Once in a while a band comes along that you know  instinctively knows has huge potential and, after the first of many listens to Back Tide’s debut album “Light From Above” this young America band fall squarely into that category.

The first thing that strikes you about Black Tide is their ability, thanks to the music, to whisk you back into the eighties, to a time when Metallica, Megadeth and Iron Maiden were forging ahead with their own unique sounds and styles. I had to keep checking the bands ages as the music feels like it was written straight from that “golden era”. Opening track “Shockwave” has already been making waves (no pun intended) in the hard rock community and was even picked up by I-tunes as their single of the week. It’s a punchy and very catchy hard rocker with an infectious chorus and a song that works well in the live environment, as anyone who has seen the band on the current Avenged Sevenfold tour would agree.

“Shout” and “Warriors Of Time” show the band wearing their Iron Maiden influence well and truly on their sleeves, especially “Warriors Of Time” which is prime time Maiden with it’s harmony guitars and bouncy rhythms. However “Warriors…” also sees a very obvious Metallica vibe creeping in as well, especially on the up tempo section. “Give Me A Chance” is a very effective mid-tempo number that brings to mind Kings-X during the verses, whereas “Let Me” is more obviously Ozzy Osbourne influenced, think “Miracle Man”, due to the opening guitar riff. It’s a solid song chock full of meaty guitar riffing and for once no Maiden, Metallica or Thin Lizzy vibe which made it sound more original.

Elsewhere “Show Me The Way” is a straight-ahead rocker with a very Eddie Van Halen like solo and “Enterprise” is another song that borrows from the Maiden and Trivium school of rock and at times does feel a bit ordinary. “Live Fast Die Young” though sees the band getting into the rock n roll spirit and including a guitar solo that has a wonderful Angus Young feel. To emphasize the Metallica influence there's even a cover of “Hit The Lights”.  It's certainly a spirited and feisty rendition that even comes complete with the guitar hero workout at the end.

“Light From Above” is a very strong debut album and, if you consider the band's young ages one begins to wonder just what can be achieved in the future. All the ingredients are there and, as they gain more experience and develop their instrumental chops, I think it’s safe to say that Black Tide will become a very able musical force.

Let us know your views on Light From Above

Track Listing

Shockwave
Shout
Warriors Of Time
Give Me A Chance
Let Me
Show Me The Way
Enterprise
Live Fast Die Young
Hit The Lights
Black Abyss
Light From Above
Black Widow

Line Up

Gabriel Garcia - Vocals/Guitars
Alex Nunez - Guitars
Zakk Sandler  - Bass
Steven Spence  - Drums