Emerging from the Miami suburb of Kendall, Florida, Black Tide was a heavy metal band that captured significant attention in the late 2000s for their youthful energy and classic metal-inspired sound, most notably for their single "Shockwave." Formed in 2004 by a group of teenagers, the band's core was built around the prodigious talent of guitarist and vocalist Gabriel Garcia. Their rise was meteoric, landing a deal with the major label Interscope Records and releasing their debut album, Light from Above, in March 2008 when Garcia was just 15 years old. The album, which blended the melodic sensibilities of 1980s heavy metal with a modern rock edge, debuted at number 73 on the Billboard 200 chart and positioned the young band as a notable force in the genre's revival.

Following their debut, Black Tide spent extensive time on the road, building a reputation as a formidable live act. They toured with established rock and metal acts like Avenged Sevenfold, Bullet for My Valentine, and All That Remains, gaining exposure to larger audiences. Their sophomore album, Post Mortem, arrived in 2011 and showcased a heavier, more aggressive direction. While it maintained their signature guitar work, the album reflected a band evolving its sound amidst a changing musical landscape. The subsequent years saw a shift toward independent releases, with the Bite the Bullet EP arriving in 2013 and their final studio album, Chasing Shadows, released in 2015.

In July 2016, Garcia announced that Black Tide was effectively over, as he intended to focus on his solo musical endeavors. The band's story, however, took an unexpected turn nearly a decade later. In January 2026, Black Tide reunited, teasing the promise of new original music and revisiting old projects through their social media channels. This surprise announcement reignited interest in the band's catalog and suggested a new chapter for the musicians who first made their mark as metal prodigies from Florida.