From Bandcamp, “The journey of NOVARUPTA ends February 12^th, 2025, with “Astral Sands” as the tetralogy is complete. Each part contains concepts connected to the elements and each album is by itself a conceptual album with a life of its own, yet also a smaller part of a bigger picture, that is completed with the journey through the four albums and elements. The main constants in the band has been Alex Stjernfeldt and Arjen Kunnen with immense and unrelenting support from Roger Andersson of Suicide Records, but the band was always more of a collective art project than a band that worked with different vocalists on each song, making each song a unique journey.”

The album has nine songs, and “Ensamstaende: Enastaende” is first; a short, three minutes of clean, somber tones, and supporting atmosphere. “Seven Collides” has a steadier and heavier presence, with a slower, and more powerful pace. The vocals are smooth, a bit groovy, and paint an ominous picture. I love the meaty bass notes also. I get some shades of ALICE IN CHAINS in this song. “The Bullet Shines Before Impact” also has melancholic tones and smoothly delivered vocals, and the electronic elements in the background add a different texture to the sound. “Endless Joy” features cello, and a more hardened sound, as the vocals rise in pitch to meet the level of anger and despair in his voice. Though he belts out the words “endless joy,” you have a hard time believing him.

“Terraforming Celestial Bodies” is another slow-moving song that is heavy with an emotional burden. That is clearly one of the main themes on the album. “Every day seems exactly the same,” he laments, and indeed. “Breathe Breathe” for me is more of a plea to make sure that you breathe through the harder moments in life, to keep yourself from drowning in its inevitable sorrow. “Nothing hear to fear, nothing here to be scared of,” he laments. “Now We Are Here (At the Inevitable End)” closes the album, and it has a hastier sound, almost a sound of warning. It’s dark, mysterious, and ominous, and I love the groove. Overall, what struck me most about the album was the deep levels of emotion throughout each song. It blended Alternative Rock with some Metal leanings, and even some subtle Progressive elements, and was a pleasurable listening experience for me.