Celavi (Keh-Laa-Vee) are an industrial/rock/electro band from Bangor, North Wales and ‘Novus’ is their debut EP. Check out my review below!

One of the first aspects of their music that stands out is Sarah’s vocals. They have an ethereal quality; being light and haunting they really suit the Gothic style. In the first track Exspiravit, she incorporates some great harmonies which enhance the eerie quality of their sound. The processing hasn’t been over done. It’s so tempting to layer up ridiculous amounts of reverb and delay to create a ghostly vocal effect but this often results in a sound that is far to overbearing. Celavi have balanced the effects well to give an eerie sound without losing the true nature of Sarah’s voice.

The instrumentation is very powerful. The bass, drum and guitars have been mixed well on each track to give a strong sound in the lower tones. They all blend together to produce a solid heavy texture. Celavi have made some good synth choices to complement their songs. Pan!c has a great build-up beginning with pad drums leading up into the heavier instrumentation. The unique edge of Sarah’s vocals allows Celavi to combine different instrumentation styles without losing the essence of their sound. The fact that they’ve included a drum solo is brilliant! Drum solos are definitely due for a comeback, and it fits perfectly with the nature of the track.

I didn’t expect to find a cover of Rammstein’s Du Hast on this EP, but it works! The guitars, bass and drums have been designed to fit replicate the original whilst including Celavi’s own sound amongst the instruments. The synths are also very well done. Sarah’s vocals, of course, differ significantly from the original track. But by having the softer, haunting texture, it brings a new perspective to the song.

Celavi have created a fantastic sound that encompasses a haunting sense of the Gothic with a modern metal production. This is a fantastic first release and I can’t wait to hear more!

Follow Celavi:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelaviMusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celavi_music/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CELAVI_MUSIC
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/wearecelavi