Novembre - Words Of Indigo - review
Novembre - Words Of Indigo - review
Tracklist
01. Sun Magenta02. Statua
03. Neptunian Hearts
04. House Of Rain
05. Brontide
06. Intervallo
07. Your Holocene
08. Chiesa Dell`alba
09. Ipernotte
10. Post Poetic
11. Onde
A review by
AndyMetalFreak November 18, 2025
Novembre, formed in Italy in 1990, first set out as a gothic/death doom band, but have ventured more into progressive metal territory in recent years. In doing so, they've developed a sound and style with specific similarities to Opeth, whereas their earlier material held some resemblance to bands such as Katatonia and Anathema. Despite their relatively low-key presence within the scene, their fairly consitent discography is elevated by one or two top-tier albums that shouldn't go ignored by death doom fans, such as Novembrine Waltz, which transcended the death doom niche by incorporating a variety of elements, setting them on their subsequent progressive trajectory. After a lengthy 9-year absence, they mark their 35-year anniversary with the release of their 9th full-length album, Words Of Indigo.
It's been nearly a decade their previous album URSA, so more than enough time has been spent gathering momentum for Words Of Indigo. The result is a far cry from their original death doom roots, and a step even further down the progressive path compared with anything they've done before. This is a sonically diverse offering, rich in layers and textures, and sprawling with dynamic compositions throughout a hefty hour-plus runtime. I'm not entirely sure what the theme itself represents, but the lyrics are profound.
From short melancholic instrumental interludes and upbeat prog sections, to slow atmospheric build-ups and short death doom passages, each song has its own unique style and identity. This at least means the album is on the unpredictable side, and should keep the listener intrigued, as should the complex rhythm section, which steers the album's progressive intentions while complementing the guitarwork, the clear standout element of the record. It's not so much the riffs, which are generally nothing out of the ordinary, nor the pleasant melancholic acoustic strings, but the guitar leads that steal the show. The breathtaking solo on "Ipernotte", for instance, is a highlight moment.
This song itself is an album highlight for me; from its melancholic slow build-up climaxing in an agonizing scream, to the more complexly structured faster sections, it pretty much sums up the band's capabilities when they truly set their mind to it. The keys add an additional atmospheric layer, and the vocals are also dynamic, ranging from harsh growls to both female and male clean singing. A large portion of the vocals are comprised by founding member Carmelo Orlando's cleans. However, his dreary soul-draining style is certainly an acquired taste for most; in fact, I can't recall hearing another style in metal quite like his, and I'm not entirely convinced I'm a fan of his particular style.
It's clear a great deal of time and effort has gone into Words Of Indigo, but has the near-decade wait been worth it? The last time they had this lengthy absence was between The Blue and URSA, where a few changes were made and new approaches introduced, and it was a successful comeback, but I'm not convinced this return is as worthy. There are only a few moments worth taking note of, with the most memorable factor the solos as mentioned earlier. When the atmosphere shines it shines; occasionally you're drawn into a majestic autumn setting ideal for this time of year, although this usually feels short-lived. For me, the growls are significantly superior to the cleans performance-wise, and I would have liked to have heard them feature more, along with lengthier doom passages.
Only glimpses of their former glory are shown throughout the album; perhaps they've explored this progressive metal route a step too far this time. Still, an album as complex as this requires a few spins to fully absorb and sink in, and there's certainly a lot to uncover hiding within these dense layers. While I may not have uncovered any hidden treasures myself or been as emotionally touched as I'd hoped, others may have more success when exploring the record.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 6 |
| Songwriting: | 7 |
| Originality: | 8 |
| Production: | 7 |
Written on 18.11.2025 by
Written on 18.11.2025 by
An honest review that you don't necessarily have to agree with. Comments
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Great review, Andy. Exactly!! Nothing more to be said.
---- These are my opinions. You're welcome to discard them. Find out more of my thoughts on Forgemaster Metal: www.youtube.com/@forgemastermetal
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Posts: 1376  |
Posts: 1376
I nearly forgot about this band. It seems feasible to be caught up in life and not have the drive or resources to create a new album, so I don't mind (in this case) that it's been nine years. If Opeth took a nine-year gap, I'd likely need to seek professional help, haha. Having said all that, this is a well-rounded review and I'm looking forward to hearing what they've managed to create this time.
---- That rug really tied the room together, did it not? 
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