#evergrey — Public Fediverse posts

First appearing on these pages back in 2016 with sophomore record Forsaken, progressive power outfit Noveria have made a habit of getting in their own way. After Forsaken failed to match its Evergreyed ambition with clumsy execution, the quintet bounced back in a big way with Aequilibrium (2019), a record packed with heaviness, melody and virtuosity that hinted at huge things for these Italians. Then regression reared its ugly head with 2024’s The Gates of the Underworld. Although Noveria cleverly reframed their emotional themes through mythological imagery, the album once again collapsed under the weakness of its songwriting, disappointing GardensTale enough to question whether he would ever review them again. Indeed, consistency has been elusive for Noveria, making their on-again, off-again pattern of releases particularly frustrating. But fret not, dear reader. If history is any guide, the pendulum should swing back toward the positive with fifth LP Becoming After, assuming the metal gods smile on us.

And smile they have. Striking a sweet spot between Symphony X and Dream Theater, with touches of Pagan’s Mind, Becoming After finds Noveria sounding like a band reborn. Talent has never been in short supply here, and their cup now runneth over, with drummer Paolo Conte and keyboardist Paolo Campitelli (ScreaMachine) replacing longtime members Davide Calabretta and Julien Spreutels, respectively, alongside the addition of vocalist Frank Marino (Dreamscape). These guys can flat-out play, and Becoming After reaps the benefits, delivering everything existing fans could hope for, only harder, faster and stronger. The aggressive riffs of Aequilibrium are pervasive, synched tightly with Conte’s kinetic rhythms and Campitelli’s synth embellishments, all bolstered by string arrangements by violinist Abigail Stahlschmidt and cellist Luca Basile on cuts like “Through Your Light”1 and “Convicted to Rise.” There’s even a few surprises thrown in for good measure, including djent-focused tracks (“Radiance,” “Heavenfall”) and serene ballads (“Through Your Light”) that help keep things fresh. Although the stylistic departures of “Heavenfall” and “Radiance” seem somewhat out of place within the broader context, they are executed well enough to keep momentum while still feeling fun and adventurous.

Losing most of your roster can hamstring even the best bands, but in Noveria’s case, the shakeup has proven transformative. Francesco Corigliano’s departure left a massive void, but Frank Marino is quick to quell any fears he can’t fill those shoes. The downfall of Gates was its lack of hooks and Mariano ensures that problem doesn’t persist on Becoming After, stuffing Noveria’s songs to the brim with hooks and towering choruses. Possessing James LaBrie’s (Dream Theater) buttery tone and multi-octave range, Marino tears through tracks like “Cold Flames,” “Convicted to Rise,” “Echoes From the Abyss,” and “Infinite Horizons” with a command that is increasingly rare these days. While his voice occasionally loses a bit of power when venturing into higher registers, it still more than holds its own against the record’s dense instrumentation.

As impressive as the vocal performance on Becoming After is, the rest of Noveria deserve equal recognition. Longtime guitarist Francesco Mattei drives the group’s sound with a barrage of muscular riffs that span progressive, power, and djent, setting his fretboard ablaze with virtuosic solos and rapid-fire scales that form the record’s ambitious foundation. When paired with Campitelli’s fleet-fingered keyboard solos, the two put on an absolute show that rivals the best in the business. Likewise, bassist Andrea Arcangeli’s (DGM) dynamic bass lines and Conte’s battering drum work provide a low-end backbone that underpins Noveria’s grandiose arrangements, resulting in songwriting that remains interesting throughout the record’s substantial 55-minute runtime. However, though not drastically overlong, Becoming After does periodically lose steam, most notably during the self-titled closing interlude, “Heavenfall” and “Viper’s Nest,” which are far from bad but feel overshadowed by the stronger material surrounding them.

Lineup changes be damned, Noveria have roared back with Becoming After, crafting an album with tremendous replay value and one that has beamed its way into my psyche with its memorable hooks and consistently strong songwriting. Progressive power metal can often veer into territory that is far too cheesy for my tastes, yet Becoming After strikes the ideal balance between over-the-top spectacle and tasteful restraint in a way that is both charming and difficult to stop listening to. Time will tell whether Becoming After finally breaks Noveria’s streak of inconsistent releases, but they now have my full attention.

