NOVELISTS | C'est La Vie | Album Review

In terms of modern metalcore bands, Novelists definitely stick out in a sea that can lead to similarity at times. After touring relentlessly during their cycle promoting their previous album "Noir", the band is back in action with the follow-up junior record, "C'est La Vie". Novelists may be the name that the band is known by, but due to legal battles that have taken place, the band is now known globally as Novelists FR, the "FR" for obvious reasons indicating that they're a French band. The metalcore act's new studio album is a continuation of the melodic style found on the band's previous album. Whereas the debut "Souvenirs" was undoubtedly heavy, both "Noir" and "C'est La Vie" go further past the metalcore style into something more colorful and vibrant. Novelists is a band that is able to pull this off well with a unique vocal delivery from frontman Matt Gelsomino and the ever technical guitar work that is part metalcore and part djent. It's a combination that is omnipresent in today's metal scene, but as previously indicated, Novelists are unique in their approach to combine the two styles as well as their attempts to focus on melody and a decent ratio of screamed versus sung vocals, and "C'est La Vie" is definitely proof that the band is confident in the direction they're taking.

Before the album was released, the band teased the album with the promotional single "Head Rush", which was followed by several other singles including opening track "Somebody Else" and the title cut. "Head Rush" appears in the second half of "C'est La Vie" as track 6, but it still works to highlight both the melodic approach in the band's writing and composition, and the characteristics of this band as a whole. This song feels like it has elements that could appeal to any metal music fan, deviating from heavier sections with technical guitar work and harsh vocals to softer sections with singing and beautiful clean guitar work. These softer parts are what makes "Head Rush" a major highlight on this album, as the drumwork and Gelsomino's delivery work very well in the verses. Even the bridge where it combines clean guitars with screamed vocals is well executed and wraps you into the atmosphere of the song, and it's one of the tracks on "C'est La Vie" that they spent the most time on in terms of that. The album's opening track, "Somebody Else", is not nearly as good although they do work in some delectable ear candy when it comes to the guitarwork, and Gelsomino expands his vocal range to solid results. It works as a prelude to the rest of the album, but it clearly is not the best track on "C'est La Vie" as it is more middle of the road to be honest.

The first three tracks on the album, "Somebody Else", "Deep Blue", and "Lilly", are all similar sounding in the fact that they are played in the same key and have similar tempos. The latter song, "Lilly", is worth noting as it deviates a little further than the two tracks that preceded it, especially in its beginning with the brief rap-styled delivery. The song then delves into a personal track about missing someone that has passed on or left, and it's highly convincing especially with the musicianship at hand. It's surely a highlight on the album for sure. The title track is another highlight as Novelists charts another island entirely with their sound, that being ballad territory. Guest vocalist Camille Contreras contributes and has solid chemistry with Gelsomino, and it serves as an excellent refresher from everything else on the album. This is especially since "Modern Slave" precedes it, and it's one of the heavier tracks on "C'est La Vie" and a stellar one at that. "Kings Of Ignorance" is another track that showcases Novelists at their most aggressive and features a solid guest spot in the form of Florent Salfati of Landmvrks. The final track, "Human Condition", is also worth noting as it is one of the premier highlights on the album in my opinion. The vocal melody is unique and Aaron Marshall of Intervals provides an excellent solo that puts his talent at the forefront. It's an excellent closing track that fits right at home with the other high-quality tracks on "C'est La Vie", and will make you want more.

"C'est La Vie" is not devoid of flaws, however. I already mentioned the similarity in sound between the first three tracks, but overall I wasn't as moved by this album as I was by "Noir", which featured more diversity in comparison even though it is a very close margin. Also, the length is short at only nine tracks and while every song on here is a showcase of quality in some way, there isn't a track on this album that really elevates everything to phenomenal status, like "A Travers Le Miroir" for example. Also, there are tracks that are not as good, such as the aforementioned "Somebody Else" and "Deep Blue", and "Rain" near the end of the album. With that said, there is still a lot of effort in the final product and the transitions from heavy to soft work effectively across the entirety of this 37 minute album. Novelists are heralded by some people as a rising star in the metal scene, and with the material on "C'est La Vie", that statement seems to be highly accurate. While it isn't perfect, Novelists still delivered an album that's worth hearing and delivers in the biggest way possible when it tries to. Overall, Novelists' third studio album is a blissful foray into melody-enfused metalcore continued from the band's previous material with little that detracts from the overall experience. If you are a fan of bands in this scene and haven't scoped this album or band out, the best I can say is that these novelists published something moving in the year 2020.

RATING: 8/10

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