ALBUM REVIEW: Séance – The Nightmares
When asked about inspiration behind songs the usual answers are things like love, life, heartbreak, and frustration, amongst other shared experiences, but for THE NIGHTMARES, part of that inspiration came conducting séances at home, hence the title of their new album. For those actively involved in the rock community, the band’s name should be recognisable thanks to connections with other bands like HOLDING ABSENCE and CREEPER, and an opening slot at CASEY’s reunion shows, but more than anything it’s down to their unique take on noir-pop, retro-goth, and punk, creating something that is truly beautiful to listen to.
Opening track It Follows opens with synths, reminiscent of both the 80s and of horror movie soundtracks, before things fully kick off into an alt-rock track that makes you want to get up and dance. This is where the beauty in putting together a range of genres comes into play as we hear a range of influences from CREEPER to THE CURE and even to THE DISTILLERS – it’s just fantastic. As said, this would perfectly suit a horror movie soundtrack, more specifically during the final showdown. Pink & Grey continues with the theme of film soundtracks with a production that gives the song a vintage vibe which would perfectly suit an 80s dark fantasy movie, like Labyrinth, during one of the more calming moments.
Two words that would accurately describe this record are beautiful and hypnotic. Everything is so beautifully arranged, and you’re left in awe throughout. It’s also interesting knowing where some inspiration came from and hearing it come through on some tracks such as Cursed which features both Adam Parslow and Eleanor Coburn having what seems to be a conversation, or at least offering two points of view, between someone who has been cursed and the other who placed said curse. It makes you wonder if this came from one of the séances, and if so, what else may have come through.
Other highlights include Murder Season which, featuring guest vocals from Will Gould, is a bouncy rock track that, while heavily inspired by a collection of retro-goth and noir-pop artists, is also somewhat reminiscent of PARAMORE’s You First. And concluding track Everything Pretty Changing opens with synths that immediately bring to mind the Stranger Things theme tune before shifting into a more gentle, atmospheric rock round. What’s makes it more interesting is the distorted voice we hear towards the end (another reference to séances?) before we hear a build-up of further distortion. It gets the listener ready for a climax of some sort before everything fades out and we’re left there in amazement. That’s how to effectively conclude an album as good as this.
Rating: 8/10
Séance is out now via Venn Records/Equal Vision Records.
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