An optical tape data storage is disclosed. An optical tape includes a substrate in a linear thin film shape and a recording layer deposited on the substrate. An irreversible optically detectable change is formed in the recording layer upon application of energy to the recording layer such that data is recorded on the recording layer by forming optically detectable changes. The recording layer may comprise a metal, a metal alloy, a metal oxide, a metalloid, or any combination thereof. The optical tape may further include an adhesion promotion layer for improving adhesion of the recording layer and the substrate, a reflective layer for providing optical contrast to an adjacent layer, and/or an absorptive layer positioned adjacent to the recording layer to absorb ablatable material not entirely ablated during ablation.