NOVA RIOT 'Blood, Lies & Lullabies'

NOVA RIOT
Blood, Lies & Lullabies
Eclipse Records

The bubblegum alternative metal group NOVA RIOT released their first full-length album, Blood, Lies & Lullabies, on August 21st. NOVA RIOT formed in Durant, Oklahoma, with Nova Ray on vocals, Orion on bass guitar, and Ares on lead guitar. The album covers themes like growth, mental health, self-mastery, and making difficult choices, all themes that make this record very worth the play.

Track #1: “Haunting Me“

This song is largely about grief in the form of a past relationship that lingers. The raw vocals help communicate the feelings of sorrow and lost love. It starts out with a quieter kind of grief- the kind you experience before the storm comes. The ending chorus is extremely strong, which I feel represents the grief you experience when everything is coming down around you.

Track #2: “Midnight Coven Crush” (VIDEO HERE)

“Midnight Coven Crush” has a more assertively powerful sound than the other tracks on the album, carrying a sense of defiance and a commanding tone. With its punchy lyrics and dominant attitude, I can see this track becoming an alternative girl-power anthem. This song is about female power and bodily autonomy — a message I think metal music could use more of.

Track #3: “Casket”

This song begins with atmospheric-sounding vocals and strong instrumentals that last throughout the entire song. It’s a song about relationships and vulnerability within relationships, surrendering yourself to someone else; the lyrics “Would you crawl into my casket if the end is near?” showcase this message very well. This song is very controlled, which is something I enjoy hearing in the middle of an album.

Track #4: “The Altar” (feat. The Bunny The Bear) (VIDEO HERE) 

“The Altar” opens with a gorgeous piano arrangement that had me instantly hooked. After the piano comes the entry of the guitars, which is very strong and sudden, bringing the listener into the vibe of the song. This track is about surrendering yourself to a person or a force, a recurring theme throughout the album.

Track #5: “Like I Meant It” (VIDEO HERE)

This song to me plays as a revenge song, with someone leaving a relationship and hoping the other person realizes they messed up. Objectively, the track is more focused on making tough life choices and walking away when you need to. This song, like the others, has a very strong lead guitar, blending with the powerful lyrics to push the message across and make it resonate with the audience.

Track #6: “Through The Storm”

This is my favorite song on the album. It opens with a synth, which I love to hear in harder music, and again leads to a strong guitar and atmospheric vocals. After the previous songs’ messages about hardships, vulnerability, and tough life choices, I enjoy hearing a song about making it through difficult times and coming out stronger. The chorus is extremely powerful, giving me the feeling of looking back on a hard time you’ve been through and realizing you made it.

Track #7: “Sorry Mom”

This song’s lyrics read like a letter to someone about the writer’s mental health, in particular about feeling remorse for hurting someone close to them through their actions. It hits hard for anyone who struggles with mental health issues, especially those who have accidentally hurt people close to them. The track has several spoken-word sections, which make it seem even more like a message to someone.

Overall, this album has a very atmospheric feel with strong instrumentals throughout. I don’t find it overly perfected or polished, which is something I hate hearing in modern music. The rawness of the vocals helps the meaning of the album come across clearly. It sends a message of vulnerability and sacrifice, which I feel was intentional. This album is extremely well-made, and anyone who likes female-fronted metal bands will absolutely enjoy listening to it.

4.2 Out Of 5.0