Emerging from the shadows of Swedish melancholia, October Tide has woven a narrative of sorrow and desolation since its inception by Jonas Renkse and Fredrik Norrman, known from Katatonia.
Their initial offering, "Rain Without End," unveiled in 1997, plunged listeners into a profound odyssey of despair, winning acclaim for its hauntingly deep composition and emotional heft.
Following this initial emergence, the ensemble receded into a period of quiescence, the result of their intertwined destinies with Katatonia.
Yet, the call of October Tide’s mournful muse was not to remain unanswered. Norrman, parting ways with Katatonia, resurrected the entity in 2009, reimagining the lineup but preserving the essence of the band’s auditory lament. This rebirth has birthed a series of recordings, each an evolution of the band’s sound—polished, yet without forfeiting the profound themes that marked their early work, and interspersed with a progressive vigor.
Admired for their elaborate guitar harmonies, cavernous vocal tones, and spectral compositions, October Tide has etched their signature into the annals of death/doom metal, cultivating a loyal following while retaining the respect of their peers.
Now, with a gap of years since their last foray, "In Splendor Below," October Tide returns with "The Cancer Pledge," a testament to their enduring allure. This opus stands as a contiguous sequel to their previous work, propelling the listener through a tempest of melodic death metal, all the while retaining the lachrymose touch of their doom-laden roots.
According to Norrman, the album is a more death-centric, melodic iteration, bearing influences from his musical upbringing yet unmistakably October Tide in its resonance. The sound engineering expertise of Karl Daniel Lidén encapsulates the familiar ambiance that fans have grown to cherish, ensuring "The Cancer Pledge" holds its ground as a paragon within their illustrious discography.
