Metalcatto
Have you ever wondered what would happen if a Nu/Groove Metal band actually tried to be heavy? No? Well, me neither—but part of the reviewer’s job is to find things you weren’t even looking for (you get Post-Groove! Please make it stop!). And Noumenia – Echoes is exactly that. So my question before jumping into this wave of crystal-clear production is: is this album going to be Pantera good or Limp Bizkit bad? I’m almost equally afraid of both outcomes, but it’s time to give a chance to something slightly less from the sewers!
Right from the get-go, Echoes lets us know that it won’t be playing by the traditional rules of this rather commercial subgenre. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of tough-guy, dense, digestible riffs here, but there’s also an atmosphere—courtesy of the electronic layering—that, though reminding me of Linkin Park, feels much less edgy. Which is good, if you ask me. Despite how approachable Echoes seems on the surface, there are some elements that surprised me. I know it’s hard to believe given my general disdain for anything Nu/Groove.
The vocals are heavy, people! But let’s put them in context, okay? It’s not Cannibal Corpse gargling levels of brutality, but the fact that an album with radio-friendly riffs has a dude trying to brutalize the mic most of the time is already an achievement. Besides, the music might be direct, but it’s not devoid of substance. Noumenia does its best to avoid being generic. The results can make me feel conflicted, but there’s a real effort to find a compromise between the Nu and the underground.
Aww! They have matching tattoos!
Umm, but this is still an album with ideas that are way too familiar or concise for my snobbish attitude, and the production is cleaner than a surgery room (or at least I hope so!). It has that rocket-loudness typical of the early 2000s—a sound that feels more polished than an IG fitness influencer reel (oooff! That might be my cruelest comparison in a long time). Fine, but Echoes is fun and has a lot of groove. That’s exactly what we asked for here.
After the nameless level of abuse I’ve just hurled, I should say—despite my reservations with this style—Noumenia does a respectable job trying to make it sound more serious. The band isn’t trying too hard. It feels natural. So, like any cliché ex, I’ll say: the problem isn’t Echoes, the problem is me. So, for the kids that suddenly got into cargo pants in 2020—this is still your moment! Enjoy it, because it won’t last…
Label: Eclipse Records
Release date: 27 June, 2025
Website: https://www.facebook.com/noumeniaband
Country: Italy
Score: 3.0/5.0
Metal Eclipse Reviews 