Welsh duo Celavi (often stylised as C E L A V I) released an excellent album ‘Dolorem’ in 2023. Its eight songs presented some absolutely devastating alternative metal, blending elements of industrial, nu metal and a pinch of groove, creating something brilliantly heavy, yet packed with great hooks. Their 2026 EP ‘Praelia’ is often cut from a similar cloth, but whether you’re already a fan or about to discover this band, it’s a release that sounds absolutely thrilling.
‘Ar Dy Liniau’ opens a fantastic fourteen minutes with a slab of alternative metal that’s as big on groove as it is pure heaviness. Following an intro loaded with pulsing keys hinting at the crossover sounds of Premier Jester, the track hits its audience with a breezeblock of a riff that pushes the guitars to the fore. Sharing a sound that falls somewhere between Spineshank, Ill Nino and early, classic Fear Factory, it isn’t exactly subtle, but in terms of bringing a nu-metal inspired sound into the present, very few bands have managed a more perfect job. Contrasting the sheer weight of riffs comes a typically clean vocal – delivering a lyric in Welsh – showcasing some fantastic tones from Sarah Wynn Griffiths, whose choice of more accessible tones offsets the sheer heaviness of Gwion’s guitar riffs perfectly. The riffs may appear to be the overriding feature here, but the use of layered vocals on a great chorus gives this track a huge sense of melody too, and these contrasting moods help to create something genuinely exciting.
From there, Celavi really don’t let up. ‘13’ kicks off with some sharp sounding synths, closer to an old rave track from 1992 than anything industrial, before everything falls away to reveal a fabulous bass led groove, coupled with a clean vocal. Everything is busy without feeling intrusive; the arrangement’s buoyant qualities really lift a voice that’s inviting, and although the pop-ish edge to Sarah’s delivery is in contrast with the more electronic/industrial elements, the crossover sound works brilliantly. At the close of the track, those who were hoping for a purer heaviness get their wish when Celavi first drop into some fierce industrial metal – again taking cues from Spineshank and Fear Factory – and then crank things up a little more to share a doom riff peppered with a pneumatic rhythm. A perfect way to close these three minutes, but also a great lead into ‘Malum’ which shares the guts of a more trad metal riff coloured with industrial grit, sharing a near perfect metal/electro blend. The keys on this track are at their most abrasive, but always knowing the importance of a decent melody, Sarah’s vocals share more clean, pop infused tones that really stick. Dropping into a dirtier middle eight, Gwion steers everything towards a breakdown that mixes nu-metal traits with a hardcore weightiness, showing a natural gift for riffs once more. Although the track ultimately peters out with a lack of obvious climax, that doesn’t spoil any of the enjoyment this number brings along the way.
In closing, ‘Plaster’ delivers a heavy groove that plays like early Disturbed cranked up to eleven. The industrial edges are perfect here, whether Gwion drops into a jagged riff, or something a little more groove focused. Again, contrasting a truly grubby sound with a clear vocal performance allows the band’s heaviest edges to be far more accessible, and a catchier chorus brings a genuine earworm. With hints of Linkin Park, Metric and even the largely forgotten Transister bleeding through the track’s lightest moments, this joins the opener as this EP’s stand out track.
The riffs are so immense here and Celavi’s sound is so intense, listeners need not be concerned about the lack of English lyrics in places. This band’s music speaks for itself. In terms of contemporary metal – but still loaded with classic sounding alternative influences – you’ll be hard pressed to find anything better at the time of release. ‘Praelia’ might be disappointingly short, but at its best, the music here shares top notch sounds from what could just be one of your new favourite bands.
October 2026