Novelists - 'CODA' - Album Review

Lighthouse Music
4 days ago
3 min read

BACKGROUND. Call it a stereotype, but French bands do have a tendency to get too artistic, bordering on avant-garde, even at their most extreme or blunt form. This, however, does not have to be an off-putting or pretentious trait, and when executed with the right vision and balance, it results in bright concepts and fresh music that leaves lasting mark across the regional and global scenes. And it isn't only the mighty Gojira or the relentless Lanmdvrks making noise anymore, France offers a wide palette of tastes and influences, with Parisian proggy metalcore heroes Novelists standing proud in the middle of the cross-section where all those subgenres crash violently yet beautifully, and where their latest LP CODA sprung from in all its grandeur.

BAND. Celebrating ten years from their debut Souvenirs (2015), Novelists are far from a novel band on the local scene, but their current lineup and artistic direction, displayed in CODA is a completely different force of nature than previously encountered. They were always a promising and energetic rising metalcore outfit, but rather unstable on the vocal front and lacking that extra spark to take them a step further. And then two years ago, Camille Contreras joined as their lead singer, and almost in an instant Novelists became a whole new entity, hesitantly finding their mojo with the Okapi EP (2024) before fully unleasing their captivating blend of alt metal, post-hardcore, indie, prog, djent, and everything inbetween.

ALBUM. Musically, CODA picks up right where Okapi left off, gtoting much closer to the dreamy 'Mourning the Dawn' than older ragers like 'Heretic' or 'Terrorist', and honestly, this is a brilliant move to reinvent and reinvigorate band. For all the raw energy and charm of Déjà Vu (2022), CODA feels much more organic and authentic, an honest artistic expression that relies almost entirely on universal balance. Novelists keep the scales perfectly leveled with just the right amount of calm and furious, rough and polished, beautiful and grotesque. The album ditches generic metalcore riffs with aethereal proggy passages, formulaic breakdowns with experimental solos, predictable structures with fluid arrangment, and the result is a fantastic and truly captivating listening experience.

SONGS. At the very heart of this new chapter is Contreras going absolutely wild in every direction and emotion she sees fit, but still counterbalanced with the ever so reliable Durand brothers, Delestrade and now fully settled Danel, a coherent unit that sounds as if headlining arenas for more than a decade. CODA opens with the exemplary 'Say My Name' setting the mood and pace of the record, followed by the djenty Spiritbox-ey self-titled anthem and the hauntingly volatile 'All For Nothing'. Next in line is the first big surprise of the LP in the fiery alt-metal banger 'Maldición de la Bruja', leading the way to the soaring trio 'In Heaven', 'Adam and Eve' and 'Sleepless Nights'. Towards the end comes the second twist in the bouncy pit-starter 'CRC' before the familiar single 'K.O.' marks the end in fittingly harmonious fashion.

FUTURE. A perfectly accessible, imaginative and relevant modern metal record, there really is something for everyone in CODA, whether you are a fan on Novelists' older material, enjoy a bit of djenty Northlane goodness, love the primal energy of Courtney LaPlante, or just appreciate Deftones' everlasting legacy. It is simultaneously very traditionally French in all its artistic qualities and experimental approach, and progressively universal in its global appeal and ambitious scope. It is an album that might not be everybody's favourite but simply cannot be hated, a brilliant foundation for Novelists to fully develop and nourish their new chapter.

Novelists - 'CODA'

Country: France

Released: 16 May

Label: Out Of Line Music

Tracklisting:

1. Say My Name

2. Coda

3. All For Nothing

4. Maldición de la Bruja

5. In Heaven

6. Adam and Eve

7. Sleepless Nights