October Tide - Winged Waltz
Agonia Records
Melodic Doomdeath
8 songs (50'25")
Release year: 2016
October Tide, Agonia Records
Reviewed by Alex

While reviewing Tunnel of No Light by Swedish October Tide I clearly remember thinking as to where both October Tide and Katatonia would have been if Jonas Renkse was still using extreme vocals, as Renkse and Norrman borthers, Fredrik and Mattias, were involved in both bands. Alas, Renkse left October Tide long time ago, and while we know which path Katatonia took for the last almost two decades, October Tide continued pretty steadfastly with doomdeath.

Sure, you can call Winged Waltz ”just another” doomdeath album as well, but it has been a long time since I have listened to something so physically bruising, with riffs punching so hard under the ribs (Swarm). Guitar sound on Winged Waltz is just loaded. No wonder Fredrik Norrman spent a long time working on the album, having poured additional emotion into it. Guitars changing from loud sirens to quieter interludes, with bass roaming underneath, the songs on Winged Waltz are full of brood, of manly grief, no wonder vocalist Alexander Hogbom (also of Centinex and Volturyon) almost hurt himself groaning and growling during Winged Waltz recording sessions. And he is no rookie in the genre.

Some songs, like Swarm and Reckless Abandon explode with rolling double bass, seething in intensity, while Lost in Rapture is apocalyptic and resigned, just stumbling along overcome with the suffering. Nursed by the Cold is full of pain and cold shrillness, title all too fitting. Perilous digs its claws into the flesh, climbing up the wall, almost creepy. Finally, Coffins of November opens up with a My Dying Bride melody, shambling through the series of self-dug potholes on a way to sometimes harmonized but bruising exits. Whatever the direction songs take on Winged Waltz the feeling is often that you are simply placed in a melodic bathtub, which overflows, hammers and slices all at the same time (Sleepless Sun, A Question Ignite), guitar strings often serving as arrows piercing the soul (A Question Ignite).

In conclusion, full of sad anger or angry sadness (I am still pondering if they are one and the same), Winged Waltz is not “just another” melodic doomdeath album, because emotions expressed in it are so authentic and genuine, you will believe the pain expressed hereby is real. Hope everyone involved with October Tide was OK after the album was issued.

Killing Songs :
swarm, Sleepless Sun, A Question Ignite
Alex quoted 86 / 100
Other albums by October Tide that we have reviewed:
October Tide - Tunnel of No Light reviewed by Alex and quoted 81 / 100
October Tide - A Thin Shell reviewed by Goat and quoted 74 / 100
October Tide - Rain Without End reviewed by Thomas and quoted 62 / 100
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