No Remorse Records on 26th March has released the debut self-titled album of brand new German band Servants to the Tide, enriching the epic doom/heavy metal scene with one more high-quality release. And though, it was recorded from 2018 to 2020, they have emerged from the shadows only now.
Servants to the Tide was created by multi-instrumentalist Leonid Rubinstein, known from the mdm/folk band Craving, in a collaboration with singer Stephan Wehrbein (Screaming Souls) and drummer Lucas Freise (Eyes Wide Open). And this band is like a modern tribute to their esteemed iconic heroes While Heaven Wept. Their follow the traditions of doom metal origins in their music, confidently and smoothly, adding some extra melodic melancholy.
The perfect sound and clean lines of every instrument can really easily blend into this music so naturally. Rhythmically “Servants to the Tide” is heavy metal release, based on classical rock and metal principles, but with a strict and painful slowness, as well as sorrowful aura and tragic mood it steadily merges with doom metal. This album is very far from what Leonid was used to do in his ex-band Craving, but even here some echoes of his past are reflected on this album, like ethnic elements, popping up from time to time (intro “Departing from Miklagard” or “North Sea”). The level of epicness also varies, the most epic song is definitely “Your Sun will never shine for Me”, but “On Marsh and Bones (The Face of Black Palmyra)” is a sturdy heavy metal classics. The longer the song, the more mood changes it undergoes, but these alterations aren’t too drastic, so it flows so smoothly and gradually forward. The guitar riffs create a melodic pattern in a primitive way, but short and simple solos attach more traditional approach. The sorrowful, but confident voice of Stephen has a husky charm, so suitable to doom metal, and its emotional intensity also depends on the mood of the songs – on “A Wayward Son’s Return” he sings dispassionately and flatly, but “North Sea” is overwhelmed with emotions and melancholic despair. But the last song “A Servant to the Tide” is a real bliss for the weary ears, offering some diversity, like sad piano solo from Gatekeeper‘s Jeff Black or lucid growling of Luc Francois (Mind Patrol).
The music of Servants to the Tide isn’t mellow or boring, the monotonous calmness of the genre doesn’t spoil their tragic spirit or oppressing tension, the cover art also displays the same emotions, the moment of the storm at sea, the tranquility of the hellish outburst. Yes, no doubt, that with such a careful and detailed work, Servants to the Tide really deserve to be compared with While Heaven Wept.
Release date: March 26, 2021
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