Tideless
Eye of Water


4.0
excellent

Review

by Sunnyvale STAFF
September 13th, 2023 | 31 replies


Release Date: 09/15/2023 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Droom on!

I was intrigued, back in 2021, by the release of Dream Unending’s debut record, Tide Turns Eternal, a self-professed “dream doom” release blending the heaviness and ferocity of death doom metal with gentler flavors such as shoegaze, psychedelia, and prog. The band’s 2022 sophomore effort, Song of Salvation, captivated me even more, again demonstrating the group’s novel musical formula, while substantially upping the awesomeness of the results.

Since that time, I’ve become aware of another band exploring comparable musical terrain. Tideless are a San Diego collective, emerging from the death doom sphere but citing a list of influences heavy on the icons of shoegaze and prog (Slowdive and King Crimson among them). Don’t think of them as just a knock-off of Dream Unending’s promising take on this style, though - indeed, Tideless’ first foray into this brand of experimentation, Adrift in Grief, came out in 2021 a few months before the previously-referenced Tide Turns Eternal. Now, with the release of Tideless’ second LP, Eye of Water, I’m confident that ‘dream doom”, or “droom”, as I like to call it (I’m a funny guy), is on the path towards becoming a real movement in the contemporary metal scene.

If Tideless’ debut LP Adrift in Grief was a strong effort with a lot of potential (it was), then Eye of Water sees the band throwing caution to the wind, creating a sprawling record (around seventy-five minutes in total) while aiming to maximize both the heavier and softer aspects of their chosen sound. The results might be a bit too meandering for their own good on occasion, but this is an excellent album nonetheless, and a notable step up from the group’s initial attempt.

The aquatic themes of the band and album name are well-placed. Throughout Eye of Water, despite its varied moments, an oceanic vibe permeates. Whether it is the storm-wracked cacophony in “Laurel of Victory” (the record’s most definitively “metal” track) or the soothingly lush tones of “Drowning (19° 40′ 49″ N, 99° 0′ 36″ W)” (fittingly, for this long-winded release, a near-seven minute instrumental intro), at all times, the listener feels like they are sailing the seas, whether those seas are tumultuous or serene. In most cases, within a given song, the weather report changes frequently (a good thing, given three of the album’s five tunes are between fourteen and twenty-five minutes in duration), flowing relatively seamlessly from sleek post-rock/shoegaze sections into lumbering doom segments bolstered by ghastly death growls. Eye of Water is at its finest when all of these diverse influences strike at once - the period around the eight-and-a-half minute mark in “Fields at Dawn” in which the most pristine backdrop this side of The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place is interrupted by lead vocalist Kyle Armendariz bellowing over suddenly soaring guitar leads stands as one of my favorite musical moments of the year - but throughout, the album remains engaging. Be prepared to commit your attention span for the long haul (after all, have I mentioned this is a seventy-five minute album built upon a foundation of doom metal, post-rock, and shoegaze?), but Eye of Water is a wonderful take on what appears to be an emerging micro-genre. To paraphrase Steven Tyler, droom on!



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user ratings (25)
3.6
great


Comments:Add a Comment 
Sunnyvale
Staff Reviewer
September 13th 2023


6201 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Album is out this Friday, Sep 15th.



https://tideless.bandcamp.com/album/eye-of-water





Sunnyvale
Staff Reviewer
September 13th 2023


6201 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

PS - I've just learned that "droom" is the Dutch word for "dream", so sorry for any confusion, Sputnik users in the Netherlands. You learn something every day!

Thibs
September 13th 2023


3031 Comments


great review. will check this out

Hawks
September 13th 2023


94232 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Gotta hear this.

naughtcturnal
September 14th 2023


2750 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

holy shit the song thats on their bandcamp page is fucking amazing

Hawks
September 14th 2023


94232 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Yeah hype for this. Jammed their first album and it's fantastic. m/

Sunnyvale
Staff Reviewer
September 14th 2023


6201 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Cheers folks!



@naughtcturnal, the single is probably my favorite track here but if you like it, can't see you not finding all of this broadly to your taste.



@Hawks, yeah, the first album is quite good but I think this is a solid step up.

cloakanddagger
September 14th 2023


769 Comments


Sounds interesting, will definitely check as I really like Dream Unending.

cloakanddagger
September 14th 2023


769 Comments


Oh damn naughtcturnal is right about the song on their bandcamp right now, what an amazing song!
This reminds me of Ahab the most but they definitely aren't a funeral doom band, it's a really cool vibe they've got going on.

Gmork89
September 15th 2023


8785 Comments


"Dream Doom", that has me curious.

BallsToTheWall
September 15th 2023


51607 Comments


Awesome review and killer album so far.

trilo
September 15th 2023


6641 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

sold me the moment you mentioned Dream Unending, queueing this up

calmrose
September 15th 2023


7027 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

sold me the moment you mentioned Dream Unending, queueing this up [2]



heavy breathing intensifies

Hawks
September 15th 2023


94232 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Jamming now. m/

ShadowRemains
September 15th 2023


28069 Comments


interesting band recommendations, this sounds like a jam

Hawks
September 15th 2023


94232 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Deathgaze is now a genre. Holy fuck I've never heard something like this.

naughtcturnal
September 15th 2023


2750 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

ordered the dvd case 2-CD edition of this. Will wait patiently to listen in full

calmrose
September 16th 2023


7027 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

currently jamming Adrift in Grief first before jumping on this



sounding awesome so far

Sevengill
September 16th 2023


12550 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

this is exactly what I needed today

Azazzel
September 16th 2023


940 Comments


def loving this
@Hawks have you heard Dream Unending as others have mentioned? They made some big influential waves in the scene with their dreamy take on DM. Song of Salvation was a frequent 2022 list topper. Seen numerous bands cite them as an influence



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