A new year has come, a time when we sweep out the old and start looking towards the new. The new in the life of a music nerd are new albums of course. My impression of 2019 is that it was a really great year for heavy music - old bands releasing quality material and new bands pushing the boundaries and bringing interesting, original music. Judging from the release schedules that I've seen we have a lot to look forward to in 2020. Some of my most expected Metal releases include MY DYING BRIDE, BENIGHTED and CULT OF FIRE, but one of the biggest musical events of the beginning of 2020 for me personally isn't a Metal album release. I got into ENVY in high school or university (it's been a while in any case...), after hearing the opening song "Further Ahead of Warp" from their album "Insomniac Dose", I was bewitched, and I've remained interested in the band ever since.

Japan is, of course, very successful at exporting its culture, and it has a number of world-famous "alternative" acts such as MONO, TOE, CRYSTAL LAKE and of course ENVY. ENVY can be broadly described as Post-Hardcore, they've started out as a straight-forward Screamo band but their sound developed and has incorporated Post-Rock elements. They were formed in 1992 and have released six studio albums so far (with almost the same line up), their last being "Atheist's Cornea" (2015). After hearing the single "Dawn And Gaze" which was released last year, I've been really stoked for "The Fallen Crimson", and I can say now that I'm not disappointed.

ENVY is a band with a unique sound which is made even more distinctive thanks to the expressive vocal style of the singer Tetsuya Fukagawa. The songs are dynamic with strong contrast between dreamy, tender, Shoegazy and explosive Post-Hardcore parts. Gradual Post-Rock build-ups make the explosive parts even more impactful. When a band like ENVY drops an album you know it's going to be an epic, emotional ride. The album is over 50 minutes long and has eleven, mostly medium length song on it. Because ENVY are so versatile stylistically and because they are kickass musicians and songwriters, every song on the album is amazing and bring something to the album. The music can be heavy, dreamy, happy, angry, joyous, melancholic - the scope is just amazing.

Things start off very energetically with the song. "The Fallen Crimson", which is very pumped up and angry at the beginning. The song becomes mellow and weepy before the final, emotional climactic part. "Rhythm" (track number four) is a dreamy Shoegaze with ethereal female vocals that builds up slowly to a uplifting, climactic end. The following song "Marginalized Threat" is a short, energetic, upbeat song that has an almost Pop-Punk or Easy-core vibe, its carefree lightness. After a tender, melancholic mid-section the catchy Pop-punk riff is repeated, but this time instead of a skank beat it's backed by a blast-beat, which gives the song a nice cathartic, euphoric ending. Every song on this album hits hard, I could go on talking how great each song is, let me just mention the single "Dawn And Gaze" that was released  last year and that I've seen the performer live. There is a lead melody or riff in the song that sounds exactly like the "lead melody" from SIGUR RÓS' "Hoppípolla" - simple but extremely catchy. It's a bittersweet song with super powerful melodies and memorable riffs.

ENVY have outdone themselves on "The Fallen Crimson", every song is memorable and impactful. The album is on par with the band's classic albums like "Insomniac Dose", ENVY is by no means sputtering along creatively speaking. On the contrary: this is a band at the height of its creative powers. If you're a fan, get this album, it not, if you like Post-Hardcore, make sure to check it out.