NOVERIA – Becoming After

Noveria are an Italian progressive metal band formed by guitarist Francesco Mattei in 2014. With their majestic and orchestral arrangements, they are not far off from bands like Dream Theater, Symphony X, Kamelot, and Nevermore. Noveria’s fifth studio album, Becoming After, will be released through Scarlet Records on August 21, 2026. According to the band’s bio, their goal is to create a headbanging experience with a melodic twist, combining massive guitar riffs with soaring, atmospheric keyboards atop technically crafted solos. The band takes inspiration from symphonic metal, industrial metal, and death metal. The lineup that plays on the album includes Francesco Marino on lead vocals, Mattei on guitars, Andrea Arcangeli on bass guitar, Paolo Campitelli on keyboards, and Paolo Conte on drums.

To Infinity and Freedom

One word that best describes Becoming After is liberating, from the song lyrics to the instrumentation. “The Only Way” is the grand and alluring album opener about finding inner strength when all hope is lost. “Cold Flames” briefly flirts with death metal for the song’s bridge with screamo vocals and overall, there’s a lot going on in the song with differing tempo changes and melodic sidesteps. “The Viper’s Nest” is the longest song on the album with a run time of 6:54. However, it doesn’t feel long at all because of the storytelling aspects shaping the song. There’s the dark and atmospheric instrumentation combined with Marino’s captivating vocals and the song’s message of rising from adversity. “Through Your Light” is a beautiful, symphony-esque ballad with a dramatic flare. The title track is the hauntingly, gorgeous instrumental that closes the album. The operatic backing vocals from the 1:12 to the 1:39 mark, by the way, were a nice touch!

Depending on the listener, the arrangements can feel overwhelming to the point where it’s nearly impossible to remember the song titles because there is so much going on. All of the songs lack a solid hook to latch onto, which is no problem for the underground metal scene, but for new listeners trying to branch out of their musical bubble, that’s a big problem. None of the songs are catchy nor memorable. The likelihood of an AC/DC fan giving Noveria’s Becoming After two listens is one in a billion. Would it even be a stretch to say Becoming After is too long? As a background album, the time goes by fast. But reading the lyrics while listening to the album is like waiting for pigs to fly.

Final Assessment

But, maybe that’s what the band wanted all along. All artists want is the freedom to create the music that they want to make without anyone trying to stir them in another direction. Maybe Noveria did just that with Becoming After. Maybe that’s what they’ve been doing since the very first record. Commercial or not, Becoming After is an album full of complicated, yet insightful musical arrangements that draw confusion, yet fascination at the same time. The album won’t click with everyone, but they’ll click with some people. For those who are interested in soaring and uplifting progressive metal, give Noveria’s Becoming After a chance!

Album Tracklist

1. The Only Way
2. Convicted to Rise
3. Echoes from the Abyss
4. Cold Flames
5. The Viper’s Nest
6. Infinite Horizons
7. Through Your Light
8. Heavenfall
9. Radiance
10. Becoming After

Band Lineup

Francesco Marino – lead vocals
Francesco Mattei – guitars
Andrea Arcangeli – bass guitar
Paolo Campitelli – keyboards
Paolo Conte – drums

Check out the music video for “Echoes from the Abyss” from Noveria’s Becoming After album!