NOVULENT Releases VOL. 3 (Deluxe), to Play LEVITATION Fest Sept. 12
The 16-song reissue features reimagined manga-inspired artwork and follows the act's largest headlining tour to date.
Texas alternative act Novulent has released VOL. 3 (Deluxe), the expanded edition of the final album in the artist's coming-of-age trilogy — a diaristic account of love's rise and fall set to a mix of shoegaze, post-punk, and dream pop. With reimagined, manga-inspired art and an expanded tracklist, the project now includes the recently released 'self destruct,' plus two new Novulent collaborations with fellow artists ivri and ThxSoMuch.
The 16-song reissue arrives in the wake of Novulent's biggest headlining tour yet: the U.S. leg of the VOL. 3 THE FINAL ALBUM TOUR, featuring the 22-year-old artist backed by a full band. A UK/EU run kicks off in the fall, following an appearance at Austin's LEVITATION festival on September 12, and another North American run supporting indie outfit Clarion.
The two new VOL. 3 (Deluxe) songs further expand Novulent's world while also serving as alternate codas for the project. 'two sides' with Florida artist ivri is a duet that gives voice to the relationship at the heart of the LP, with the two artists uniting for the final lines: 'Everything we had's been destroyed / I can't hear you through all the noise / This is not the end that I planned / I promised I could save you, but I have nothing left to give.' Meanwhile, 'scorched earth' co-starring Canadian post-punk act ThxSoMch lays out a vision for mutually assured destruction over guitars that sound like they're melting.
'VOL. 3 (Deluxe) is the end of my coming-of-age story,' explains Novulent. 'I'm not sad it's over, but I'm also not happy. All I know is whatever life does to me I'll power through it and do my best to comfort those dealing with what I've gone through. I don't do collaborations often but I might as well go out with a bang.'
Released in February, VOL. 3 closes an era for Novulent while also announcing their arrival. Upon release, Novulent covered Spotify's Shoegaze Now playlist (contributing the standout 'dysphoria') and returned to the Alternative Press 'AP A-sides: 10 songs you need to hear' lineup with 'sweet revenge.'
Novulent's breakout series began with 2023's VOL.1, home to their now Gold-certified single 'scars.' That initial entry found them processing back-to-back breakups. 2024's VOL.2 played out as a healing one-on-one talk between the artist and their past self. VOL. 3 splits the difference with a tracklist that's equal parts personal reflection and vulnerable narrative. As Novulent puts it, the story 'is never black and white — actually, it's always grey.'
VOL. 3's singles have embodied that ethos: 'evil eye' channels the push and pull of lust with a swirling loud-quiet-loud sound. 'rip' is a dynamic fuzz-bomb with velvety vocals that weighs the possibility of new romance against the past. The cathartic 'sacrifice' is about letting go of negative associations, and 'boys lie and girls steal' is built on the idea that in the wake of a breakup, no one's hands are clean. The lead single, 'new low,' translates all that emotion into bittersweet dream-pop.
Novulent is performing all of those songs on the road, along with fan favorites from over the years. One such track, 2023's 'unknown feelings,' recently got a new music video directed by Dylan Cole (VIOLENT VIRA, Brayton).
Tracklist
1. 'peering thought'
2. 'new low'
3. 'rip'
4. 'can time heal all wounds'
5. 'selfish'
6. 'precious'
7. 'evil eye'
8. 'sweet revenge'
9. 'sacrifice'
10. 'dysphoria'
11. 'fix you'
12. 'boys lie and girls steal'
13. 'the world ends with you'
14. 'self destruct'
15. 'two sides' (feat. ivri)
16. 'scorched earth' (feat. ThxSoMch)
VOL. 3 THE FINAL ALBUM TOUR dates include:
Sep 12 – Austin, TX @ LEVITATION 2026 ^
Nov 11 – Fresno, CA @ Strummer's Bar & Grill *
Nov 12 – San Luis Obispo, CA @ SLO Brew *
Nov 14 – Berkeley, CA @ 924 Gilman *
Nov 17 – Portland, OR @ Star Theater *
Nov 18 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos *
Nov 20 – Vancouver, BC @ The Pearl *
Nov 22 – Boise, ID @ Treefort Music Hall *
Nov 23 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall *
Nov 30 – München @ Backstage
Dec 01 – Hlavní Město Praha @ Bike Jesus
Dec 02 – Warszawa @ Klub Mechanik
Dec 03 – Berlin @ Urban Spree
Dec 05 – Haarlem @ Patronaat
Dec 07 – Köln @ Luxor
Dec 08 – Paris @ Les Etoiles
Dec 10 – Manchester @ The Deaf Institute
Dec 11 – North London @ Downstairs at the Dome
* with Clarion
^ festival
Photo Credit: Oliver Leone
Photo Credit: Oliver Leone
