NOVABLOOD – “I Used To Live In A House” [Song Review]

Carlisle, UK alternative outfit NOVABLOOD releases their new single, “I Used To Live In A House,” a track lifted from their upcoming album, You’re New To This Aren’t You?, set to drop on March 27, via Mint 400 Records.

According to vocalist/producer Mark Zowie, the song came together feeling “dangerous and exhilarating without giving the slightest fuck about what anyone thought.”

NOVABLOOD’s sound is energetic and physical—tight, pulsing, and intentionally off‑kilter. Blending modern and familiar elements, the band relies on pressure and recurrence to drive their sound.

Unlike the band’s previous album, Destroy The Magic, which utilized a wide swathe of electronic styles, You’re New To This Aren’t You? centers itself on a straightforward, post-punk nucleus.

Zowie shifts away from clean, melodic vocals, choosing rawer, more immediate tones. Much of the singing was improvised in the moment rather than written beforehand, letting the meaning emerge naturally instead of being carefully directed.

NOVABLOOD, photo by Dominic Barnes

“I Used To Live In A House” opens on a jazzed-tinted, funky rhythm immersed in a primordial brew of new wave reminiscent of Talking Heads. Zowie’s fretful vocals imbue the lyrics with a beguiling non-sequitur feel, almost akin to a chant. The repetitious flow of the melody reveals the interesting juxtaposition of instruments and percussive accents – imaginative but not overly ornate. Done just right.

Highlighted by their art-rock funk rhythms and ingenious textures, NOVABLOOD offers a quirky, compelling song.

Run Time: 4:31
Release Date: January 30, 2026
Record Label: Mint 400 Records