Release Date: January 09th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Dream Horizons - Tracklisting
Dream Horizons
Disturbance
If You Allow
Moonlight Solar
Members
Baja – Vocals and Bass
Kukec – Rhythm Guitar
Iggy – Lead Guitar
Kekez – Drums
Review
Croatian Psych/Doom/Stoner Rockers Hrmülja make a welcome return after a seven year absence with their latest EP - Dream Horizons. I remember listening to Hrmülja’s self titled debut album back in 2019 and being majorly impressed by their great style of Psych Stoner Metal that was inspired by the likes of SLEEP, King Buffalo, ELDER and Monolord. Though, what impressed me the most was Hrmülja’s great use of Progressive Rock/Metal themes that give their music a more destructive quality and for the most part Dream Horizons keeps with a similar style of music heard on their debut album.
However, Dream Horizons has a more mature Post-Metal sound with TOOL-esque cinematic soundscapes, burgeoning sludgy atmospherics and a harsh GRUNGE aspect that calls upon the likes of Alice In Chains and Soundgarden within the bombastic opening tracks of Dream Horizons and Disturbance. The whole record is moody, unflinching and the Doomed Out instrumental passages having a destructive quality with Hrmülja writing hard-hitting lyrics to keep everything real with the Psychedelic environment being quite trippy and fantastical at times.
The vocals from Baja are predominantly inspired by the Doom, Grunge and Sludge Rock worlds with his vocals tapping into the best aspects of each genre and delivering a brilliant and wholly committed performance. Dream Horizons works best when Hrmülja moves into areas of Post-Rock, Shoegaze and Post-Doom as the music is more intricate and emotionally engaging. There feels like a never-ending supply of trippy modern instrumental sounds that have the power to do some actual good in the real world.
The final two tracks If You Allow and Moonlight Solar offer more musical and sonic exploration with Hrmülja channelling the likes of YOB, Mastodon and Pallbearer that results with some of the best melodies and heavy riffs on the whole EP.
Dream Horizons lasts for around nineteen minutes but feels longer and that’s a great thing as Hrmülja leaves you fully satisfied with every repeated listen. This is a great record for Hrmülja to come back with and I’m hoping we don’t have another long wait for their next release. As Hrmülja are onto something special with this highly magnificent release. Plain and Simple.
Words by Steve Howe
Dream Horizons will be available to buy digitally on all digital platforms from Friday 09th January 2026.
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