In a way that shouldn't be much of a surprise. What Black Tide do, is not out of the ordinary or extremely renewing but they do know how to come up with something that will please a lot of metal heads. Blending old school thrash and speed metal with modern day post-hardcore and arena-rock, these youngsters surely have made a name for themselves. Perhaps it's a matter of being there at the right time with the right music.
The result is simply an awe-inspiring album, well-varied and perfectly suited for a decent headbanging session. The songs aren't too complex but do have a certain level of musical craftsmanship that not everyone seems to possess. I don't think it's easy to crawl into a rehearsal studio and create something that will maintain its quality, both in small venues and on large festival stages.
Bands that come to mind while listening to this piece of work include Metallica, Iron Maiden, Slayer, Motley Crue, Skid Row, Escape The Fate and Thrice to even Foreigner and Kiss. That might give you an idea about the immense versatility within this band. I can easily imagine a large audience screaming along with tracks like 'Chasing Shadows' or 'Sex Is Angry'. The latter wins the price for song title of the year.
In all, I'm quite positive that this album too will gain these guys a lot of attention and loads of gigs in the near future. The old school fans will love those brilliant guitar harmonies while the younger fans will adore the sheer power coming from the music. Hell, even fans of decently written power-pop will be awed by the level on songwriting. That being said, check it out, you'll be in for a wild ride with Black Tide...
Serge