Industrial rockers Envy of None released their self-titled debut album via Kscope Music this morning. The group features Alex Lifeson, best known as guitar player and co-founder of influential prog-titans, Rush, joined by vocalist Maiah Wynne, bassist Andy Curran of Coney Hatch, and producer/engineer Alfio Annibalini.
The group delivers a record full of atmosphere that is at times heavy and sexy, and at other times, soft and sweet. The electronic heavy album is full of catchy, pop-centric rock songs with a dark industrial edge.
Fans of groups like Nine Inch Nails and Depeche Mode will enjoy tracks like “Shadow,” “Dumb” and “Liar,” the last of which was released as a single earlier this year. Two of the album’s tracks, “Spy House” and “Kabul Blues,” were previously released as instrumentals on Lifeson’s website before being re-worked with vocals by Wynne for the album.
The group’s second single, “Look Inside,” a slow, riffy rock ‘n’ roll song that harkens back to the days of Black Sabbath, is perhaps the album’s stand out track and was released with an accompanying music video in early March.
Although the album is an obvious departure from Lifeson’s previous work, Rush fans should not be quick to dismiss it. Lifeson’s presence is undeniably noticeable, and his approach unmistakably unique. Because the album sounds like Lifeson, by default it is impossible to say it doesn’t sound anything like Rush.
In Envy of None, Lifeson’s approach is similar to his approach with Rush in the 80’s, eschewing the limelight in favor of a more complementary role, adding atmospheric layers to the music rather than displaying his prowess at the forefront of the group’s compositions. Although it might have been nice to hear more lead guitar work, Lifeson’s backseat relationship with the rest of the band serves a different purpose and adds a unique dynamic to the music.
While most of the album drives and pumps like a conveyor belt, there are moments of soft, sweet respite as evident in tracks like “Old Strings,” the record’s sole ballad, or “Western Sunset,” which concludes the record. “Western Sunset” was penned by Lifeson in tribute to long-time Rush drummer Neil Peart, who passed away in January of 2020.
“I visited Neil when he was ill,” Alex Lifeson said in a press release. “I was on his balcony watching the sunset and found inspiration. There’s a finality about a sunset that kind of stayed with me throughout the whole process. It had meaning. It was the perfect mood to decompress after all these different textures… a nice way to close the book.”
You can learn more about Envy of None and order their self-titled debut album here.
I play, I write, I play, I write...
