Nova Riot’s Blood, Lies & Lullabies – A Candy-Coated Metal Album Review

We have a sweet, bloody surprise for you: Nova Riot.

I listened to their debut album, Blood Lies & Lullabies, while taking a walk through my local park.

And I can proudly say that this record is workout candy. And I’m not just saying that because this band lovingly calls themselves Bubblegum Metal!

I’ll take it a step further and say that Nova Riot is as if Linkin Park, Avril Lavigne and Evanescence morphed into a candy-coated, 2000s-inspired punk zombie slumber party.

(Yes, that was a lot of adjectives I just stacked together. Point is, I couldn’t find a single bad song on this record.)

So, let’s break this album down!

Track #1: “Haunting Me”

When I first heard this song, I knew I was hooked.

Before the first verse, the drum hits skitter through the melody like an animal hurrying through the woods. Then the beats pound along to Ares’s hungry guitar and Orion’s rumbling bass.

And finally, neon pink-haired frontwoman Nova Ray brings it all together with a haunting vocal range.

Very impressive start to the Nova Riot season. But there’s more!

Track #2: “Midnight Coven Crush”

Perfect for nu metal enthusiasts, Ray does a hardcore rap in the first and second verses in “Midnight Coven Crush.”

Each time she whispers, “Midnight, Coven, Crush,” in between verses, our crush on this song grows stronger. Ten out of 10.

Track #3: “Casket”

The key to a good song is when the beginning, middle and end all compliment one another. And “Casket” fits the bill like a shiny, new vinyl cover.

This song sounds like it came straight out of a 2000s punk rock music video. It starts with a medium drum beat, followed by Ray’s Lee-and-Lavigne-style tone. Then, at the chorus, the drums and guitar quicken and combine as Ray croons, making a smooth, harmonious track.

I’ll have to say this song is another favorite. Ten out of 10.

Track #4: “The Altar”

I listened to “The Altar” on repeat on a drive home. Featuring metal group The Bunny The Bear, “The Altar” is Driving Playlist-Approved!

In the beginning starts a fade-in to the guitar, accompanied by ballad-esque piano notes before it breaks down to a nu metal guitar-keyboard combo, once again reminiscent of music from the 2000s nu metal scene.

Since I love a good bridge, it catches my attention when Ray does a breathy harmonization, immediately followed by frontman Matthew “The Bunny” Tybor’s guttural “UUOOGH!!!”

Ray’s raw, melodic vocals paired with Tybor’s fiery growls make this song an emotional masterpiece.

Track #5: “Like I Meant It”

If you’re a metalhead who just went through heartbreak and needs someone to shout your pain through your earbuds, Nova Riot’s got you covered with “Like I Meant It.”

The electric guitar strums and raw vocals really bring this song together. The lines that stand out to me the most are: “I left my sweater on the back of your chair / You hold it to your face / Hoping my scent’s still there.”

Too bad, so sad, Fictional Ex! But in all seriousness, this song is a win.

Track #6: “Through The Storm”

Ares’s guitar shreds are shredding in this reflective empowerment piece, especially during his solo in the song’s bridge. “Through The Storm” is a great track for listeners who need a reminder to move forward no matter how difficult it gets.

Track #7: “Sorry Mom”

“Sorry Mom” starts and ends with silence, broken by a ticking clock.

Between those chilling ticks are harmonious guitar strums and shreds.

The lyricism in this song is a powerful punch in the gut, especially this part in the beginning: “And I tried to drown my pain / With drugs and alcohol / But it just left me in a DITCH!”

A track that’s both harsh and reflective, these lines from “Sorry Mom” hit my heart a little. Here, Nova Ray sings about the crippling, destructive effects that suppressed mental health issues can have on us.

Nova Riot picked a fantastic song to close this record, but it’s also a painful reminder that this is the last song on the album.

And you know a band or artist has done their job when they leave us wanting more music.

Conclusion

If you’ve listened to music as long and enthusiastically as we have, you know how easy it is for playlists to become stale.

But Nova Riot shook us to our core and became the Bubblegum riot we never knew we needed.

This band’s music is simultaneously harsh, sexy, fun and forces us to look in the mirror. Everything that punk rock and metal should be.

I’m Music Magazine Music Journalist Sydney James