Novaria are an atmospheric metal band from the Netherlands and this is their debut EP.
This is an interesting and enjoyable mix of progressive, atmospheric, and post-metal. These are only starting points, however, as Novaria mix a lot of different things together on EP1.
Across these four tracks the band roll various and diverse influences into 23 minutes of affecting, emotive music. It’s well-written and professionally delivered, demonstrating a musical project that may be just at the start of its journey, but has a lot to offer already.
There’s a variety of vocal performances across the songs; clean, shouted, and screamed, both male and female.
Each song has its own focus and identity and is quite different from each of its fellows, although there’s an atmospheric streak that ties them all together.
Into Nothingness has a Tool/Anathema/Katatonia feel to it, resplendent in beautiful progressive/post-metal that hits like a soft caress. The main singer’s clean vocals are performed in a heartfelt and emotive manner, and complement the atmospheric music very well.
Blindsight is a hybrid beast, offering light reflection on one hand, with aggressive post-black metal on the other, all wrapped up with sumptuous female singing.
This Cold is from the Pallbearer/Warning school of emotive doom metal. At least it is until it turns into something that’s more like a punk-fuelled rampage. After returning to the traditional doom once more, it then takes on some Paradise Lost-style elements.
The EP ends with Chrononausea, which is keyboard-heavy progressive rock the likes of which Anethama would be proud of. Like everything here, it’s very good.
An impressive and wide-ranging EP that’s very individual. What will Novaria do next? Time will tell, but I look forward to it.
Wonderbox Metal 