Envy - Abyssal
Breaching the divide between heartfelt hardcore and radiant post-rock.
Posted Thursday, 29 November 2007 in ,
Rating: 8
Breaching the divide between heartfelt hardcore and radiant post-rock,
Envy engulf the listener in a tidal wave of sound and emotion. This four-track EP serves as a timely reminder of the Tokyo outfit's talents and also offers a handy catch-up lesson for any Johnny-come-latelies. Ten-minute centrepiece
'A Road Of Winds The Water Builds' pitches passages of contemplative calm against dramatic crescendos, employing militaristic drumming and delay-soaked guitars that soar ever skyward.
'All That's Left Has Gone To Sleep' harks back to the restless intensity of
'All The Footprints...', while the gently spoken
'Fading Vision' recalls frontman
Tetsuya Fukagawa's guest spot on
Mogwai's
'Mr. Beast'. Unsurprisingly excellent stuff.
Mike Kemp