There’s something in the water about international acts who take an amalgamation of different heavy subgenres to make things very palatable for a host of followers. Italian group Noumenia may have started as an instrumental outfit in 2018, but with the addition of vocalist Vivian Nigro continued their journey in experimentation, leading finally to this debut album Echoes. The four-piece incorporates elements all across the metalcore, groove metal, and modern spectrum – ensuring across these ten tracks a diverse attack that is as exciting as it is engaging.
Stunted instrumental breakdowns take “The Circle” around Meshuggah / djent territory, although the swirling guitar lines and straightforward rhythm section parts for the main verses / chorus align well with most current bands that achieve regular Octane or Liquid Metal satellite radio airings. The industrial / electronic passages convey more of a colder, Marilyn Manson haunting vibe – a perfect contrast to the naturally venomous screams or galvanizing roars Vivian issues in cuts like “Outsider” and addictive “Black Ocean”. Many will appreciate the production skills from Richard Meiz (Lacuna Coil), who provides a favorable crunchy guitar presence next to a solid snare / kick snap that elevates the hook factor throughout. The sense of pace where ambient or serene spots take the next subsequent heavier salvo to bigger places – check out the quieter 13 second introduction to an otherwise Soilwork-like “Firewall”, brimming with those melodic metalcore/death riffs plus supplementary keyboard elements that cause massive headbanging swells in the pits. Psychological turmoil in a societal / political mess seems to be a heavy concept tackled in many of these lyrics, looking at things from an inside to outside point of view where individuals can take back control from these bigger world entities. The record ends on more of a soundtrack note through “Under the Veil”, the whispered vocals, eerie guitars, and electronic rhythm section underpinning something that could be explored more on future records.
Echoes is the work of a band in Noumenia that has appreciation for decades of heavy bands across multiple styles. The foundation has plenty of potential as the band gets more seasoning, and it could be ideal for a lot of people into catchier forms of modern music.