Album Review: The Nightmares – Fire In Heaven (Venn Records)

Newport, Wales alt-rock quintet The Nightmares will release their new album ‘Fire in Heaven’ on the 14th of February 2025 via Venn Records.

Beginning with big pop vibes and an emo vein running through it, Fire in Heaven lays out its alternative stylings from the off with the catchy Siren Song. A track with a fair bit of catchiness to it, even if it’s not a mind-blowing start. It’s actually with the following Something in the Dark that the excitement around this album starts to kick in. All thanks to the synth, which gives this a retro rock vibe with some goth and grunge touches here and there. Now that’s very cool.

It’s the side of The Nightmares that appeals to me as it gives the record a really fresh feel. Though you’ll hardly find me complaining about more straight-forward indie-orientated pop-rock hits as catchiness is a major part of this band’s entire makeup. For example, Dead Roses, which combines the best of both worlds, is delightfully dreamy and an album highlight.

The album does feel like its hit its stride at this stage too and the frolics through melodic meadows, gloomy gorges, and powerful precipices continue with Letting It All Go, Hell Is Gonna Happen, Beneath Your Name, Blood on Your Hands, and Run Away. It’s a blur of infectious guitars, smooth vocals, impactful drumbeats, and dreamy synth.

Very accessible and very likable music that doesn’t exactly challenge but still delivers memorability.

The latter portion of the record doesn’t disappoint either as Winterlude sets a sombre, but pretty scene, with its piano melody. Before Heaven Won’t Hold Me arrives with layers of gloominess wrapped around starry melodies, and Melancholy Waltz delivers on the promise of its title, ending the album in miserable, but memorable fashion. For many, it’s a finale that will hit hard, but it sits alongside many, many tracks that have similar impact.

It’s not the most exciting of listens, and sometimes it just doesn’t hook as well as I’d have hoped for, but it is still an enjoyable album with some really strong tracks.

The Nightmares – Fire in Heaven Track Listing:

1. Siren Song
2. Something in the Dark
3. Dead Roses
4. Letting It All Go
5. Hell Is Gonna Happen
6. Beneath Your Name
7. Blood On Your Hands
8. Run Away
9. Winterlude
10. Heaven Won’t Hold Me
11. Melancholy Waltz

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