The Band
Novelists (or Novelists FR) are a French progressive metalcore band from Paris, formed in 2013.
Band Members
- Camille Contreras – vocals
- Florestan Durand – guitar
- Pierre Danel – guitar
- Nicolas Delestrade – bass guitar
- Amael Durand – drums
The Album
Okapi is an EP, released on May 9th, 2024.
After two previous singers, Okapi along with some previous singles, presents their third vocalist, and the first female member of the band, Camille Contreras.
Camille was involved in recording the harmonies and the feature in the title track of the Novelists’s album C’est La Vie, in 2020. And, a couple of years after that, she is now the current singer of the band.
The band has said that Camille brought new life to them, like a breath of fresh air.
The Songs
1. Okapi. Soft song. Gorgeous guitar work. Camille’s voice is soothing and marvelous.
Talks about facing fears together, and not being scared.
The video is different from the studio version because here they also added a gospel choir and Camille’s voice is live, but it’s a fantastic version, anyway.
2. Mourning The Dawn. Synths and a very atmospheric track. Camille does some beautiful chants and the breakdown drops with her growls in the back and the stunning guitar solo starts. Then, the song returns to its previous melody.
It’s about relationship problems, she wants to return with her love, but he doesn’t.
3. Prisoner. Heavier. Camille does harsh vocals, except for the chorus and bridge. Djent guitar. The song finishes with her and an acoustic guitar, and then only her humming of the melody, an isolated, lovely way to end the song.
Clean and harsh vocals, even a bit of hip-hop and hardcore.
The lyrics are about transformation and inner strength, overcoming personal struggles.
I knew this song for a while, and I liked it, that’s why I wanted to review this EP to get to know more about this band. Great guitar solo.
4. Turn It Up (Keyboard Warriors Social Club). Industrial, more on the rock side, with a synth, then drop to the heavy instruments, nasty bass, guitar solo, electronic beats, breakdown, and Camille doing growls.
Camille also plays cello in this song. She used to play violoncello and piano when she was a kid. Then she did screams in a hardcore band, and after that, she was part of a pop duo.
She also has a background in classic dance and that’s why she dances along with some of her dance friends in the video.
Final Thoughts
I knew some songs of Novelists with their previous singers, but this new era with Camille is so much better (for my taste), I hope they release a new proper album soon.
Camille’s talent aside, my favorite parts are the guitar works and solos, they have a blues feel that gives them more texture and richness and also differentiates them from the typical metal guitar solo.
Good EP, and can’t wait to hear more from this line-up.
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Tracklist
- Okapi
- Mourning The Dawn
- Prisoner
- Turn It Up (Keyboard Warriors Social Club)