The Horrors have come a long way since their post-punk beginnings with Strange House in 2007, a debut that felt as chaotic and raw as the band’s early live shows. From there, they embarked on an evolution that took them through lush, expansive landscapes with Primary Colours and the cinematic, shimmering beauty of Skying. Now, eight years on, Night Life marks their sixth studio album and a fresh chapter in their ever-changing story.
The Horrors – Night Life (2025)
Release Date: Out Now
Words: Ash Nash
The band, now bolstered by new members Amelia Kidd (keyboard) and Jordan Cook (drums), have found a darker, more industrial sound that feels like a late-night odyssey, bathed in neon and shadow. It is a thrilling reinvention, one that combines their signature atmospheric grandeur with a newfound edge. With this album, they have created something that is both haunting and euphoric, a bold leap into the unknown that captures the essence of their restless creativity.
The journey begins with Ariel, a track that unspools like a dream, opening with a brooding hum that slowly builds into an electrifying crescendo. Faris Badwan’s voice lures you deeper into the mystery before the song explodes into full sonic glory. It is a perfect introduction, offering a glimpse into the poetic, flourishing world that Night Life creates. The track feels like an invitation to step into a world that is lush yet unsettling, where every note seems to breathe with an untold story.
Silent Sister follows with eerie dissonance and an intoxicating rhythm that shifts and shimmers like the dark corners of a half-remembered dream. It is a masterclass in tension—an off-kilter, almost chaotic track that perfectly embodies The Horrors’ knack for controlled madness. There is an ethereal beauty in the way the music pulses with energy, drawing you into its mysterious world with every beat.
Then there is The Silence That Remains, the first single to drop from Night Life, and it serves as a perfect encapsulation of where The Horrors are at today. With duet vocals from Badwan and Kidd, the track pulses with an intoxicating rhythm, as if retracing steps through a city at 3 a.m.
It is a delicate balance of nostalgia and forward-thinking experimentation, a journey through time that’s both personal and universal. The Silence That Remains feels like putting the past to rest, a new chapter beginning under the cover of night, as the band themselves put it.
The industrial edge comes to the forefront with Trial By Fire, a track that feels like being caught in a furnace of sound. There is a raw intensity to it, akin to Nine Inch Nails The Downward Spiral, yet it’s unmistakably The Horrors—sharp, unapologetic, and thrilling.
On the other hand, Lotus Eater pulses with a dark, hypnotic electronic groove that wraps itself around you like a shadow, drawing you into its intoxicating rhythm. It is a track that brings to mind the ominous allure of Depeche Mode but with The Horrors’ own distinctive twist.
Throughout Night Life, Joshua Hayward’s vision shines through as he sought to create music that felt out of focus blurring the lines between clarity and distortion.
This approach is beautifully realised in the album, where sound and texture melt into one another, creating an atmosphere that is immersive and disorienting.
The effects are most apparent in tracks like Ariel and Lotus Eater, where the music envelops the listener in a haze as if you are walking through a fog of sonic intrigue. The result is an album that feels both dreamlike and grounded, an experience where clarity and distortion intertwine in the most enchanting way.
Critics have lauded Night Life for its bold sound. NME calls it “an engrossing nocturnal stunner,” while Far Out Magazine praises its cinematic qualities, describing it as a journey through time and space. DIY has noted the band’s growth, particularly in their exploration of industrial sounds that push their gothic roots into thrilling new territory.
And if you have been fortunate enough to catch The Horrors at one of their intimate Rough Trade shows, you will have seen firsthand the electric energy that Night Life has ignited. These gigs, steeped in history and raw emotion, have allowed fans to experience the new material in the most unfiltered way possible, up close and personal. There is a certain magic to these performances that only adds to the allure of the album.
Night Life is more than just a record. It is an experience. It is a sonic journey into the dark heart of the night, where every note pulses with intent, and every track is an invitation to explore the deeper corners of the self.
The Horrors have once again proven that they are a band unafraid of transformation. With this album, they have not only created a thrilling new sound but reaffirmed their place as one of the most daring and inventive bands of their generation.
The Horrors – Night Life was released on 21 March 2025 via Fiction Records. For more details, visit thehorrors.lnk.to/nightlifePR.
