For those who may be new to Italy’s Novembre, it may be something of a surprise to discover that they were originally a Death Metal outfit, fittingly for a band with roots in Rome, called Catacomb. It has been a long time since we have heard new music from them, 2016’s URSA being the last release.
Novembre – Words Of Indigo
Release Date: 7 November 2025
Words: Paul Hutchings
Since their inception, Novembre have featured amongst the leading lights of the Melodic Gothic Doom style, with harmonious vocals, lengthy passages of soaring melodies and soundscapes of cinematic quality. 
New album, Words Of Indigo, explores themes of danger and innocence, fear and nostalgia, with bursts of Death Metal surfacing amongst the more serene parts of each song.
Whilst opener Sun Magenta does not really see the band’s heavier side emerge, that is certainly not the case on Statua, where growls tussle with cleans in the vocals. Underneath a beautifully rich melody threads through the driving riffs.
The band’s ability to switch from crushingly heavy to ethereal fragility within seconds allows comparisons with peers such as Opeth, Katatonia, Swallow the Sun and Amorphis, whilst many others could also be included.
At 66 minutes in length, Words Of Indigo is an album that demands investment. At times, the musical ability of the band is exquisite.
Alongside founder member Carmelo Orlando, Novembre have brought fresh blood into the fold with the arrival of Fabio Fraschini on bass, replacing longtime member Massimiliano Pagiluso. He joins Alessio Erriu (guitar), Federico Albanese (guitar), and Yuri Croscenko (drums).
In an album of standout tracks, the inclusion of Ann-Mari Edvardsen on House Of Rain really shines. It is a magnificent song, sprawling over just short of eight minutes and features some blistering guitar work, controlled and passionate rhythm and drum work and more harmonies than you can absorb. It is followed by another fine song in Brontide, which drips with melancholy.
First single Your Holocene has an ’80s Gothic feel to it, as Carmelo confirms.”The main riff of this track is deeply rooted in the ’80s,” he says, “whether AOR or pop-rock. It’s hard to say exactly where it has sprung from, but I just know it’s extremely catchy. A true earworm.
“This song practically wrote itself. Its structure was ready within a couple of hours. The lyrics describe a primal soul, coming from a distant era, raw, rough, yet pure. A state of being in which many people are forced to live their existence, trapped with no way out, unaware of their rarity, purity, and yet, capacity to cause harm.”
Holocene also has a great change of tempo that will work magnificently live and provides an opportunity for a real sing-along.
Each song on Words Of Indigo is perfectly crafted. Whilst some might say that the Italians are overindulgent, my view is different. The compositions need time to breathe and build.
Chiesa Dell’alba (Church Of The Dawn) does exactly that, slowly expanding before the tempo increases dramatically, juxtaposed with some jarring time changes that add to the atmosphere, which moves into a darker, more sinister sound as the song evolves.
Words Of Indigo has been mixed and mastered by the legendary producer Dan Swanö (Opeth, Katatonia, Bloodbath) at Unisound Studios. Artwork for Words Of Indigo was created by renowned artist Travis Smith (Opeth, Katatonia).
Words Of Indigo is the complete package and a welcome return for Novembre, a band who have rightly stepped back into the light with an album crafted and created with care and perfection.
Novembre release Words Of Indigo on 7 November 2025 via Peaceville. Pre-orders are available at orcd.co/house_of_rain_listen.
