Review ENVY OF NONE ‘That was Then, This is Now’ – EP

Envy Of None released their debut album in April 2022 and is the collaboration of the iconic Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson and Andy Curran, a founding member of Coney Hatch. The ones that might have expected a rocking album with progressive songs was certainly a bit disappointed since Envy Of None takes a slightly different musical direction.

This year the band returns with a new EP called ‘That Was Then, This is Now’. The duo, together with Maiah Wynne and Alf Annabalini pick it up where they left off with the self-titled debut album and in a way the term ‘progressive’ can be applied to this kind of music. It’s a dense sound and atmospheric sound collages which give these songs a great depth.

Four previously released songs made it on this release, and it starts with ‘Lethe River’. It is a calm start into an album, a song that is emotional and chilled at the same time. What catches though is the melody and if you think that you have heard the song earlier; true. The song, as well as ‘You’ll Be Sorry’ have been part of the deluxe version of the debut and get some new life blown in with ‘That Was Then, This is Now’.

The trippy ‘You’ll Be Sorry’ is next and spreads a cinematic vibe that is also picked up by the final track on this release – ‘That Was Then’. The latter is the only new tune on this release and is darker while reflecting the trademark sound of the quartet.

With ‘Dog’s Life’ and ‘Dumb’, two songs from the debut also got a spot on this release as a remix. Especially ‘Dog’s Life’ has an almost dystopian expression.

This EP carries music that is special, and the band continues their journey through the progressive fields of atmospheric sounds. In case the mighty riff is what you’re looking for, this EP will not end up on your shopping list, for sure. And if you are looking for music that challenges and widens the musical horizon, ‘That Was Then, This is Now’ might be a welcomed distraction.