Andrea Casanova is not just inspired by the greats of the genre, she’s a fully-fledged fan and it shows in the way RAINOVER have masterfully replicated the penetrating atmospheres of their predecessors. It isn’t imitation, though – RAINOVER steer much more riff-focused than many of their peers and are refreshingly unfocused on being the heaviest or most bombastic act in the scene. They deliver a beautifully well-rounded median that is significantly less populated, earning them some deserved reverence as one of the most promising acts in modern gothic metal.
It’s brave to launch into an album with a mid-tempo but ‘Lobo’ is the ideal way to enter their sophomore effort Nox. With its restrained refrain punctuated by Casnova’s wolf howls, the track is quite possibly the catchiest hook of their career to date. False Saturn Devours takes a heavier, more energizing turn, the vocalist channelling a demonic persona as she dares you to engage whilst the semi-title track Moon in Nox and Aether stick tightly to the astral theme of the record. Amongst them is the most intimate and haunting track The Shadowmen, a power ballad that twists the metaphorical horror with reality as we find a vulnerable Casanova flanked by intimidating figures.
Across the entire album, RAINOVER show – as they did on their debut – a remarkable skill for earworm vocal lines and melodies that steer left of centre. Nox strikes that enviable balance of catchy immediacy interspersed with plenty of flourishing elements that emerge on repeated listens. Lumina Omnia, a duet with the powerhouse DRACONIAN vocalist Anders Jacobsson, is a perfect example of the latter as it contorts across its near seven-minute runtime with enough hooks to make every turn worthwhile.
Another inspired area of RAINOVER’s balance is in the peppered use of sparky, invigorating keyboards. Bands have often gone too far in one direction, either yearning intently for the miserable, misty haze of the 90s gothic greats TRISTANIA and THE SINS OF THY BELOVED or shifting firmly in the electro direction that bands like PARADISE LOST and THEATRE OF TRAGEDY were unfairly critiqued for (Assembly and Musique by the latter are great albums and I’ll die on that hill!). E-motionless makes the most of the throbbing keys, further ascending the album’s most contagious, horns-in-the-air anthem.
RAINOVER were met with many hurdles when releasing Nox which delayed its release significantly. The fact that the album was recorded nearly four years ago and still sounds fresh, accomplished and vibrant upon release is a great sign for its longevity and the sheer tenacity of the group. Put simply, Nox is worth every second of the extended wait – whether you’re new to RAINOVER or have been anxiously awaiting for more in the decade since their debut, Nox is sure to delight any gothic metal enthusiast.
Rating: 9/10
Words: Simon McMurdo
Nox is out now.
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