EP REVIEW: Blue Moon – The Howling Tides
Dynamic, award-winning four-piece heavy rock band THE HOWLING TIDES are looking to cement their place within the New Wave Of Classic Rock Scene with their new EP Blue Moon. Already having built up momentum over the last few years with appearances at Steelhouse Festival, Planet Rockstock, and Bloodstock, this should be an easy feat, yet it is one that they are determined to use to prove themselves to fans old and new.
The opening track Thalia already shows a plethora of inspiration from a number of artists, with the most obvious being AUDIOSLAVE. Rob Baynes and Hayden Kirk’s guitars are extremely reminiscent of that of Tom Morello, incorporating his signature style of groovy riffs and obscene FX pedals to create a sound that is quite unique. Throughout this EP they utilize groovy guitar riffs to keep it surging forward, not letting a dull moment occur. Baynes’ vocals are the perfect complement to this fuzzy, bouncy guitar, adding to the blues-laden tsunami of sound that they create.
Since their first live appearances, THE HOWLING TIDES have gained a reputation as a visceral live act with a ferocious energy. This EP allows listeners a glimpse into these performances if they haven’t been lucky enough to experience one already. Though they may be known for this muscular rock that is full of brute force, they allow us to see a different side of their musicality with Fortune Never Favoured Me. A track that is a sharp 180 from the rest of the EP’s material, it is soft and really shows us the extent of Baynes’ raspy vocal talents with no gimmicks whatsoever.
The final two tracks Blue Moon and White Crow utilize everything that THE HOWLING TIDES’ fans have come to love them for. There is nothing more you could want to do than stomp along to them and imagine the rest of the band doing exactly the same. This band are a breath of fresh air in an industry that is so overpopulated with bands that sound the same or use the same gimmicks to try and stand out. Instead, THE HOWLING TIDES remind us of why we fell in love with rock music in the first place, bringing a raw energy to their performances and sound that is missing from a lot of modern releases.
As the next step in their journey, Blue Moon really serves to put THE HOWLING TIDES on the pedestal that they are so deserving of and has made a statement to the rest of the sleepy genre that they find themselves associated with. They are so much more than one of those bands that repackage the same song over and over – clearly, they have a lot more to offer.
Rating: 8/10
Blue Moon is out now via self-release.
Like THE HOWLING TIDES on Facebook.