Release Date: August 10th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Dead Man Talking - Tracklist
1.Sands 02:34
2.Rumour 03:06
3.Adrift 03:08
4.Pyramids 03:51
5.Peaks 05:06
Members
Marf - Guitars
Mafro - Guitars
Luke - Bass
Matt - Drums
Review
Dead Man Talking is the debut EP from Post-Rock/Stoner Rock instrumentalists Hostile Tides where the band are influenced by the likes of QOTSA, Long Distance Calling and Russian Circles which gives this band a whole lot of different attitude throughout their debut EP. The music is action packed and superbly played throughout with Hostile Tides developing a classic bouncy Stoner Rock sound that’s levelled out by a solid Progressive Post-Rock theme.
There’s even shades of KYUSS developing within the heavier and fast-paced surroundings of the superb opening track of Sands. This is a very short little number but it moves along at a great speed with the band laying down their creative building blocks very early on with the music having the right amount of Post-Rock aggression with even subtle moments of jazzy movements.
Second song Rumour feels like a stripped back Post-Rock track with little shades of Desert/Stoner Rock melodies bursting from the seams. There’s some Punk-ish sounds that develop within the later stages of the track and off-beat chants appearing along the way. This is quite an experimental song in many ways but it contains an intriguing way of playing a solid Instrumental sound that moves quietly and confidently throughout the Stoner Rock and Post-Rock passages that appear here.
Third track Adrift allows Hostile Tides to drift further into the Alt-Rock persona with dreamy passages of intricate Psychedelic Rock emerging with the song having a sludgy bassline courtesy of Luke’s great bass playing. The ambient delivery is razor sharp without being heavy but the band once again wander into different shades of Heavy Stoner Rock with that heavy jazzy sound appearing once more. The song is perhaps the most daring that’s contained on the EP.
The final two tracks of Pyramids and Peaks offer the most experimental and progressive moments on the record with Hostile Tides showcasing a great way of playing through the “QUIET vs HEAVY” and “SLOW vs FAST” dynamics of their music. The song is actually quite fun despite the gloomy Post-Rock pretence that holds things together.
Peaks is the longest track which allows Hostile Tides to let out all their freaky aggression for the standout track on the EP which taps right into the QOTSA influence right from the very start where you can feel a soundtrack quality emerging from the catacombs which I would like to hear more of in future releases from the band.
Dead Man Talking is a great introduction from Hostile Tides to introduce themselves to the underground heavy rock scene with. There’s some great sonic creativity at play here and the stripped back production values are handled expertly well with some heavy outbursts of Stoner Rock/Metal developing when you least expect it.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
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