NOCTURNAL DEPRESSION formed in France in 2004, and have had quite the long recording career. Their Facebook page didn't come with much information, nor in the promo kit. So, we'll have to let the music do the talking here. "Tides of Despair" is the band's ninth full-length album, and contains eight new tracks. "Drowning Myself" is an opening short instrumental. Waves crash in the background while keys build a solemn but tender sound.

It segues into "Tides of Despair," where the melody line continues with a little expansion. The vocals are pure hatred and anger, and the juxtaposition with the melody is interesting. It takes a bit of a dark detour just after the half-way mark. "Living in a Mass Grave" opens with a gentle guitar riff and a mysterious sound. It slowly gains in depressive sounds and despondency as it moves along, with vile vocals. It picks up in pace after the half-way mark, with lead guitar notes carrying the melody. "Solitude and Despair Again" is a very somber offering, featuring clean and doleful guitar notes that repeat over and over, followed by anguished screams. Solitude and despair indeed.

"Slit my Wrists" is a slower song, with a lumbering pace, almost Doom like in its delivery, but with harsh vocals of course. It carries a heavy emotional weight as well. "Farewell Letter" is a shorter track, with both hope and despair trading off in the guitar riffs. Obviously it's a plea as well, from the title, and the vocals are absolutely desolate. "Muse of Suicide" follows a similar pattern of slow, crushing death and unrelenting vocals. The desolation and loneliness are on full display here. "Reveries" closes the album. Charming piano notes litter the landscape, like the last leaves of fall scattering over a graveyard on a cold and windy day.

Overall, I really like the sound here. It's as desolate as anything I've heard in a while. From the name of the band to the song titles, you can tell that this is going to be all about the hard emotions...despair, loneliness, despondence, and utter grief. They really do a nice job portraying your final moments in a cold, dark world.