Back in 2023, I reviewed the debut EP by Envy of None and concluded: “Rush was then. Envy of None is now, and this is compelling and beautifully beguiling.”
Now it’s time for the debut album, and all of those words still apply—except you can’t quite shake the prog thing, because you—and by that I mean me—still have to Google the title to see what it means.
It means dark, gloomy, or foreboding, apparently, but Stygian Waves is one of those albums without a clear beginning or end. You can dip in anywhere at random. Take “Clouds”, for example. A track towards the end, perhaps, but in many ways, it tells the story of Stygian Waves. Stripped down before it becomes lush—cinematic, even. Breathless urgency in the vocals. And a touch of class.
Oh, and that brilliant guitar work? That’d be Alex Lifeson.
Opener “Not Dead Yet” is perhaps a knowing nod that there’s life in the old dog yet. Whatever the case, it’d be difficult to imagine something more different from Rush.
Lush, almost pop. Cleverer people than me can call it “post-” something or other.
“The Story” chugs along with absolute class, and its rebirth is in the hook: “I could be a better version of me,” sings Maiah Wynne. And never mind the guitarist—she’s, well, making waves. The band’s youngest member, she’s sensational throughout.
Look no further than her breathless delivery on “Under the Stars” for proof.
Given the nature of the band, it’s hardly surprising that it sounds so superb. “The Thrill of the Chase” stands out.
This all seems to float by like smoke in the wind. “Handle with Care” kind of wafts in on the breeze.
There’s an electronic feel to “That Was Then”, but it’s got a beguiling beauty that you can’t ignore. And as for Lifeson’s solo—my word.
The keyboard work is wonderful throughout; it elevates “Raindrops” for sure. And the sonic backdrop to all of this is perfect. “New Trip” reveals itself more gradually than some of the others, while you feel as if you’re floating away with “The End”. It is absolutely gorgeous.
The title track closes things out—almost instrumental, except for Wynne’s harmonies, with an Eastern tinge.
Envy of None are one of the more surprising bands of recent times because they don’t sound anything like you imagined they would.
As Stygian Waves proves, though, they are all the better for that.
Rating: 9/10
REVIEW: ENVY OF NONE – STYGIAN WAVES (2025)
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