To say that this debut from Dayton, OH's Kenoma has been a long time coming would be a huge understatement. The Tides Will Prevail has been 11 years in the making; the instrumental doom/post-rock band suffered numerous member changes that halted all progress following a 2006 split with Mouth of the Architect. However, The Tides Will Prevail certainly makes up for lost time — the record features 50 captivating minutes of heavy sludge-infused riffs and beautiful atmospheric tones.
The five-song release starts off with crushing distorted rhythms on "33rd Parallel," which slowly build up a solemn vibe before the track transitions completely with soaring melodic guitar lines that lead into increasingly harsh riffs. "1913" features layers of simple, yet powerful, tones that get more and more despondent as the nine-minute track unfolds. The gloomy dissonance of "Curse of Tecumseh" contrasts the dreamy synths and progressive soundscapes of "Sleeping Prophet."
Lastly, "Nature of Empire" finishes the album with hypnotic guitars that intertwine with huge doom-filled grooves, culminating in a discordant dirge. The Tides Will Prevail is an extremely solid debut, featuring thoughtful structures and various dynamic textures, as well as stunning visuals to match the music's melancholic, yet peaceful, atmosphere.
(Translation Loss)The five-song release starts off with crushing distorted rhythms on "33rd Parallel," which slowly build up a solemn vibe before the track transitions completely with soaring melodic guitar lines that lead into increasingly harsh riffs. "1913" features layers of simple, yet powerful, tones that get more and more despondent as the nine-minute track unfolds. The gloomy dissonance of "Curse of Tecumseh" contrasts the dreamy synths and progressive soundscapes of "Sleeping Prophet."
Lastly, "Nature of Empire" finishes the album with hypnotic guitars that intertwine with huge doom-filled grooves, culminating in a discordant dirge. The Tides Will Prevail is an extremely solid debut, featuring thoughtful structures and various dynamic textures, as well as stunning visuals to match the music's melancholic, yet peaceful, atmosphere.