Away Forward Ride the Undertow on Tidal Forces
Toronto’s Away Forward return with Tidal Forces, a six-track release unveiled on February 20, 2026, recorded at Metrolab Recording in November 2024. Compact yet emotionally resonant, the record captures a band rooted in atmosphere, texture, and a distinctly Toronto-inflected take on dream pop and shoegaze.
Formed in Toronto, Ontario, Away Forward embody a sound that feels shaped by the city’s reflective winters and restless creative pulse. Their approach leans into layered guitars, immersive ambience, and melodies that unfold with quiet restraint rather than spectacle. The result is music that feels internal but never distant.
Tidal Forces is performed by Lisa Nighswander on vocals, Greg Chambers and Andrew McAllister on guitars, Barry Gordon Thomas on bass, and Chad Storie on drums. Together, they craft a sonic landscape where dual guitars shimmer and blur at the edges, bass lines anchor the haze with steady warmth, and drums provide subtle propulsion without overpowering the mood.
The production, captured at Metrolab, allows space to breathe. Rather than pushing volume for dramatic effect, the record thrives on nuance. Guitars ripple outward in overlapping waves, sometimes cresting into fuller distortion, sometimes dissolving into softer, reverberated textures. The interplay between Chambers and McAllister gives the album its dynamic movement, creating depth through contrast and layering.
Lisa Nighswander’s vocals sit gently within the mix, present yet integrated into the overall atmosphere. Her delivery carries emotional weight without overt dramatics, reinforcing the introspective core of the songwriting. There is a sense of inward reflection throughout Tidal Forces, with lyrics that touch on shifting emotional states, personal reckoning, and the quiet pull of memory.
Across its six tracks, the album maintains focus. The compositions are concise and deliberate, favouring concentration over excess. Each piece feels carefully shaped, contributing to a cohesive listening experience rather than chasing standalone spectacle. The brevity works in its favour, leaving a lingering impression rather than overstaying its welcome.
Musically, Away Forward draw from dream pop, indie rock, and shoegaze traditions, but their sound avoids heavy nostalgia. Instead, it feels grounded and contemporary, textured without becoming opaque. There is atmosphere, certainly, but also clarity in structure and melody.
Tidal Forces lives up to its title in subtle ways. The songs move like currents beneath the surface, sometimes calm, sometimes quietly surging. The emotional undertow is steady rather than explosive, inviting listeners to drift rather than brace for impact.
With this release, Away Forward solidify their presence within Toronto’s atmospheric rock landscape. Tidal Forces is a measured, immersive statement — a record that trusts texture, mood, and understated emotion to carry its weight long after the final note recedes.
© Thusblog
