Nova Charisma began in 2019 as a creative outlet for vocalist Donovan Melero (of Hail The Sun fame) and guitarist Sergio Medina, both known for their work in the progressive post-hardcore scene. While their main bands emphasized complex, layered arrangements, Nova Charisma aimed to explore a more accessible and direct songwriting approach. Between 2019 and 2020, they released three EPs that struck a careful balance between their progressive roots and alt-rock sensibilities. However, the project went quiet for several years as both artists prioritized other musical commitments.
But the duo returned last year with Metropolitan, their first full-length album and a reassertion of their collaborative chemistry. The album kicks off with the energetic “Smoking Gun at the Metropolitan,” setting the tone for a record full of tight, melodic songwriting that leans more heavily into catchy hooks and straightforward songwriting. But even as the band delves into familiar post-hardcore moods, there’s a clear effort to bring a level of accessibility to their sound that some bands in the genre purposefully shy away from.
Melero’s distinct vocal style (as I mentioned in my review of Wake by Hail The Sun the dude is literally a dead-ringer for Anthony Green at times) and Medina’s familiar compositional approach orbit around the gravitational pull of the math-rock meets post-hardcore creative engine which has become very much in vogue since Saosin changed the game in 2003 with Translating The Name. If you’re even somewhat into Circa or Saosin then Metropolitan is gonna be right up your alley.
Standout Songs: “Smoking Gun At The Metropolitan”, “The Better It Gets”, “All My Thoughts Into Hooks”, “Stolen From Each Other”
