BLACK TIDE

Sophomore album "Post Mortem" is a coming of age of sorts for the young lads in Miami's BLACK TIDE. Debut album "Light from Above" laid the groundwork with a modern metallic attack that was somewhat inconsistent, indicative of a group of youngsters interpreting the works of their heroes. "Post Mortem" sees the band taking an even more commercial, polished approach to modern metal, one that should please those of more accessible metal tastes, even if it will annoy the purists.

The thrash and aggressive metal underpinnings remain, complete with some scorching solos from vocalist Gabriel Garcia, but it is the high gloss harmonies and soaring, at times pop flavored choruses on which BLACK TIDE have concentrated their efforts. Perhaps that touring with BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE and AVENGED SEVENFOLD rubbed off on the players, as it is those acts with which BLACK TIDE have more in common than units of a more thrash and traditional heavy metal variety. BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE's Matt Tuck even guests on opening tack "Ashes", a song that rather exemplifies the band's formula this time around; some tough, hard riffed instrumentation, but it is the slickness and polish of the sound on which the emphasis is placed. On songs like "That Fire" the music is met in the middle, while the pop sensibility on "Let it Out" and "Fight Til The Bitter End" reigns supreme, though neither is devoid of brawn. Regardless of listener style preferences, there is no denying the addictive melody and fiery delivery of cuts like "Honest Eyes". There are moments that may make one recall a slicker SHADOWS FALL, such as on "Walking Dead Man", some of which has to do with Garcia's display of a more aggressive vocal side in parts.

The new disc does lose some steam during the second half, as a few of the tracks begin sounding a little too formulaic/generic, "Take it Easy" and "Lost in the Sound" two such examples. A sappy, ballad-esque track called "Into the Sky" doesn't help by closing the album in a way that sounds forced. But for the most part, "Post Mortem" succeeds as an album of accessible metal that may pay big dividends for BLACK TIDE, considering the desires of a still sizeable audience of listeners that prefer smooth surfaces over rough edges.