Last time we heard from The Novus, they ripped up the tarmac with a blistering, angry blast of ‘I Serve Not’ (see my review here). Now, in advance of the release of their EP entitled ‘Thaleia Standing’ on 18 June 2021, The Novus have maintained the rage but in a much more restrained and very psychedelic way. Although the word restrained is relative, really. ‘Castaway’ still packs a punch, but in a multi-coloured swirling way and in a fugue of smoke and glitter.
The buzzsaw riffs and pounding rhythms section surge and simmer under the reverberated vocals with a twelve string shimmer and a wah peddle wobble. Sitars and tabla or bongos make an appearance, while the overall effect is something quite magnificent and driving. As with their earlier single, The Novus deal with serious issues – the band says of the track:
‘Castaway’ touches heavily on how we’re never taught how to properly take care of ourselves. As much as it’s okay to not be okay, it’s ingrained into a whole generation to be ‘nice’ to everyone around us without actually learning how to accept & look after our own physical and mental wellbeing. We’re quickly taught to respect and love each other, as we should; but education fails to teach the importance of empowering and looking after yourself. It results in a society filled with toxic masculinity, unidentified mental health issues & huge suicide rates.
This is something very close to home for us, growing up in a small town and being outlandish in what we wear, the way we look – male fragility & xenophobia as a whole is almost embedded in schools, jobs and the ‘everyman’. ‘Castaway’ is our take on what’s more important than the syllabus, these real life lessons that need teaching & the things we all wish we’d known earlier…
The video is a little more light hearted – as the band explains:
Castaway is very much a song exploring taboo areas that we don’t believe should be taboo such as mental health education, male fragility & toxic masculinity. It is for that exact reason we wanted to work together with Jack (director Jack Parker AKA Jacky P) to provide an upbeat video to counter balance the track & inject some fun into our work – something the world has been yet to see from The Novus, until now.
The result is something quite transfixing and highly entertaining – this is a band with style and presence:
The Novus is a a very exciting rising band, and the EP will be something to look forward to. They have announced a series of gigs to promote the EP:
30th May – Hare and Hounds, Birmingham (SOLD OUT)
31st May – The Water Rats, London (SOLD OUT)
2nd July – Bardfest, Bury St. Edmonds
17th July – The Imperial, Mexborough
31st July – Jam On The Farm, Sussex
14th August – Sonic Gun Weekender, Birmingham
27th – 29th August – Camper Calling Festival, Warwickshire
29th August – Test Fest, Doncaster
4th September – Soma Fest, London
17th September – The Boulevard, Wigan
18th November – The Amersham Arms, London
19th November – The New Adelphi Club, Hull
21st November – Waterloo Music Bar, Blackpool
The Novus are Connor Hill (vocals), Thomas Rhodes (guitar), Tyla Challenger (bass) and Euan Woodman (drums).
You can preorder the EP below:
