Niovel - Please Tell Me More

Niovel

Please Tell Me More
self-released; 2024

By Matt Jensen

Niovel, the creative force helmed by Josefiene "Fiene" Pertosa (vocals, lyrics, composition) and Simon Krajewski (composition, production, instrumentation, backing vocals, lyrics), return with their fourth studio effort, Please Tell Me More. This ten-track opus sees the duo embracing their symphonic and power metal roots while inviting long-time collaborators Hannah Bullock, Nicole Jaskot, Nassim Arastoopour, along with guest appearances by Kaj Żukowski (Neferious) and Jean-Michel Kellermann on guitar. Together, they craft a sound that is equal parts cinematic and thunderous, a testament to the duo's steadfast commitment to the genre.

The album sets its tone with "Innocence," an orchestral prologue that feels pulled from the opening sequence of an epic film. Warm strings and an ethereal harp lay the groundwork for spoken word passages that sound like they belong in a dimly lit theater, evoking a sense of grandeur and anticipation. It’s an arresting start, but things truly kick into gear with "Almost No Dark Secrets." Here, Niovel flex their technical prowess, unleashing a tightly executed track that channels the intricate virtuosity of Dream Theater. Pertosa’s angelic vocals float above the chaos, creating a striking contrast that’s amplified by ghostly soundscapes and swirling layers of instrumentation. It’s an opener that leaves no doubt: this album isn’t pulling any punches.

The record’s ambition continues to swell with "Caravan," an expansive, haunting track where razor-sharp guitars carve through moments of atmospheric silence. The push-and-pull dynamics lend the song a cinematic weight, each crescendo hitting with a calculated precision. "The Powers That Control You" follows suit with relentless shredding and a fantasy-tinged mystique that wouldn’t feel out of place in Middle-earth. Niovel shifts gears with the title track, "Please Tell Me More," a lush piano ballad that trades bombast for intimacy, showcasing the duo's ability to weave quiet beauty into their stormy soundscapes.

“Fire Be Mine” cranks the intensity back up with towering peaks and surprising moments of tranquility, while "Downward, Downward" is drenched in choral harmonies that conjure images of medieval knights chanting in unison. The balance between ferocity and grandeur remains a defining feature. Synth-laden "Getting Away" stands out as a sonic experiment, while "Only Sanctuary" delivers a more straightforward, hard-hitting anthem.

The album’s closer, "There Is No Escape," is a sprawling, nearly fourteen-minute epic that refuses to sit still. Packed with twists, turns, and climactic flourishes, it feels like the culmination of everything Niovel has been building toward—a labyrinthine journey through the heart of their musical ethos.

​For fans of symphonic metal’s heyday in the ‘80s and ‘90s, Please Tell Me More is a lovingly crafted homage to the genre’s grandiosity, but it’s also a bold statement from a band that refuses to be tethered by nostalgia. With impeccable production, virtuosic performances, and a clear passion for the theatrical, Niovel keeps the symphonic metal flame burning brightly.

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