Band:	Novembers Doom
Album:	Nephilim Grove
Style:	Melodic death metal
Release date:	November 01, 2019
A review by:	Troy Killjoy

01. Petrichor
02. The Witness Marks
03. Nephilim Grove
04. What We Become
05. Adagio
06. Black Light
07. The Clearing Blind
08. Still Warmth
09. The Obelus

There's something to be said for continuing to pursue your passion despite its reception.

Novembers Doom have been refining their doom sound for nearly three decades now, and it should be noted their sound hasn't varied greatly, nor has the band's purpose of being, but they aren't afraid to experiment at length with new-found sources of inspiration. There are always these underlying tones of extremity swimming beneath the surface that are allowed to breathe for moments throughout, but for the most part, the style is restricted to a fairly standard and straightforward doom approach with added hints of gothic and death metal therein. Nephilim Grove in no way aims to abandon this everlasting foundational concept.

Now, this isn't to say Novembers Doom isn't worth investing your time and energy in; in fact, it's a project that comes highly recommended to anyone who enjoys any one of their albums. Much like the Amon Amarths of the metal world, this level of consistency and resilience only serves to please fans of the style, and so a further development of that style via new material should be considerably welcome. If, however, you appreciate innovation, ingenuity, and pushing boundaries in your music, then you've come to the wrong place. The furthest they stray from their origins is when delving into a sort of heavy prog sound, almost Amorphis or Katatonia in nature, but without any actual progressive elements.

While there isn't really any significant attribute that sets this album apart from any of its predecessors, it's a fairly enjoyable experience for what it is regardless of its predictability. The down-tuned chugging riffs coupled with those harrowing growls -- well-placed as they are routine -- brings some element of brutality to an otherwise soft-hitting gothic-tinged doom affair. The melodies aren't particularly captivating or engaging but they do a decent enough job building an atmosphere of sorrow, especially with Paul Kuhr's disarming clean vocals bringing you along for what can only be described as a lullaby journey into despair.

This recent rendition of Novembers Doom is undoubtedly their most approachable and accessible, particularly when compared to their formative years that erred on the side of extremity, but that isn't inherently a detractor. If you appreciate metal on the lighter side of the spectrum and prefer a more vocal-centric sound to weep along to, then Nephilim Grove is as good a place to start as any. You can rest easy knowing there exists a hefty dose of similar material from these Americans to explore in case this album sparks your interest. Of course, fans of the band will already know what to expect, and will likely walk away pleased with this latest offering, though unsurprised.