Rating: 9 / 10 Stars
NOVERIA is: Francesco Marino – Vocals, Francesco Mattei – Guitar, Paolo Campitelli – Keyboards, Andrea Arcangeli – Bass, Paolo Conte – Drums
REVIEW – NOVERIA has never been a band interested in playing things safe, and Becoming After finds the Italian progressive/symphonic power metal outfit pushing its sound even further. Built around massive riffs, cinematic arrangements, soaring melodies, technical musicianship, and an emotional undercurrent that runs throughout the record, the band’s fifth full-length feels heavier and more expansive without losing the melodic identity that has defined them.
Produced, mixed, and mastered by guitarist Francesco Mattei at Underworld Studio, Becoming After is an album rooted in transformation. Its songs carry the weight of struggle, survival, and moving forward, balancing aggression against atmosphere and vulnerability against sheer power. There is a sense throughout the album that NOVERIA is not simply trying to sound larger, but to make every layer of the music feel more meaningful.
“The Only Way” opens the album with immediate energy. The riffs hit hard, the rhythm section drives forward, and Francesco Marino’s vocals give the track the kind of commanding presence that should have a crowd on its feet from the opening moments. It feels built for a live setting, where raised fists and shouted choruses would come naturally.
“Convicted To Rise” keeps that momentum moving with a defiant edge. The track has the kind of pulse that encourages fist pumping, headbanging, and chanting along with the band. There is real force behind the performance, but the song never sacrifices melody for aggression.
“Echoes From The Abyss” dives deeper into the heavier side of the record. Thick riffs, thundering rhythms, and powerful vocals give the track serious weight, while the arrangement keeps enough room open for the melodic and atmospheric elements to breathe. It is a strong example of how NOVERIA blends heaviness and precision without allowing either one to dominate completely.
“Cold Flames” shifts the mood into something more atmospheric and immersive. The track feels designed to pull the listener away from the physical intensity of the earlier songs and deeper into the album’s emotional world. Guest keyboard work from Mistheria adds another layer to the arrangement and strengthens the cinematic quality of the song.
“The Viper’s Nest” is driven by pulsating rhythms, pounding drums, thick bass, and a strong vocal performance from Marino. The song carries a sense of tension that builds through the instrumentation, giving it an almost relentless forward motion. It is heavy without becoming one-dimensional and technical without losing its emotional edge.
“Infinite Horizons” provides one of the album’s more reflective moments. There is a distant, almost nostalgic quality to the song, as though the music is reaching backward through memory while still pushing forward. The atmosphere gives the track a different kind of strength and serves as an important contrast to the heavier material around it.
“Through Your Light” is one of the record’s most ambitious tracks. Scorching guitar leads, soaring vocals, dramatic keyboards, and expansive arrangements all come together in a showcase of the band’s musicianship. The appearance of legendary pianist and composer Mike Moran gives the track additional depth, and the performance never feels like a guest feature added simply for name value. It fits naturally into the scale of the song.
“Heavenfall” brings the album’s physical energy back to the forefront. This is the kind of track that demands volume, with riffs and rhythms that make it almost impossible to sit still. It feels built for fist pumping and headbanging, and the band plays with the kind of confidence that should translate perfectly to the stage.
“Radiance” throws nearly everything NOVERIA does well into one track. Thunderous drums, heavy bass, soaring keyboards, screaming guitar leads, and elevated vocals all collide without becoming cluttered. The complexity is there, but the song still feels focused. It is one of the strongest demonstrations on the album of how the band can layer technical ability and melody without losing control of the composition.
The title track, “Becoming After,” closes the record on a more atmospheric note. Rather than ending with another massive burst of heaviness, the band allows the music to drift outward, giving the listener space to absorb what came before. It feels cinematic, reflective, and open-ended, letting the imagination take over as the album reaches its conclusion.
One of the biggest strengths of Becoming After is the way NOVERIA balances technical ability with emotional purpose. The band is clearly capable of complex arrangements and impressive musicianship, but the album rarely feels as though those elements exist only to prove what the musicians can do. The riffs, keyboards, orchestrations, vocals, and changing dynamics all serve the larger emotional direction of the songs.
That broader sound is strengthened by the album’s additional contributors. Alongside Mike Moran and Mistheria, the record features real string arrangements and performances from violinist Abigail Stahlschmidt and cellist Luca Basile. Those elements help reinforce the album’s cinematic character while giving some of the songs additional emotional weight.
The production also deserves attention. Recording at Underworld Studio, Francesco Mattei gives the album a sound that is polished enough to handle its layers while still allowing the performances to retain power and personality. The guitars remain heavy, the rhythm section has real impact, and the keyboards and orchestral elements never feel buried.
With Becoming After, NOVERIA sounds like a band fully committed to moving forward. The darker tones, heavier arrangements, and expanded cinematic approach give the record a strong identity, while the melodies and emotional core keep it from becoming cold or overly technical.
This is an album that rewards both immediate reaction and repeated listening. The riffs hit hard on the first pass, but the layers, arrangements, and emotional details reveal more over time. NOVERIA has delivered a record that feels powerful, ambitious, and deeply focused.
Becoming After is a strong statement from a band that continues to evolve without abandoning what made its music compelling in the first place.
For more information on NOVERIA, visit:
www.NoveriaOfficial.com
www.Facebook.com/NoveriaOfficial
www.X.com/NoveriaOfficial
www.Instagram.com/NoveriaOfficial
www.Spotify.com/Artist/Noveria
