Chevelle Stirs Us Out Of The Pandemic With New Album “Niratiras”
I first discovered Chevelle while I was in college.
I was super into fitness at the time and listening to music on the Pandora app on the treadmill was something I looked forward to every day. I’ve since switched to Spotfiy, but Pandora helped me get familiar with mainstream music as I was getting my education and becoming an independent adult. There was a lot going on in my life: I was getting my first jobs and apartments, dealing with the ebb and flow of friendships, a shitty relationship, studying and stressing over grades and finals, struggling with endless expectations from all sides — the whole ‘college experience.’ It was the first time I had the space and time to decide what I believed in, explore how I felt about the world around me and what I thought was right or wrong. College was turbulent and stressful but a time of deep and profound discovery.
Music was a huge part of that for me, especially considering I was raised in a religious household. Secular music was finally freely available to me and I was open to all new things.
Chevelle reserves a spot in my regular playlists for those reasons. Of all the bands I found during this time, alongside Nothing More, 10 Years, Muse and so many more, Chevelle has always stuck out to me as an overall great rock group.
With soaring vocals from the incredibly talented Pete Loeffler, heavy guitar riffs and poetic, philosophical lyrics, each song is crafted with a certain metallic finesse. Their 2007 album “Vena Sera” is one I reach for often. When every single song is a banger, you know you’ve found a good band. Some of my favorites include ‘Brainiac,’ ‘I Get It,’ and ‘Saferwaters.’ If you go farther back to their 2004 album “This Type Of Thinking (Could Do Us In),” their silvery yet raw sound clearly carried throughout the years. Articulately posing criticisms of society with tracks like ‘Tug-O-War,’ Chevelle’s work has been historically brooding and dark, but nevertheless beautifully written.
Recently I was pleasantly surprised to discover they’ve released a new album: “Niratias.” And I couldn’t be more thrilled.
Some would criticize Chevelle for sounding the same over the decades, but I would argue that is part of their charm. I’m fairly confident I could pick out their sound among a group of other bands at this point.
Upon listening to the opening track of “Niratias,” ‘Verruckt,’ immediately I was tickled to hear their characteristic brawny guitar and robust bassline. The first three songs with lyrics, ‘So Long, Mother Earth,’ ‘Mars Simula’ and ‘Self Destructor’ are reminiscent of earlier albums, but with a more otherworldly sound as Pete Loeffler never fails to amaze with his vocal range. “Niratias” is yet another work of meticulously designed art, evolved to suit current questions of space travel, planning for the future of the planet and the uncertainty of the universe beyond us — and within us. Its mood is farther away and distant compared to previous pieces, but the vibrant, storytelling aesthetic of Chevelle remains.
Falling upon Chevelle’s newest album gave me such a warm wave of nostalgia and has rekindled my creative drive. It hit me at a time when I needed it the most, much like how they did when I first came across them. Their melodies have aged gracefully since their inception in 1995 and they’re still kicking ass in 2021. Much like their lyrics from ‘So Long, Mother Earth,’ Chevelle has transcended time and space, and still has a special place in my heart.
“So with miles and miles to go, you never left / Or found your purpose / Get up, you can and you will.”
To listen to Chevelle, visit their Spotify profile here.
