Toiling in virtually global anonymity for more than twenty years, became a fan of these Italians in the mid-90s, when desperate for real metal on these shores, began looking for all vestiges of new material and a cassette copy of their '94 debut “Wish I Could Dream It Again” showed up in my mailbox. At that time, Novembre were sort of riding the gloriously depressive, atmospheric death/doom wave popularized in Europe by Paradise Lost. They eventually went (musically) elsewhere. Honestly, it's been more than a decade since I paid any attention to their output (my fault, not theirs), so here's our re-acquaintance.

Still predominately a somber drone, with clean vocals and occasional hint of growls, they wander a like-minded path to classic Opeth and Katatonia (two other followers of the Paradise path), although currently remain "heavier" than either the aforementioned. Surprisingly entitled 'The Rose' possesses some of the most aggressive moments, musically and vocally. Tingling of piano ivories creeps alongside the pedestrian guitar riffing 'Easter', sort of black metal (vocal) lite. Jangly, almost acoustic guitars, float atop an airy sung 'Oceans Of Afternoons', with its offbeat signature changes and ending saxophone. Single 'Annoluce' (which sees a guest appearance by Katatonia guitarist Anders Nyström) ups the tempo, from a trot to a canter (no gallops around here), even showcasing a solo six-string, albeit it briefly.

The initial third of the 9:22, predominately instrumental 'Agathae' is a lilting, folky soundscape, before taking on a more staccato, metal urgency, complete with guttural black metal intonations, before falling back to lucidity, come the end. Speaking off abrasive sounds, check out the fiery 'Bremen', very reminiscent of Mr. Akerfeldt's troupe, but with gruff voice intact. Moments of conventional melodies mixed with ever changing, challenging ideas, recommended for those with an adventurous streak. Mainstay Carmelo Orlando explains the title is, "The acronym for Union des Républiques Socialistes Animales, which was the title initially chosen for the French translation of George Orwell’s masterpiece Animal Farm.”