Black Tide
American heavy metal band formed in Kendall, Florida in 2004.
Black Tide was an American heavy metal band from Kendall, Florida, formed in 2004. The final lineup consisted of Gabriel Garcia (lead guitar, vocals), Austin Diaz (rhythm guitar), and Cody Paige (drums). The band originally formed under the name "Radio" with Gabriel and his older brother Raul Garcia, later adding Alex Nuñez and Zachary Sandler. After Raul left, Steven Spence joined on drums. The members' young ages—Gabriel was 11 at formation—helped them attract label attention. After a short demo deal with Atlantic Records in 2005, they were signed to Interscope Records by mid-2007.
Their debut album, *Light from Above*, was released on March 18, 2008, when Gabriel Garcia was 15. Recorded in Chicago with producer Johnny K, it included a cover of Metallica's "Hit the Lights." The album debuted at number 73 on the Billboard 200, selling 11,400 copies in its first week. The band performed on *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* in March 2008. After guitarist Alex Nuñez left in summer 2008, he was replaced by Austin Diaz. Black Tide toured on Ozzfest (though removed from the second stage due to age restrictions), and later supported acts including Avenged Sevenfold, Bullet for My Valentine, Trivium, and Iron Maiden. They also appeared on the Warped Tour and the Kerrang! Relentless Energy Drink Tour.
Their second album, *Post Mortem*, was released in 2011. In 2013, the EP *Bite the Bullet* came out on InnerCat Music Group, a Miami-based label. Their final album, *Chasing Shadows*, was released in 2015. In July 2016, Gabriel Garcia announced the band was over as he focused on a solo project.
Quick Facts
- Landscape
- yes
- Alias
- Radio (2004–2007)
- Origin
- Kendall, Florida, U.S.
- Genre
- Heavy metal / metalcore / alternative metal
- Years Active
- 2004–2016 · 2026–present
- Label
- Interscope, Pavement
- Current Members
- Gabriel Garcia · Raul Garcia
- Past Members
- Alex Nuñez / Spencer Osborne / Austin Diaz / Tim D'Onofrio / Steven Spence / Zakk Sandler / Ronny Gutierrez / Cody Paige
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Black Tide was founded in 2004 under the name 'Radio' by lead guitarist Gabriel Garcia and his older brother Raul Garcia. Raul recruited rhythm guitarist Alex Nuñez and later bassist Zachary Sandler. After Raul's departure, the band recruited drummer Steven Spence. The band signed a demo deal with Atlantic Records in 2005 as Radio, then signed to Interscope Records in mid-2007. Their debut album Light from Above was released on March 18, 2008, debuting at number 73 on the Billboard 200 with 11,400 copies sold in its first week. The band performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2008.
In 2011, the band released their second album Post Mortem, which sold 5,800 copies in its first week and debuted at number 198 on the Billboard 200. The band released the EP Just Another Drug in 2012 and Bite the Bullet in 2013 through InnerCat Music Group. In 2015, they released their last album Chasing Shadows. In July 2016, Gabriel Garcia announced the band was over and he was concentrating on his solo project.
Reader's Guide
Black Tide's significance lies in their emergence as a young heavy metal band signed to a major label, Interscope Records, while their members were still teenagers. Their debut album Light from Above received critical praise for blending thrash, traditional metal, and elements of 1980s glam/hair metal, and it helped them secure high-profile tours including Ozzfest, Mayhem Festival, and support slots for Avenged Sevenfold, Bullet for My Valentine, and Iron Maiden. The band's early success demonstrated that youthful talent could break into the mainstream metal scene. However, lineup changes—including the departure of original guitarist Alex Nuñez and later drummer Steven Spence and bassist Zakk Sandler—and a shift to independent releases on InnerCat Music Group marked a decline in commercial momentum. Their legacy includes a Kerrang! Award for Best Newcomer and a dedicated fan base that welcomed their 2026 reunion.
Did You Know?
- Black Tide's debut album Light from Above was released when lead guitarist Gabriel Garcia was 15 years old.
- The band was removed from the second stage of Ozzfest because the stage was sponsored by Jägermeister and all members were under the legal drinking age.
- Black Tide won the Kerrang! Award for Best Newcomer.
- The band reunited in January 2026, teasing new original music and old projects.
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