SERVANTS TO THE TIDE is a doom metal band from Germany, who formed in 2018. “Where Time Will Come To Die,” is their second full-length album. Ever since I reviewed their 2021 self-titled debut album (and giving it much praise), I have been waiting very impatiently for their next one. All the elements I praised them for previously (melody, catchy song writing) have returned but amplified tenfold. Since their debut, two members have been added to their ranks: Sören Reinholdt on bass and Katharina Großbongardt on guitars. Both offer fantastic performances in their roles and have obviously helped breathe further life into the band. They take a more traditional approach to doom but with its stellar production and deft balance of melody, “Where Time Will Come To Die,” doesn’t sound dated at all. As previously mentioned, their songs remain catchy as hell–very smart songwriting to put together such melancholic songs while still making them hummable. The overall sound is more full, vibrant, expansive and the production makes all this sound like a dream but still gives plenty of bite when needed.

The album opens with “With Starlight We Ride,” and it contains some good ol heavy metal elements alongside their trusty brand of doom. The song is high energy, never losing its luster even as it reaches into the atmosphere…a perfect opening song if I've ever heard one. The chorus is massive too but doesn’t take all the focus, allowing the song to breathe naturally. “The Trial,” is one of the shortest songs on the album but it’s one of my favorites the band has done. It’s a well balanced song and represents what their sound is about. It’s emotive and gripping as well, I was hanging onto every second. The highlight of the album is then nearly 11 minute long “If The Stars Should Appear,” and even if the rest of the album was bad, this song would make the album worth all the time it takes to listen. Between the clean piano opening that collides with Stephan’s theatrical vocals and the melodic riffs that begin the first two minutes of the song, I was immediately pulled into this epic. Around the three and a half minute mark, a shadow arrives over the music and it gets a little darker, a bit more venomous. After the seven minute mark, galloping riffs and soaring vocals once again provide their sound with a cadence that stays in the head.

With that being said, it still has a strong finish with the min-epic, the nearly 10 minute title track. The riffs in the beginning are stunning, melding with the keys effortlessly. When Stephan cries, “When the stars have lost their light,” a chill goes up my spine. The thickest, most sinister sounding riffs on the album are in this song—ultra heavy stuff, considering the style. While the first half takes a darker approach, the more melodic second half brings the album full circle. Fans of non-extreme doom will eat this album right up. If you haven’t heard them or, perhaps, you’re new to doom and looking for a starting point, “Where Time Will Come To Die” will hit the spot. I scored the previous album an 8 but I’m giving this one a 9 because it is an obvious upgrade to everything that makes them great.