Servants To The Tide – Where Time Will Come To Die
Servants To The Tide – Where Time Will Come To Die
No Remorse Records
Release Date: 19/06/2024
Running Time: 50:19
Review by Rory Bentley
9/10
There is a Goldilocks zone of Trad and Epic Heavy Metal that I require bands in the genre to reside in in order for me to enjoy it. It’s hard to quantify exactly, and a lot of it comes down to feel but the band that hits that sweet spot for me the most is Atlantean Kodex. Just like the band I’ll be coming onto shortly, the genre tags I’ve attributed to them are somewhat crude and barely scratch the surface of their varied influences, however the basics of great Heavy Metal that my bald Hardcore-loving ass resonates with is encased in the foundations of the Bavarian bards. There is a grandeur and scope to the music and lyrics, the production is earthy, a little unpolished and full of life, and the vocals are warm, powerful and impassioned. Many bands have some of these elements in abundance but few combine each flavour to achieve this perfect balance. On their sophomore release “Where Time Will Come To Die”, Servants To The Tide get pretty damn close to this steel-clad nirvana.
Although billed as an Epic Doom outfit, the German quintet are a far cry from the spooky, bleak theatricality of Candlemass and co, despite there being a clear through line of influence. Their sound is brighter, more triumphant and closer to the sword-wielding battle hymns of “Hammerheart” Bathory, and compositionally they err more towards the progressive than the crushing (though they definitely have sick riffs to spare). In fact, when opener and single ‘With Starlight We Ride’ kicks in with its pounding NWOBHM riff and sword-swinging bluster, you’d be forgiven for wondering if you’ve put the right album on. But although it’s about as Doomy as an ice cream in the park on a sunny day, it’s a glorious way to usher in the record. The choral chants of the backing vocals are only surpassed in gravitas by the soaring lungs of Stephan Wehrbein, who is a powerhouse throughout the record.
That Epic Doom tag makes a little more sense on the majestic ‘Sunrise in Eden’, which slows down the pace while adding some serious weight. As the band spreads their wings and gives ideas more time to breathe the results are stunning, with gorgeous melodies, impassioned vocals and a shimmering elegance as the story unfolds. It is rare that a composition as sprawling and intricate is able to cram in such strong hooks as well and the chorus of this song totally sold me on the album the moment I heard it.
But it’s not all flowery melodies and swords and steel, if you’re looking for a big slice of beef with your campfire tales then ‘The Trial’ will take you to chugsville by way of riff city as the band prove that they can go when the moment calls for it. Wehrbein is on top form here as well, channelling the might of classic Halford with a thundering mid range and some precision-placed piercing shrieks that stay the right side of bombastic without hitting the shores of cheeseville.
Those still wondering where the Epic Doom is going to make a full, unfiltered appearance will be satiated by ‘White Wanderer’ and its leaden power chords and lumbering pace. Largely bass-lead, the song has excellent dynamics and strikes a nice balance between Dio Sabbath and My Dying Bride, melodic but menacing and dripping with drama. Coupled with the sprawling and similarly Doomy ‘If The Stats Should Appear’, it represents a sweet-spot on the album where the balance of Trad Metal and gut-punching braun meld perfectly. It is also at this point that my biggest bugbear with the record is at its most prominent- the mix.
Although a relatively minor issue that I have since been able to look past, I really feel the album would benefit from the guitars being much further forward. As fantastic as the vocals are, they overpower the instrumental work in far too many spots, which sometimes robs the songs of the full impact of the excellent riffs on display. Also they sometimes feel like they’ve been plonked on top of the music, the more pristine and clinical approach contrasting with the earthier, more analogue production of the rest of the band. It’s certainly not enough to significantly detract from my enjoyment of the album, but things like this are the difference between a 9 and a 10 when I’m dishing out scores.
One thing I certainly cannot fault is the way the album closes, with the piano-lead duo of ‘Towards Zero’ and the title track. As well as typically excellent vocal melodies, the lead-work here is at its peak. The grizzled storyteller vibes Stephen gives out on the mic are suitably next level as well, his voice laced with grit while still retaining the dramatic power to carry the song forward. Again, could do with those riffs barking a little louder in the mix but I’ll settle for cranking up my speakers until Mrs B tells me off.
It’s so hard to find a Trad Metal-leaning album that I can make it through to the end without at least one aspect grinding my gears, but here Servants To The Tide have produced something that will potentially be regarded as a future genre classic. The most exciting thing is I reckon they’re just getting started.
Servants To The Tide – With Starlight We Ride Official Video
TRACKLISTING:
01. With Starlight We Ride
02. Sunrise In Eden
03. The Trial (CD only bonus track)
04. White Wanderer
05. If The Stars Should Appear
– Act I: Nothing But Cloudless Sky
– Act II: The Days of Ill-Winged Idols
– Act III: Marching To The End Of The World
06. Towards Zero
07. Where Time Will Come To Die
LINE-UP:
Stephan Wehrbein – Vocals
Leonid Rubinstein – Guitars
Katharina Großbongardt – Guitars
Sören Reinholdt – Bass
Lucas Freise – Drums
LINKS:
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