Novelists - Coda (2025)

Creating a very unique and engaging style of Metalcore, today we have France’s Novelists and their latest opus “Coda”. Mixing elements from Progressive Metal, Post-Rock, Djent, alongside some electronic/Industrial elements, the band manages to unleash a very engaging and diverse ten tracks and over 40 minutes of music. Fronted now by Camille Contreras, the band’s sound is quite lush and crafty, providing tons of unique soundscapes along the way. Be prepared from Metalcore unlike you have never heard before.

Opening with the complete banger “Say My Name”, the band oozes melancholy alongside playful melodies. Camille’s vocals are dreamy and the perfect addition to the band’s dynamic sound, giving them a different edge. Continuing with the Djenty/Industrial antics of the album title track, the band quickly shows versatility and tons of new ideas, as well as some powerful growls. However, what hooked us is the soaring chorus sections and crafty instrumentation, creating a very hectic and yet magical pace.

The band goes from the dreamy atmospherics and masterful guitar leads of “All For Nothing” and “Adam and Eve”, to more experimental weirdness and, Djent-ish onslaughts of “Maldicion de la Bruja”, all the way to the Jinjer-esque onslaughts of “Adam and Eve”, and “CRC”. However, it is tracks like “Sleepless Nights” and “78 rue..” that make this outfit completely unconventional and very expansive, always keeping a new ace under their sleeve, while creating masterful mixtures of genres.

Closing with the dreamy Post-Rock-ish “K.O.”, Novelists definitely have pushed Metalcore to a whole new level with their interpretation of it. While there are heavy and powerful sections, all the additional elements and ideas is what makes “Coda” a very engaging and awesome release in general. The purists will be upset, but we don’t need all bands to sound alike and these guys definitely do not sound like anybody else. Do not miss out on a truly unique and different release with this one.

Label: Novemvrks

Release: May 16th, 2025

Genre: Progressive Metalcore/Djent/Industrial

Country: France