Written by Ruaridh Gilmour

Photography by Riley McCluskey 

For fans of the 90s grunge movement and anything heavier, Dead Dolphins’ debut album is one to keep an eye on.

Following a handful of singles, “Tomahawk” is perhaps the band’s strongest yet, mixing melodic and dissonant moments to offer a way in for both casual listeners and hard rock fans. More than previous releases, it draws on the band’s grunge influences, and it wouldn’t sound out of place coming from a band of that era. There are sprinkles of other genres too, with the melodic, metal-leaning chorus sounding like something from an Iron Maiden track.

The band still establishes its own identity. The outro is a brilliant minute of intertwining guitar solos over a driving rhythm section, giving the track’s gradual build-up an explosive payoff. The lofi recording and production suits the song’s grungy character, though it does bury the vocals at times, making some lyrics hard to make out. That’s very much in keeping with the genre, reminding me of Nirvana’s debut, “Bleach” (and unintelligible lyrics were a big part of Nirvana’s lore anyway!). The only real stumble is the guitar tone at the very beginning, which sounds a little weak. Otherwise, Dead Dolphins’ latest effort is a scorcher, and the rhythm section especially shines, with the bassist and drummer delivering a tight, cohesive performance.

This is a great effort from the band, and I’m very much looking forward to their debut album at the start of next month. If you want more Dead Dolphins before the big release, I’d recommend their live album, where “Frankenstein Jones” is a particularly good track.