In A House Of Heartbeats – Divination Of Dreams
In A House Of Heartbeats – Divination Of Dreams
Ripcord Records
16/01/2026
Review by Oli Gonzalez
7/10
In A House Of Heartbeats. New contenders in the arena of UK post rock, emerging from Essex’s music scene. The band enter said arena armed with their debut full length, “Divination Of Dreams”.
At first, this feels gritty, almost like an early black metal recording, such is the bleak and austere atmosphere. There are early sprinklings of more intricate and technical guitar passages, though they return to the aforementioned atmospheric passages. It’s difficult to predict where they’re heading with this, but you know they’re building to something promising. Just trust the process. Progress can feel slow but stick with this and you’ll be rewarded for your patience. Case in point with that gnarly and dramatic finish to the song!
That’s probably the best way to sum up the album and experience of A House Of Heartbeats. Their music definitely isn’t for the fast food, instantly-demanding-gratification society. This definitely requires patience and can be considered a more specialist listen subsequently.
The band can certainly pull you in different directions emotionally, with dissonant yet full bodied efforts like ‘Cambion’. A riff fest with plenty of distorted headbangers, much like a Cult Of Luna composition. One of many influences on the band.
Whilst this certainly isn’t the kind of album for those wanting quick gratification, songs like ‘Parasomniac’ will test the patience of most. It’s unclear what this adds to the overall pacing of the album and does more to kill the album’s momentum than add to it. Perhaps it serves as a build for the huge dreamy soundscapes and lush melodies we hear in ‘Oneiromancy For Beginners’. Imagine Caspian and God Is An Astronaut combined, and you’ll understand why this is one of the stronger songs on the album. It feels like we’re getting somewhere with the album and momentum is growing. But then ‘Head Full Of Ghosts’ and ‘Drift Into Sleep…’ hinder the overall momentum where you have to question whether it’s a case of progressing ideas gradually, or just not getting to the point quick enough.
The album needs a strong finish.‘…Perchance To Dream’ does that! This builds upon those aesthetic dreamlike qualities from earlier in the album and add an almost psychedelic flavour, almost like something that could be used in a Reiki workshop in the early days such is the gentle caressing nature. How cathartic and healing!
Overall, a promising effort and some highlights. Though this can really test the most patience of even seasoned post rock fans. If the band can continue on maximising their strengths and present these in a much more concise package, they’ll have something special to offer.
TRACKLISTING:
01. In A Perpetual State Of Wonder
02. Cambion
03. Parasomniac
04. Oneiromancy For Beginners
05. A Head Full Of Ghosts
06. Drift Into Sleep…
07. …Perchance To Dream
LINKS:
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