October Tide

Born in Stockholm in the mid-1990s around Fred Norrman and Jonas Renkse, who at that time were also linked to Katatonia, October Tide initially positioned itself within a dark and melancholic Swedish death-doom, characterized by slow tempos, thick guitars and a songwriting focused on atmosphere. The band recorded Rain Without End in 1997 followed by Grey Dawn in 1999 before a first split, during which October Tide remained discreet, without real live activity. Revived in 2009 by Fred Norrman with a new lineup, October Tide shifted its approach toward a more nerve-wracking sound, where the original death-doom blends more with melodic death metal, without losing its cold and introspective tone. This second period yielded the albums A Thin Shell in 2010, Tunnel of No Light in 2013, Winged Waltz in 2016, In Splendor Below in 2019 and The Cancer Pledge in 2023. Through lineup changes, notably with the arrival of vocalist Alexander Högbom in 2012, October Tide has consolidated a formula of melodic riffs, raspy vocals and variations between the doom heaviness and more direct tension, on discs as well as on European metal stages.