UK prog metal/rock band Novena have today released the song ‘Indestructible’ as the latest single from their forthcoming debut album, ‘Eleventh Hour’, which is out on 6th March via Frontiers.
Novena established themselves on the UK and international prog scenes in 2016 with the release of their widely praised experimental EP ‘Secondary Genesis’. Boasting the unmatchable voice of Ross Jennings (HAKEN) and inimitable poetry of Gareth Mason (Slice The Cake), the blistering guitar work of Dan Thornton (ex-HAARP Machine, ex-No Sin Evades His Gaze) and invariably musical drumming of Cameron Spence (Ravenface), plus the expressive and versatile bass playing of Moat Lowe (Slugdge, ex-NSEHG) and the complex and nuanced compositions of guitarist/keyboardist Harrison White, the band always delivers something greater than the sum of its parts.
Novena’s music moves from the profound to the profane, from the fragile to the unforgiving, and from the introspective to the utterly destructive, exploring a plethora of different genres along the way. Despite this, every song on ‘Eleventh Hour’ has a solid and personal identity with memorable choruses. The band state that “some songs took years of careful tinkering, while others were written in one sitting during an insomniatic delirium. The aesthetic was always designed to serve, the story. Whatever the song wanted, we gave it.”
Lyrically, they describe the album as “an exploration of twilight, a dance in the space between life and death, a collection of swan songs from people real or imagined. Something that connects us all as human beings is the inevitability of death, and yet we all have our own totally unique experiences of it. Those who have experienced it can never share their stories. Those who have not, cannot contemplate it; all we can do is ask questions and tell stories. ‘Eleventh Hour’ follows the last days of several characters who, whilst separated by space and time, are connected by something greater.”
The song ‘Indestructible’ is “about the follies of escapism. Trauma is an agile predator, and no matter how fast you may run, or how well you may hide, it will not cease its pursuit until you turn to face it. Hedonism, indulgence, and debauchery are often the product of a troubled mind which in itself is no sin, but where might they lead if never challenged?”
As for its accompanying video, guitarist/keyboardist Harrison White adds that “my background is in theatre, working as a writer/composer/director. As such, I often take a directorial role in the production of our videos. For me, the essence of the video is one of voyeurism. We watch someone watching something. What they see, and what we see, is often unpleasant; yet, we find entertainment in it. I love storytelling, and as such I enjoy music videos which include a narrative element to support the artwork. However, due to my own interpretation of the story of the song, I wanted to avoid a literal representation of the content on screen. Instead, much like in the [previous single] ‘Disconnected’ video, I wanted to select a series of motifs which evoke a significant moment in the life of the character, adding colour and shape to the story, whilst leaving the door open as to what it signifies. The audience can bring to the images their
own story.”
ELEVENTH HOUR
TRACKLISTING
1 22:58
2 22:59
3 Sun Dance
4 Disconnected
5 Sail Away
6 Lucidity
7 Corazón
8 Indestructible
9 The Tyrant
10 Prison Walls
NOVENA
Ross Jennings – vocals
Gareth Mason – vocals
Harrison White – guitar, keyboards
Dan Thornton – guitar
Moat Lowe – bass
Cameron Spence – drums
