NOVEMBRE

After a nine-year wait, Novembre from Italy is back with Words of Indigo. With their doom-tinted gothic metal, this is the Italian response to bands like Paradise Lost, Opeth, Katatonia, Heavenwood, and the like. Featuring eleven songs and a few lineup changes, this marks the comeback of a very underrated band that has been active for over 30 years. The album is definitely a great catch for people who enjoy the progressive side of metal but still want to remain on the darker end of the spectrum. ‘Sun Magenta’ and ‘Statua,’ the opening tracks, blend doom and gothic elements with a good balance of clean and growled vocals, as well as a notable progressive influence. ‘Neptunian Hearts’ features a killer guitar solo that ends with a strong nod to melodic black metal; unexpected, but it adds a nice touch to the album. ‘House of Rain’ is a sort of power ballad featuring female vocals; it leans more toward the symphonic metal sound of the late ’90s and early 2000s, but it works well to bring balance to the album. On the fifth track, ‘Brontide,’ the guitar work is amazing. The mix of powerful progressive riffs with the slower second half of the song highlights the band’s musicianship.

The acoustic ‘Intervallo’ carries distinct shades of a neoclassical sound, followed by ‘Your Holocene,’ which features only clean vocals and showcases Carmelo’s voice. ‘Chiesa dell’Alba’ is one of the heaviest and most progressive songs on the album. At the same time, ‘Ipernotte’ carries a powerful energy, shifting between great riffs and slower doom passages toward the end. The album’s final two songs, ‘Post Poetic’ and ‘Onde,’ close things out beautifully — the first returning to the band’s progressive/gothic roots, and the second serving as a fitting finale to a strong album. The guitar work is remarkable, the transitions between songs flow naturally, and the sound brings a touch of nostalgia from the early 2000s.