The Classic Metal Album Review:
Title: Grey Dawn
Artist: October Tide
Label: Avantgarde Music
Release Date: 1999

Rating: 5 Skulls
  • Discuss on the Metal Judgment Web Board
  • Submit/Read Reader Reviews of this Album

    • Martyr's Review:
    I feel that the Doom genre is very underrated. Quality doom acts are few and far between, and when a doom album is done right, it instantly becomes a classic. This is where October Tide comes in. The packaging alone for their album Grey Dawn could sway one to pick up this album right off the bat and personally, I can't get enough of this album. The artwork portrays a black and white close-up of a young woman seemingly drowned, in a secluded and serene pool of water. With an almost spectral reflection of the trees off of the water around her face, an enigmatic vision is set for the album, of bleakness soaked likewise within the material.

    As soon as you throw this disc on, the guitars wail out these melodic riffs, haunting you...and it never falters throughout the album. This is thanks to Fredrik Norman (Katatonia), who rips it up on guitar and bass and Jonas Renske (Bloodbath, Katatonia) who has his hand in the drum work, vocals and guitar work and. Ah yes, Katatonia. If you're a fan of the album Brave Murder Day or The Discouraged Ones...please, PLEASE get this album. Also featured on Grey Dawn is session vocalist Marten Hansan of A Canarous Quintet, another great act. He brings about a harsh outcry of frustration and presents stories of desperation, isolation and giving up. The subtle ambient noises you may hear in the background create this feeling of static emotion, and if you are any bit of melancholic doom, I'm sure that you could appreciate this. I am having a hard time picking out any single song to rave about as this whole album melds itself into one mass of amazing material. So I'll leave it up to you. If anything, the title track "Grey Dawn," should be enough to grab your attention right away.

    Unfortunately October Tide is no more and there is no other material besides Grey Dawn and Rain Without End. Perhaps new material will surface, or maybe their legacy should just be left in the still water of a grey dawn...everlasting in its perfection.
    5 out of 5

    [- Metal Judgment Home -]    [- Email Metal Judgment -]
    ©1999 Metal Judgment. All rights reserved.