Shifting The Axis Of The World

vote
7.5

• Bands:
  NOVAREIGN
• Duration: 00:53:28
• Available from: 07/17/2026
• Label:

• M-Theory

Novareign is a group from Los Angeles that released its first album, entitled “Legends”, in 2018. Eight years later, preceded in 2024 by the single “Ironsides”, comes the second full-length, “Shifting The Axis Of The World”.
Created as a quartet following the abandonment of guitarist Danny Nobel (also one of the founders of the Californian band), the new work presents us with a group with a significantly renewed style. If, in fact, for the debut album the band played quite direct power, particularly influenced by Dragonforce, for this new album the prog component is decidedly emphasised.

That is, Novareign remain linked to power sounds, with powerful songs and fast rhythms, but you can see how these also present thematic variations and a rather technical approach, with numerous solos not only by guitarist Balmur Lemus, but also by bassist Moises Galvez. It is no coincidence that the average length of the songs is quite long: “Sun & Moon” even exceeds ten minutes and to some extent even reminded us of the first Symphony
“Shifting Of The Axis Of The World” is a record that praises unity, the ability to overcome all problems and adversities if we collaborate together: themes that are addressed with a powerful and disruptive approach, capable of also enhancing the virtuosity of the musicians and, in this sense, the excellent drummer Ulises Hernandez, who joined the band in 2019, also deserves a mention. As regards David Marquez's performance behind the microphone, On the other hand, he may not be an ultra-technical singer, but he manages to give a lot of grit to the songs, with performances that range from the classic heavy voice to interpretations closer to power, with high tones and high notes.
In addition to the aforementioned “Sun & Moon”, a song like “Ode To The Masses” certainly stands out, a disruptive piece that immediately represents an excellent business card for the band's new direction; but we were also well impressed by, among others, “Blood Of The Game”, an iridescent track with different souls and “Thunder & Majesty”, characterized by a nice crescendo and a thrash interlude, without prejudice to the fact that the entire tracklist is of a good level.

An excellent return, therefore, from Novareign, who were able to exploit this long period to improve and build their own sound but who also calmly and patiently set about learning how to record and produce the album themselves, in order to be sure of obtaining the result they wanted.
And, listening to “Shifting The Axis Of The World”, we can say that they did a really good job.