Tidfall Instinct Gate CD - Import

The black metal scene produces many bands, so many that it is hard to believe that a formula has actually developed for this music. But it has, and the blueprints for the genre start to become clearer as time goes by. Take Tidfall as an example. On "My Wrathful Eyes," the third song on 2002's Instinct Gate, the band illustrates the pattern quite well. A memorable opening riff that is revisited here and there, demonic vocal effects for the singer, hyperactive drumming that follows the guitar part and tries to double-time it, and the ever-present synthesizer that pokes its head up every so often -- these are the elements that make up not only this song but the entire album. Tidfall is quite good at performing this sort of music, showing all the necessary chops and rage to make it a proper platter of death. And the album is not half-bad, especially when the band experiments with industrial sounds and techniques. But, much like Fear Factory's first album, they only hint at these industrial leanings and often fall back on the clichés of their own genre instead of experimenting further. They have the potential to grow and become a very original force in their field but, as of this album, Tidfall is simply another black metal band in a genre that grows ever larger. ~ Bradley Torreano

Re-release of the second full-length album from 2002 by one of the most promising names in today's black metal music. 'Instinct Gate' proved to be a black metal masterpiece, joining harsh, death metal vocals with crushing guitars, but also with an almost prog-metal technical precision and symphonic arrangements. No wonder that the group was soon compared to Dimmu Borgir. However, Tidfall offered music that was far more complex and brutal. Reviewers soon begun comparing the band to other acts, such as Old Man's Child, Lunaris and Hollenthon. The album gained many positive opinions and with such brilliant songs as 'My Wrathful Eyes' and the opening 'Children of Man', it proved that black metal was doing more than fine. New digipak edition, limited to numerated 2000 copies. Digitally remastered using 24-Bit process on golden disc.

Recorded in March 2001.

Personnel: Drako Arcane, Abraxas (guitar); Aftaneldr (synthesizer, sampler); Sorg (bass guitar, background vocals); Zarthon (drums, programming, background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Sorg; Zarthon; Thorb Jorn Akkerhaugen.

Tidfall: Drako Arcane, Abraxas (guitar); Aftaneldr (synthesizer, samples); Sorg (bass, background vocals); Zarthon (drums, programming, background vocals).