DELLA NOVA – Della Nova

This is a rather interesting British outfit that came about during the pandemic, and which falls somewhere between alt. rock and grunge with an original twist. Crafted and composed by main man Alex Bowmer, these eleven melodically strong compositions possess an experimental quality that sets them apart from much else out there, and the mood ranges from aggressive and brooding to reflective and calm, which makes for a nicely unpredictable listening experience with heaps of surprises popping up everywhere. Apart from a couple of somewhat pointless and unremarkable tracks, namely “Erica” and album closer “Welcome Home,” there are plenty of notable moments on the disc with an intrinsic excitement to them. “Stand Up” and “Rise with the Wind” in particular are impassioned and memorable affairs thanks to their rumbling bass lines, crunchy guitars, and solid grooves. The vocals tend to get the job done and are undoubtedly serviceable, but they are the Achilles heel of this musical enterprise and sometimes they fall short of matching the powerful riffs or conjuring up a catchy melody, so there is room for improvement in that department.

Overall, the experimental nature of the material is intriguing, and there is a wealth of good ideas to be enjoyed here. Definitely a band to keep an eye out for and a very worthwhile debut offering that fans of Alice in Chains, Mad Season, Royal Blood, and Deftones should make a note of.