Novelists (band)

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Novelists
Novelists 2016230204034 2016-08-17 Summer Breeze - Sven - 5DS R - 0109 - 5DSR7728 mod.jpg
Novelists performing in 2016
Background information
Origin Paris, France
Genres
Years active2013 (2013)–present
Labels
Members
  • Florestan Durand
  • Amael Durand
  • Nicolas Delestrade
  • Pierre Danel
  • Camille Contreras
Past members
  • Matteo Gelsomino
  • Charles-Henri Teule
  • Tobias Rische

Novelists (often stylised as Novelists FR) are a French metalcore band from Paris, formed in 2013 by brothers Amael and Florestan Durand. They issued three studio albums on Arising Empire and SharpTone Records, then joined Out of Line Music in 2020. After two vocalist changes, the group introduced Camille Contreras in 2023, released the EP Okapi in 2024, and published their fifth studio album, CODA, in 2025, through their artist-run label ACKOR Music.

Contents

History

2013–2020: Early years and C'est La Vie

Brothers Amael (drums) and Florestan Durand (guitar) founded Novelists in late 2013 with vocalist Matteo Gelsomino, bassist Nicolas Delestrade, and guitarist Charles-Henri Teule. A self-released demo EP (2014) led to the debut full-length Souvenirs (2015) on Arising Empire, [1] [2] which was followed by Noir in 2017, on SharpTone Records. The band's third album, C'est La Vie, came out in January 2020, [3] earning praise from Kerrang! for its "emotion-soaked riffing". [4]

2020–2022: vocalist change and Déjà Vu

Gelsomino left in April 2020. [5] Former Alazka frontman Tobias Rische joined that October, coinciding with a deal with Out of Line Music. [6] In May 2022, the band supported the Swedish metalcore band Imminence on their European tour, [7] played the UK's Tech-Fest in June–July, [8] and released their fourth studio album, Déjà Vu, in November, which was preceded by several singles, including "Heretic", which featured LANDMVRKS vocalist Florian Salfati.

2023–present: Camille Contreras, Okapi, and CODA

Vocalist Rische departed Novelists in April 2023. After open auditions, the band selected Camille Contreras, debuting her on the track "Turn It Up". [9] The four-track EP Okapi followed on 9 May 2024. [10]

In January 2025, Novelists, together with their French metalcore fellows LANDMVRKS, announced the creation of the record label ACKOR Music. [11] They also released the single "All for Nothing" and revealed their upcoming studio album, CODA. [11] [12] A second single, "Say My Name", came out on 20 March, [13] ahead of the album's release on 16 May.

Musical style

The band's sound has been described as metalcore, with guitar styles heavily inspired by progressive metal and djent. [14]

Band members

Current

  • Florestan Durand – lead guitar, backing vocals (2013–present)
  • Amael Durand – drums (2013–present)
  • Nicolas Delestrade – bass, backing vocals (2013–present)
  • Pierre Danel – rhythm guitar (2021–present)
  • Camille Contreras – lead vocals (2023-present)

Past

  • Charles-Henri Teule – guitar (2013–2018)
  • Matteo Gelsomino – lead vocals (2013–2020)
  • Tobias Rische – lead vocals (2020–2023)

Timeline

Novelists (band)

Discography

Studio albums

YearTitleLabel
2015Souvenirs Arising Empire
2017Noir SharpTone
2020C'est La VieSharpTone
2022Déjà Vu Out of Line
2025CODAACKOR Music

EPs

YearTitleLabel
2014Demo EPSelf-released
2024OkapiOut of Line

Singles

YearSingle
2015"Gravity"
2017"The Light, the Fire"
2018"Eyes Wide Shut"
2020"Lost Cause"
"After the Rain"
2021"Terrorist"
"Do You Really Wanna Know?"
2022"Smoke Signals"
"Heretic"
2023"Turn It Up"
"Prisoner"
"Mourning the Dawn"
2024"Coda"
2025"All for Nothing" [15]
2025"Say My Name" [16]

References

  1. ↑ "Novelists – Souvenirs – Album Review". Metal-heads.de (in German). 23 November 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  2. ↑ Staub, Pascal (18 January 2016). "Novelists-Souvenirs". Stormbringer.com (in German). Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  3. ↑ "Le groupe de metal francais Novelists FR annonce son nouvel album C'est La Vie & publie le single Head Rush" [French metal band Novelists FR announce new album C'est La Vie and release single Head Rush]. metalzone.fr (in French). 11 October 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  4. ↑ "Album review: Novelists FR – C'est La Vie". Kerrang!. 24 January 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  5. ↑ Duffour, Adrien (7 April 2020). "Novelists FR et le chanteur Mattéo Gelsomino se séparent" [Novelists FR and singer Mattéo Gelsomino split up]. MetalZone (in French). Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  6. ↑ "Novelists FR recruit former Alazka vocalist". Lambgoat. 27 October 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  7. ↑ "Imminence verschieben ihre Tour 2022; verkünden den Special Guest" [Imminence postpone their 2022 tour; announce special guest]. MoreCore.de (in German). 18 January 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  8. ↑ "Tech-Fest announces bands for 2022 Event • TotalRock". TotalRock. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  9. ↑ "Novelists FR unveil new vocalist Camille Contreras with "Turn It Up"". Loudwire. 9 September 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  10. ↑ "Novelists FR release new EP "Okapi"". Distorted Sound. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  11. 1 2 "Novelists announce new album 'CODA' and release single 'All for Nothing'". grimmgent.com. 31 January 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  12. ↑ "Novelists FR debut "All for Nothing", "CODA" album due in May". The PRP. 30 January 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  13. ↑ "Novelists FR drop new single "Say My Name"". Metal Injection. 20 March 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  14. ↑ Grundke, Vincent (3 November 2015). "Novelists Souvenirs Review". Metal Hammer (in German). Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  15. ↑ Novelists FR – "All for Nothing" (official video). 30 January 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  16. ↑ Novelists FR – "Say My Name" (official video). 20 March 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
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