Rating: Very Good
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: 256 kbps mp3
Label: Scarlet Records
Websites: scarletrecords.bandcamp.com/album/becoming-after | noveriaofficial.com/home.html | facebook.com/NoveriaOfficial
Releases Worldwide: August 21st, 2026

Holy shit, I thought these dudes were gone forever! A guilty pleasure, Raunchy hasn’t released an album since I last reviewed them in my first year as an idiotic dumbass Angry Metal writer. But no one has heard from them in a long fucking time. When I first discovered their impressive 2008 release, Wasteland Discotheque, I was on a kick to explore the underground who’s who of Danish metal. During that time, I not only came across Raunchy but also Mercenary, Panzerchrist, and Dominus.1 Spread across so many varying musical styles, each band’s discog at the time was on regular rotation in the Grier household. While all but Dominus remain, only Raunchy continues to prove they can make their tried-and-true sound remain relevant.

With this year’s Prisoner, Raunchy remains the best of the bunch—the rest of these Danes reached their peak in the early aughts. But that depends on the ears of the beholder. Raunchy are the masters of one of the strangest combinations of genres, unapologetically mixing groove, melodic death, metalcore, and industrial rock/metal. They are also a rare breed for a band that’s been in existence for over thirty years: they have refused to surrender their core lineup (having replaced two members in their thirty-four years of existence), nor have they ever swayed from their style. Love it or hate it, Raunchy is one of the best of the style, and they are back to take you Prisoner.

Right away, you know Raunchy hasn’t lost a step since 2014’s Vices.Virtues.Visions.. “Frostbite” kicks off with an industrial introduction before the guitars take over the rhythm and punch it forward in a Mercenary way. It’s a safe song to begin the album because it has all of the band’s classic elements: ooo’s and awww’s, cleans and harshies, ferocity and melody, and some of the best choruses out there. The follow-up track, “Stranded,” follows in its predecessor’s shoes, delivering an Evergrey-esque mid-paced groove before alternating between calm verses and harsh pre-choruses. With each iteration, the chorus’s emotion and power grow stronger until the tension finally erupts at the end.

One of my favorite parts about the album is the flow. You might get a half-second after one song before the next begins, making it as fluid as possible. While Vices.Virtues.Visions. was emotionally heavy, some Prisoner’s tracks pack a hefty punch. “Revealing I” is a Fear Factory-infused blast attack that somehow balances each heavy riff with the absolute beauty of the chorus. While not as continuously ferocious, the back half of “Vanishing Act” fuses badassery with tripletty. Its chorus is probably the least memorable on the album, but it’s still very strong. It’s also impressive that this chorus is the “worst,” because each one is worth the time.

For example, the only good quality of the cringey, pop-synth, bitchy-emo “Darkest Self” is the chorus. And, goddamn, it’s a good one. But each time it restarts with its verse and pre-chorus pattern, I’m not sure I can make it through. “Masquerade” doesn’t have the same flaws, but it’s unique to the band, requiring a few listens to appreciate nuances. To conclude this journey of societal growth, missteps, and seclusion, the title track’s breathtaking beauty and hopefulness cap Prisoner perfectly. This new record is at the same level as Vices.Virtues.Visions. in quality and memorability. But what makes them equals is their perfect pairing: one to tear at your heartstrings and the other to empower you to get through it.

Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 320 kb/s mp3
Label: Mighty Music
Websites: raunchydk.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/ronniband
Releases Worldwide: August 14th, 2026

Hails from the #Metal capital of #Sweden, the one and only #Gothenburg! 🖤🇸🇪

This is holy ground… 🤘🏻

#amaranthe #atthegates #avatar #darktranquillity #engel #evergrey #hammerfall #inflames #thehaloeffect

#NowPlaying #Evergrey

I really dig this album and next month a new release is coming! I'm really curios how it will sound like :D

https://album.link/gwm4qdchfmwqp

#metal #progressivemetal #melodicmetal

New post: Evergrey announce new album ‘Architects Of A New Weave’ and drop title track https://moshville.co.uk/news/2026/03/evergrey-announce-new-album-architects-of-a-new-weave-and-drop-title-track/ #Evergrey