Nova Charisma began in 2019 as a side project of vocalist Donovan Melero (Hail the Sun, Sianvar) and guitarist Sergio Medina (Stolas, Sianvar, Royal Coda). Better known for their progressive post-hardcore sound in their respective main projects, Melero and Medina started Nova Charisma as a way to explore comparatively more direct and accessible songwriting.

Across three short EPs released between 2019 and 2020, the project deftly toed the line between its creators’ sonic boundaries, without becoming too radically different from the core sound fans have come to expect. After this initial burst of activity, Nova Charisma became largely inactive for several years as the project was put on the back burner in favor of Melero’s work in Hail the Sun and Medina’s various other commitments, including touring as bassist of Dance Gavin Dance.

Now, Nova Charisma have returned with their debut full-length album Metropolitan, delivering a tight 10-track collection that shows Melero and Medina’s creative partnership reinvigorated after several years of successes in their other projects.

Opener “Smoking Gun at the Metropolitan” opens with an off-kilter groovy lead riff and dynamic pounding drums, with Melero’s vocals immediately delivering a jolt of energy in a way that is both familiar to fans of Hail the Sun, yet demonstrative of his more hook-laden writing approach for this project.

Across this album’s lean runtime, the songwriting duo of Melero and Medina are unafraid of embracing bright hooks and singalong melodies, as the project overall leans further into alt rock ambition to provide balance to their natural progressive rock tendencies. High-energy anthems like “Irresistible Frame” are matched with more subdued, vulnerable tracks like second single “Stolen From Each Other”, as the album overall explores themes of heartbreak and longing as a relationship is falling apart.

While this is hardly revolutionary lyrical content for an alternative rock album, Melero’s passionate delivery consistently sells the emotion at the center of these tracks, and it’s refreshing to hear him writing so directly here, in contrast to the often more metaphorical and layered storytelling of Hail the Sun.

Standout “Two Eighty” contrasts a somber piano melody in the verses with a driving distorted riff in the song’s hook, as the lyrics tackle the difficult topic of political and religious dividing lines in our increasingly polarized society.

If any major criticism can be leveled at Metropolitan, it’s a similar one to many of its’ creators recent releases in their other projects – namely a lack of truly big swings into unfamiliar territory and a certain familiarity throughout. Melero’s vocal style is so instantly recognizable that, when paired with a familiar collaborator like Medina as composer, the results will understandably feel somewhat safe despite both of their best efforts.

This is certainly a release that will satisfy longtime fans, as well as post-hardcore listeners looking for a set of catchy, well-written anthems. One can hope that as the project continues, Nova Charisma will challenge themselves a bit more to break out of the “Swancore” scene with which they’ve built their following.

Rating: 8/10

Release Date: 8/9/24

track list:

Smoking Gun at the Metropolitan

The Better It Gets

Irresistible Frame

All My Thoughts Into Hooks

Stolen From Each Other

Prophet

Every Walk To Your Apartment

Where Do You Come From?

Two Eighty

Pain Giver

reviewed by Alex Dansereau