Newport goth quintet The Nightmares emerged from the darkness in 2023 with their impressive debut album Séance. That was merely a prelude of things to come. Fire In Heaven, their second album is a true coming of age for them. One of 2025’s biggest early surprises, this is an album that crackles with whimsy & folklore. It has an energy that is entirely unique, yet feels so familiar.
Siren Song is all twinkle & shimmer, recalling the most gorgeous moments of 80s indie. Something in the Dark could have been ripped out of The Cure’s playbook. Dead Roses is the type of sublime dream pop that most songwriters would kill to pen.
Letting it All Go & Hell is Gonna Happen work in tandem, effortlessly playing off each other. The latters refrain of “she’s been looking for Jesus, all her life” is custom built for life audiences. Whereas the former struts in on a bassline so slinky and sexy you’ll have no choice but to groove to it.
Blood On Your Hands lowers the tempo with a fragile stirring ballad giving Eleanor Coburn her moment to shine. Run Away is another crowning moment with an irresistible chorus and some delicious vocal interplay between Eleanor & Frontman Adam Parslow.
Album closer Melancholy Waltz is another dramatic ballad that is accentuated by a haunting string section throughout. It’s an evocative and emotionally fraught way to send the listener off.
Fire In Heaven is a tremendously confident and assured album. The Nightmares show a real knack for songwriting that takes elements from a number of influences and successfully combines them with their own sensibilities to create something truly magical. This is an album that is playful, thoughtful, even soulful at times, yet it hits all the right notes throughout. There is a freshness and a modern sheen at play here yet it still feels retro and off another time.
It’s an incredible balancing act they have pulled off here and they have done it rather deftly. Huge songs full of hooks, lyrics that are destined to end up tattooed on people’s bodies and a sense that anything is possible, and through the darkness there is always a light waiting on the other side.
Fire In Heaven is nothing short of a dream, an album that should see its creators taken to new heights. With an album this good already under their belts so early on in their career, the possibilities for their future are endless. Give this album a listen and say hello to your new favourite band.
Fire In Heaven is out now via Venn Records. For more information on The Nightmares head here
