“Where Only Machines Have Been” by WhiteRoomNightmare pulls you right into the cold, endless void of space and makes you feel it. From the very first note, there’s a raw, cinematic energy, gritty guitars grind through the mix, layered with shimmering melodies, while the drums hit with a boundless urgency, like a heartbeat floating in zero gravity. And then comes the voice—high, soaring, vulnerable yet powerful. It’s the perfect contrast to the heavy instrumentals, bringing a haunting airiness that makes the whole thing feel like both a cry for help and a surrender to the inevitable.
The song’s concept alone is enough to make it fascinating. Inspired by the idea of an astronaut drifting helplessly through space, it started as a one-off track for a collaborative album that never materialized. But instead of letting the idea float away into the void, WhiteRoomNightmare—aka Paul Anketell—dug deeper, letting the story spiral into something bigger. Now, it’s the first taste of an entire space-themed album, and if this single is anything to go by, it’s going to be one hell of a ride.
The beauty of “Where Only Machines Have Been” lies in its balance. The guitars grind with intensity, but the melodies shimmer with a ghostly elegance. The vocals stretch between defiance and fragility, soaring one moment and trailing off into the abyss the next. It’s alt-rock with a metal edge, but also something more, something atmospheric, introspective, and undeniably gripping.
WhiteRoomNightmare may be a one-man project, but “Where Only Machines Have Been” sounds massive like it was recorded in the depths of space itself. It’s heavy, it’s haunting, and it leaves you with the unsettling feeling of floating further and further away from home—with nothing but the sound of your own breath and the hum of the universe.
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Review by: Naomi Joan