“Build me a machine to suffer, hesitation lover.“
When following a band or an artist who making their earliest forays, especially those with bags of potential, there is an enduring anticipation of if and when their next material will emerge. Such has been the case with Melbourne unit Post Heaven, who have steadily but slowly released material since 2023. With each release, the feet got ever more itchy. Each release from their debut EP in 2023 titled Watch The Framework as it Falls, to the 2024 single “Far From Me” added to that belief that Post Heaven had all the makings of a standout act. The doubt that we’d see any new studio from Post Heaven any time soon continued to linger, kept at bay by stories of their live performances.
In some fashion, Post Heaven alleviated all of those doubts, as they made their return with single “Exit Wound“. An opening foray that feels rather akin to an early Static Dress song, the Melbourne unit soon carves it out into something of their own. The pulsating chorus lead in with “I’m on the edge and I can’t breathe” yearns to be sang along too and hooks itself into the mind. It’s a bold breakaway from the grungegaze mannerisms Post Heaven lead on in the past, as they move firmly into the post-hardcore space here. The trading between de Laine‘s vocals and the backing give a gritty contrast, trading off each other in a fierce manner.
One of Post Heaven‘s noteworthy abilities since their early material has to build atmosphere and give a tangible heart to their sound. Opening track “End Alone” begins crafting this space by entering with a contemplative and stargazing set of piano chords, and de Laine sings in a ruminating fashion. It is almost a track you’d expect to hear as a precursor to a grand finale on a record or a pleasant interlude, a similar air to that of Ocean Grove‘s “Last Dance” but more drawn back. It later moves into something more grandiose with wider instrumentals, but it’s not until following track “Basic Fault” that The Space That’s In Between fully kicks into gear.
In their heavy stride, the harsh vocals on the verses and bridge have a manner to them that verges on screamo, with shades of Blind Girl; panic meets reckless abandon. There is an energy within these moments that Post Heaven cultivate with a force and simply demands to be heard. The cleans on “Basic Fault“‘s chorus are then where the band lean back into their grunge and shoegaze leanings to create that expansive atmosphere. The dual vocals fill the space as much as the heavier post-hardcore moments do.
“Hesitation Lover” is a conjoining of perhaps all the aforementioned influences, sounds, and structures before, creating a personal favourite for many. The Loathe-styled ‘gaze vocals fill the track as de Laine showcases their impressive range. As “Leave me the space for desire” sings out, that gracious nature from in “End Alone” is reprised once again. The post-hardcore stylings are teased and lent into at moments, giving “Hesitation Lover” extra grit; a fitting way to close out with a fantastic record.
For all the influences mentioned here, Post Heaven are batting near enough the same level, if not surpassing them. Their ability to write strong post-hardcore tracks with explosive energy, then slipping into grungegaze, gives a new force to two genres that were perhaps coming overbooked. de Laine‘s vocals are outstanding and are the thread that weaves all of these tracks together. As expected, Post Heaven have put together another excellent release, which will now leave many wanting to hear what they can put together in a full-length.
8/10
The Space That’s In Between is out October 3rd via Grayscale Records, and can be pre-ordered here.