If These Trees Could Talk are finally back in action with a solid, albeit by-the-books album with The Hidden Hand.
Release date: July 10, 2026 | Metal Blade Records | Bandcamp | Instagram
It’s always good news when a band you enjoy is back with new material, especially if it’s one that’s been absent for quite some time. I was wondering what was going on with If These Trees Could Talk recently, and my inquiries were answered in the form of their newest record, The Hidden Hand.
While I am certainly a big fan of post-rock, I’ll admit it can sound a bit too samey after a while. Long songs, crescendos, climaxes, we’ve all heard it before. Still, certain bands just possess a certain charm on how they tackle the formula, and If These Trees Could Talk have been one of my go-tos for the genre from quite some time. Previous albums of theirs such as Red Forest and The Bones of a Dying World are some of my favorites of the genre, especially the latter with its punchy riffs, thick atmosphere, and very memorable songs.
It took them a while – 10 years, actually – but The Hidden Hand is a solid return to the studio for the American band. It doesn’t break genre barriers or covers much new ground for ITTCT, but hey, when you’re starving for some new material, a well-done run-of-the-mill record may just be what the fans (and perhaps the band itself) needed.
After a short, introspective intro, “Moon Machine” kicks off the album with the band’s trademark layered approach to ambiance and instrumentation. From the get-go, you can tell The Hidden Hand is a more tamed, laid-back approach to their music than their previous release – think not apocalyptic post-rock, but vibey, easygoing post-rock, for the most part. With the occasional heavy riff too, of course.
Of my favorite pieces in the album is the single “Blurry Creatures”, which features some really cool vocal chants backing some spacey riffs. I always feel like the genre shines bright when it features some sort of vocal melodies, and this is exactly what I’m talking about. It’s one of the more memorable pieces in the album, and I’d love if these elements were present in more moments throughout the album. The double piece “Silence Between Mountains” is also a very strong song. While the first part is a beautiful acoustic passage, the second one continues said passage while building upon it until it climaxes in classic genre fashion.
After spending some time with The Hidden Hand, I feel like its remarkably short length for a post-rock album, clocking in at just 40 minutes, is one of its core strengths. It may feel counterintuitive to praise a shorter runtime after such a long musical fasting period, but you can tell almost every song goes on as long as it should. It’s a very accessible album if you’re looking for a short but effective burst of post-rock vibes, and in a genre that sometimes overstays its welcome, that’s a great thing in my book.
While I did enjoy my time with The Hidden Hand and think fans of the band will feel the same, I can’t help but feel the album was just a bit too safe. I don’t think this album has a real potential of drawing in many new fans, as it feels less distinct than their previous work. At the end of the day, it’s not much more than a solid post-rock record, and while that’s nothing to be ashamed of, I just know If These Trees Could Talk can deliver more powerful, adventurous and engaging music like they did before.
In any event, I am very glad ITTCT are back in activity, and I hope they can keep the momentum going and begin working on a more standard album release schedule. They’re one of the most interesting acts in post-rock, and any fan of the genre should keep their eyes out for them.
