Band:	Black Tide
Album:	Light From Above
Style:	Heavy metal
Release date:	March 2008

01. Shockwave
02. Shout
03. Warriors Of Time
04. Give Me A Chance
05. Let Me
06. Show Me The Way
07. Enterprise
08. Live Fast Die Young
09. Hit The Lights [Metallica cover]
10. Black Abyss
11. Light From Above
12. Black Widow [UK bonus]
13. Again [iTunes bonus]
14. Rise [Hot Topic bonus]

Black Tide is a young combo from USA and "Light From Above" is their first album. The impressive point of the combo is that all the band members are under 20 years old and obviously they're already really talented. Also this is really funny to read all the comments about the band, like if it was the worst sell-out combo ever known? Obviously these guys are helped by big producers, majors whatever but this witch hunting is also really pathetic. Yes our guys will probably have to write some music a bit more personal in the future but Black Tide is not a bad band?

"Light From Above" is not a really surprising album on a side but the technical level of our young dudes is really impressive. True, everything is a bit cliché with choruses which can clearly be cheesy, this is a bit formatted and I have the feeling that the band (or their label or manager) wanted to do something commercial to attract a lot of metalheads but anyway this is cool to listen to the album. I mean that even if the songs have some "problems" of originality, they're all really catchy and I'm quite sure that a lot of us will finally sing the choruses with a lot of pleasure. I can understand why "Light From Above" is a really controversial album in the end but I would like that all the whiny people, who say that it's just a shame, don't forget that the guys are young and that it's just a first release. Black Tide will maybe become a really good band and I'm sure that we will have good surprises coming from them in the end. If you like Heavy metal a la Maiden (or even Manowar for some choruses) and thrashy Heavy a la Metallica, you'll be happy here (even if those influences are a bit too strong probably).

Of course, "Light From Above" we have a really great production... The artwork, like the music, is also a bit cliché but it fits to the music at least! The most impressive thing here is the musical level of the band members, especially Gabriel Garcia, their leader. His voice, for a young guy, is exceptional and his guitar soli are good and convincing. If it was not this little problem of unoriginality and musical maturity, I'm sure that we could be in front of a great release. As I said before anyway, the guys are good and with time it should be ok, I'm sure of it!

Let's give a chance to this combo. I believe in them and if they're able to give some personality to their next album, I can promise you that it will be a real killer. "Light From Above" is not perfect, a bit formatted but it's a good Heavy/Thrash Metal release nonetheless. If you're not afraid of commercial albums, have a look at it, you'll find great songs and above everything else, really promising musicians!