Genre/Influences: Gothic, dark-wave, dark-rock. 

Format: Digital, Vinyl.

Background/Info: French formation Nova Et Vetera has been active since 1998. “Au Delà” is the band’s third album, which was released in 2019.

Content: The tracklist is rather diversified although there are only 9 tracks featured. The album takes off a rather typical 80s dark-wave style reminding me a bit of The Virgin Prunes. We next get songs, which are more into dark-rock passages, but always merged with good-old dark-wave elements. Some pieces are dreamy-like while others are filled with a melancholic flavor. Most of the vocals are sung in English, but the female vocals are in French.

+ + + : If you like the dark hours of the 80s dark/cold-wave era, Nova Et Vetera is for sure a band that will catch your attention. The guitar playing empowers this darkness hanging over the songs. I have a preference for the more melancholic sounding “So Sick” and its delicate tune.

– – – :  “Au Delà” sounds cool and fully enjoyable, but is missing a total apotheosis. And that’s for sure the real difference with some legendary 80s bands.

Conclusion: “Au Delà” is an easy listening opus, but not exactly what I would call a must have!

Best songs: “So Sick”, “A Pipe Dream”, “Playtime”.

Rate: (6).

Artist: www.novaetvetera.net / www.facebook.com/LegroupeNovaEtVetera

Label: www.manicdepressionrecords.com / www.facebook.com/manicdepressionrecords