Tideless – Eye of Water

Written by on 25-10-2023 at 23:39.

People seeking the ultimate zen feeling swear by floating. Floating? Drifting in a sealed cabin filled with water heated to body temperature, saturated with magnesium chloride. It doesn’t reach the 33% salt concentration of the Dead Sea, but it’s more than enough to keep you buoyant on the surface. Completely isolated from external stimuli, it seems to be an ideal moment to let body and mind relax. Could it be as relaxing, soothing, and intense as the album Eye of Water by Tideless?

The music of Tideless falls somewhere between doom and death metal, with emotionally charged shoegaze and occasional hints of post-rock. Then it’s given a highly cinematic atmospheric treatment. A musical comparison to Dream Unending is inevitable, except that Eye of Water is even more enveloped in a thick layer of ambiance. The band described their musical style as dream-doom. Perhaps this should become a permanent term?

Melancholic riffs, disorienting patterns, mystical and atmospheric passages, dark melodies, and profoundly deep vocals color this sea of sound. At times, Tideless opts for delicately crafted riffs, intensely accompanied by pitch-black vocals (Lush.Serene.Dissolved), while at other times the quintet enters dreamy territory, often for extended periods (Oblations For The Sun), all without losing sight of the death metal aspect. In Laurel Of Victory, all these elements come together beautifully; it’s a true play of tides, a dance between ebb and flow, between melancholy and hope. Despite the songs being built around lengthy passages, they never become dull. For instance, Fields at Dawn starts with an intriguing, enigmatic beginning, followed by compelling intensity and menacing riffs. Midway, there’s room for a serene, transcendent section, after which intense outbursts reassert the song’s power until the mystical takes over toward the end, letting a keyboard emotionally carry the song to its conclusion. Fascinating until the end.

The new Eye of Water follows in the footsteps of their debut album, Adrift In Time (2021), but the compositions on this new album are more intricate, lush, aesthetic, and captivating. This is also reflected in the vocals, which are deeper, heavier, and more mystical compared to the debut album.

With a duration of seventy-five minutes spread across five tracks, you’re guaranteed to have lengthy, sprawling songs. Only the opening track, Drowning (19° 40′ 49″ N, 99° 0′ 36″ W), is shorter than ten minutes. The rest all surpass that mark, with the closing piece, Lush.Serene.Dissolved, standing out at a whopping twenty-four minutes. It could have been slightly less extensive in places, but it’s not distracting at all. Regardless, Eye of Water is undeniably colossal and expansive. As far as the eye can see, the water extends to the horizon. This is an album that won’t be embraced by everyone, but if you’re willing to invest the time and energy, the songs will gradually reveal their hidden treasures. If you rush through the water, much of its beauty will remain hidden beneath the surface and pass you by.

Eye of Water by Tideless is not only an auditory spectacle of ambiance, power, and serenity but above all, a remarkable album. Snuggle up comfortably on your couch or in a cozy chair, put on your headphones, close your eyes, press play, and let yourself be carried away by the currents of this soothing water.

Score:

85/100

Label:

Chaos Records, 2023

Tracklisting:

  1. Drowning (19° 40′ 49″ N, 99° 0′ 36″ W)
  2. Fields At Dawn
  3. Oblations For The Sun
  4. Laurel Of Victory
  5. Serene.Dissolved

Line-up:

  • Kyle Joseph Armendariz – Drums, Vocals
  • Carlos Arturo Gaitan – Guitar
  • Aaron Clarke – Guitar
  • Javier Monreal – Bass, synthesizers, keyboards
  • Diego Gonzalez – Backing Vocals

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