Tidfall 'Instinct Gate'
Nuclear Blast, 2001
Lord Pale:
Tidfall's brand of Nordic Blackmetal incorporates hybrid elements of many bands, Dimmu Borgir, Myrkskog, and Old Man's Child being the most prominent. A few futuristic themes are added in the artwork and lyrics but they are soon overidden by more traditional blackmetal themes of blood, hell, and damnation. Tidfall are a very tight outfit featuring a snappy drum sound, blackmetal riffs which slow into heavy deathmetal riffs, sorted into various timing changes. Keyboards are well used throughout the album for the most part, but at their worst sound like a direct plagerisation of Dimmu Borgir. Occasionally some Ulver like beat box pieces drop into the middle of 'Instinct Gate's latter tracks which build into some Myrkskog style riffing and creates an interesting sound that could be expanded upon. There is nothing essentially wrong with Instinct Gate apart from its total lack of originality, Tidfall seem quite content to blatantly steal riffs from their blackmetal counterparts. Apart from this, Instinct Gate sports a great production and a clinical style that could well be further exploited to higher realms.
Favourite Tracks - Prophecy Horizon, Domination Complete, My Wrathful Eyes
Mark - 7.5/10 |
