If you take just one thing from this annual endeavour, I hope that it is how much of a global phenomenon metal now is. Gone are the days when foreign language acts were a rarity and the vast majority of bands hailed from these shores or from the states. Eternal Storm are Spanish and trade in symphonic Blackened Metal. However there is a real refinement to their style and particularly to this album. Full of experimentation and gradual shifts in texture, “Come the Tide” is both restrained and subtle. It is measured and sparing in its approach, which means that when it goes big and noisy (and it does on a number of occasions) it has added impact. “Come the Tide” proves that less is more and that you can do anthemic and epic without losing your composure.

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