I’m not even gonna play, I missed seeing NOX NOVACULA this summer at Skull Fest and I’m pretty sore about it. Feed the Fire was released shortly before, and I was hooked on the nine-song album of anthemic deathrock. Feed the Fire has its moments of introspection and downtempo gothic rock, but the majority of the songs are demanding change by any means and contain an energy to match. If you like 45 GRAVE or you keep up with CIERŃ, you’ll like this.
While it may be best to lump NOX NOVACULA under goth or post-punk, that would do a disservice to their sound. While many goth-inspired bands worship at the feet of ’80s mainstays, this EP has a very modern feel, and one inspired by acts that have been inspired by the post-metal world. The tense verses in “Hitchhiker” scream CHELSEA WOLFE or MARRIAGES, which give way to a more dark punk sounding chorus that provides both a sense of resolution and desperation at the same time. “Drug” has a bit more of an atmospheric feel, perhaps thanks to the synths, with a danceable chorus that somehow adds to the tumult of the vocalist’s lyrics. In all, the variety and originality in this little EP could win over deathrock naysayers.
