Album Review: The Nightmares – Séance (Venn Records)

Welsh noir pop outfit The Nightmares will release their debut album, Séance, on the 7th April 2023 via Venn Records (UK and Europe) and Equal Vision Records (USA and ROW).

Delivering an exciting and experimental set of tracks on Séance, The Nightmares make some interesting changes to the pop-rock formula here. Some more notable than others, but all combining to give the album a fresh feel. Albeit, still something that is undeniably anthemic and extremely capable of capturing the hearts and minds of a wide and varied audience.

With a nod to horror, It Follows’ showcases perfectly just how The Nightmares twist dark melodies around energetic rock and catchy choruses. An instant hit of adrenaline that, thanks to the overall tone, will have you looking over your shoulder uncomfortably.

Instead of keeping the energy high, The Nightmares take a different direction with Let the Light In and showcase lighter and emotive melody. There’s a poetic feel to this track and the two different, layered vocals really make it sound quite special.

Two sides of The Nightmares showcased and both great in their own way.

With some old-school synth touches, Pink & Grey sits somewhere in the middle. Still mellow, but with bursts of energetic rhythm and a high-powered chorus. Followed then, by the pop-infused rock rambunctiousness of Murder Season. A track that features the enigmatic vocals of Will Gould from Creeper. A voice few could ever complain about hearing and one that meshes brilliantly with The Nightmares sound. Good luck trying to not sing along with this one.

Upping the drama, while delivering one of their most infectious choruses yet, From Above finds The Nightmares reflective. Before For Heaven’s Sake finds the group possessed by the spirits of pop-punk of old, albeit with their inimitable anthemic qualities front and centre. Familiar and fresh in equal measures.

It’s a highlight reel of an album, where every track could stand alone as a single but also feels like a flowing story too. It means the peaks and valleys of tempos and tones feels extremely natural. It’s how The Nightmares can go from something as sombre as Cursed to something as experimental as Heartless to something as delightfully catchy as Evermore (with its saxophone use) and not make it sound jarring.

In fact, it’s a genuine example of an album that captures the imagination and leaves you wanting more. Which means the lengthier finale of Everything Pretty Changing is bittersweet. On the one hand, it’s a brilliant and expansive sound that is daringly epic but on the other, it’s the last track on the album.

Don’t be sad though, it just means you get to start it all over again.

The Nightmares – Séance Track Listing:

1. It Follows
2. Pink & Grey
3. From Above
4. Cursed
5. Heartless
6. Murder Season (feat. Will Gould)
7. Evermore
8. Let The Light In
9. For Heaven’s Sake
10. Everything Pretty Changing

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