Review by Fernando on January 14, 2024.

Something I wasn’t expecting to come across was a Polish noise rock, post-hardcore and alternative metal band. Granted, music isn’t restricted to specific countries, nor it should, but regardless I shouldn’t be all that surprised because Poland is one of those countries that when it comes to the fringes of music they certainly fit the bill. Which brings me to November Might Be Fine, and as stated this is a band that combines noise rock with post hardcore and alternative metal, and in the last months of 2023 they released their sophomore record, All.

Looking at the band’s social media, the making of this new record was apparently an arduous task that lasted over two years in the aftermath of the pandemic, and from that description, I can definitely say that this record is a pure labor of passion. The production and sound in particular while clean, sounds for lack of a better word, pained and meticulous. The sound of each instrument is very impactful and as if a lot of thought was put into the sound and feel of each note, the guitars, drums and bass sound distinct and never bleed into each other, and neither do the instruments overshadow each other, and to further add to that sense of distinctive and individual sounds. The performances are equally methodical, in a lot of areas you can feel how each member is calculating their next note and riff with an intense precision but also execute it with a sense of catharsis that’s very palpable. Not to mention how the band performing as a whole are a complete unit, and the fact that the band is a trio makes that more impressive.

While the band display the aforementioned genres they play with, this record also features a strong inclination for post-rock and industrial music, with the most obvious display of that being that the album is predominantly instrumental. In fact you don’t hear vocals until the halfway point and at that point the band are paying on a minimalist capacity, letting the vocals from their various guests do the heavy lifting while also adding their own backing vocals. And that has to be the biggest hurdle of this record, in terms of preference I can be very selective with post-rock, as it's a style of music that focuses too much on ambiance and textures for my liking, now, to November Might Be Fine’s credit, they do a good job at having their music compensate the initial lack of vocals with noisy post-hardcore and alternative metal melodies, however, you still have to wait a solid 30 minutes to hear vocals, and even then the band are still playing highly dissonant and even blackened experimental post-rock and alternative metal, and considering the album is over 80 minutes, the record will certainly wear on you.

Though I want to stress that the band’s experimental indulgences and focus on creating heavy atmospheres with a sense of absolute despair is not bad at all, if there’s one thing to gravitate to with the record is how bleak and somber it is, whilst remaining on the fringes of alternative music and noise rock. However it is with many caveats that this record can only be recommended for people who both prefer this style of music, and also are willing to meet the band and their music where they’re at, and so for the uninitiated and especially metalheads, this record will be less an experience and more an endurance test.

I really want to emphasize that November Might Be Fine are a good and fascinating band, and this record is certainly one I’ll remember checking and getting into, but this band will certainly not be for everyone, and if you’re a metalhead, this record is in the complete opposite end from your understanding of extremity, whilst also feeling like a paradox, because it does have elements of metal, but are placed within the context of noise rock and post-rock.

So overall, if you like post-rock/metal, go for it, if you’re feeling adventurous or want to dive into something different from more conventional alternative music or extreme metal, also go for it. Just know that this record won’t be one you’ll get on your first try.

Rating: 7 out of 10