swedish musicians, so naturally they released a solid metal record. They started one of the most overlooked death/doom bands at the time called October Tide, with Jonas and Fred doing all the instruments and vocals and production themselves.

Since Anders isn’t involved in the project, a huge difference you will notice is the overall sound. Fred’s contribution to the writing process has altered the riffs to a more groove oriented feel, while Jonas’ input kept the melancholy intact. You could say this is what it would sound like if Fred wrote Brave Murder Day, though it should be understood that this stands apart from that record for even though it has its similarities, the differences vastly outweigh them.

The song “All Painted Cold” is one of the better songs to use to explain. Instead of the constant, repeating 1/8 rhythms on BMD, there are more standard song structures, but also much more riffing, and catchy riffing at that. The drums also have a vast amount of variation in comparison. This is one of those classic death/doom tracks that can stand on its own due to its fairly unique style, plus there’s a slight folk influence that actually isn’t put to pretentious use! Keyboards appear fairly frequently throughout the album as well, as well as acoustic parts, in comparison to Katatonia.

This album happens to be the very last to hear Jonas’ throat-ripping screams, yet the ones you’re used to hearing are those high pitched shrieks. On this record he sticks to low, powerful growls. They’re still raspy, but much more controlled. He does some singing every once in a while, usually in a Robert Smith-esque quality. Speaking of The Cure, Jonas brought the influence forward for quite a few areas scattered around the album, most noticeably on the track “Losing Tomorrow.” If Jonas was trying to write an early 80’s darkwave track, he succeeded, as well as making it the most depressing track on the record. The depressing feel of the record comes out sporadically instead of constantly, but still pretty often, because if it wasn’t a depressing record then Jonas or Fred wouldn’t have done their job.

If you like what you’ve read and want to purchase this record like a good fan, then you’re in luck, sir! Until now, this record has been nigh impossible to find, and even if you did you had to cough up a paycheck to attain it. However, thanks to our good pal Dan Swano who just finished remastering the album about a couple weeks ago, you will be able to order this at normal price. As well as being a must-listen for Katatonia fans, those death/doom fans that aren’t too fond of them now have a fresh opportunity to give this side-project a chance, for this stands alone from the main project as a frozen solid record for doomsters, as I’ve mentioned before. This is also one of those records that seems to get a bit better the more you listen to it, or maybe it’s just this time of the year…. Well, even though it’s not quite the epic behemoth Brave Murder Day became, it is nothing less than an interesting take on an already unique foundation, and an exceptionally enjoyable one at that. After all, there’s never anything wrong with another take on sonic depression, especially coming from these two.



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user ratings (155)
4.1
excellent


Comments:Add a Comment 
fireaboveicebelow
November 18th 2008


6835 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

something feels like it's missing...any suggestions?

Epilogue
November 18th 2008


1823 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Good review. This sounds a little like BMD, at least to me, but its still a great album.

Bleak123
November 18th 2008


1900 Comments


yeah review was good. pos!
might have to check this out.

Crysis
Emeritus
November 18th 2008


17640 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Sounds great! I loved older Katatonia so I will look into this for sure.

BallsToTheWall
November 18th 2008


51592 Comments


Ace review brother. Awesome band, I need the full album. I heard about these guys when posted as influences to Daylight Dies.

Digging: Fulci - Tropical Sun

fireaboveicebelow
November 18th 2008


6835 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I didn't know about that, though I've never read one of their interviews, so shame on me I guess



but yeah you'll love this dude, thanks for the comments everyone



Zippermouth
November 18th 2008


1305 Comments


Awesome review.
This sounds like something that I would like.

Zoo
November 18th 2008


3759 Comments


Although October Tide is decent, Blakkheim on his own owns Jonas and Fred combined.

Diabolical Masquerade will return...

rasputin
November 18th 2008


14968 Comments


Nice review. I have a song by these guys and it's okay. Might check it anyway.

fireaboveicebelow
November 18th 2008


6835 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Although October Tide is decent, Blakkheim on his own owns Jonas and Fred combined.







Diabolical Masquerade will return...
it just might happen after this next Katatonia record...!

azureray
July 11th 2009


1 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

I wanna try to revive this discussion...



I first listened to these guys like 6 months ago after reading about jonas in wikipedia (?) =) and for me this project really fills that crave for some old katatonia



thanks for reviewing this great album I enjoyed reading, I wish you would have wrote more about the rhythm structures in this album because I feel something special about them and I can't exactlly put my finger on it. but cheers anyway!

fireaboveicebelow
July 14th 2009


6835 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

thank you, and yeah I know what you're talking about with the rhythmic elements but I really can't explain them, they're just something you have to hear

Buccaneer
May 31st 2010


747 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Up'd my rating. This album is friggin amazing

Hawks
October 18th 2010


93615 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

This album rules.

Digging: Black Curse - Burning in Celestial Poison

AngelofDeath
Emeritus
October 18th 2010


16306 Comments


Yar, it's pretty good. New album is legit too.

Hawks
October 18th 2010


93615 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I should probably check that one out too eventually.

AngelofDeath
Emeritus
October 18th 2010


16306 Comments


Yeah, it's gonna be in my year-end metal/hardcore top 100 list.

somnolence
July 13th 2013


446 Comments


beauti
full.... vacant, stark, devoid, empty.

Keyblade
July 13th 2013


30678 Comments


agreed

really underrated too, up there with anything by Katatonia

somnolence
July 13th 2013


446 Comments


absolutely

isit me or 12 days of rain sounds quite alot like MAYH-era Opeth?



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