Envy the Fallen - Hoist the Colours (EP)
I first heard Envy the Fallen back in 2009 when their lead singer Ant forwarded me some MP3’s which they’d recorded. Since then, the band has gone from strength to strength, played some amazing gigs, generated a following in the South West and finally, recorded an EP. It’s rare that I genuinely look forward to getting my hands on a CD, but on this occasion I really was, just to see what they’d come up with. Finally, I got hold of a copy, and I wasn’t disappointed.
Envy the Fallen are a 5 piece melodic-hardcore band from Cornwall, renowned locally for their energetic live shows and ‘take no prisoner’ music. Their EP, ‘Hoist the Colours’ marks the first step in their career, one which I think can only get better from here.
The EP opens with ‘The Brave Ones’ ,opening softly and building up, this song opens this EP in truly epic fashion, setting the standard straight off. Pounding drums and roaring vocals underpinned with distorted riffs keep the track going from strength to strength – this track WILL be amazing live.
‘Hoist the Colours’ follows next, opening fast and only getting faster, this track continues the theme of the first track and doesn’t disappoint, another one which will feel well and truly at home on the live scene. ‘This Is Not Goodbye’ follows and changes the tempo a little, opening fast and building up, this track leads from break down to break down using gang vocals to give some extra depth, another good one in the bag.
The next two tracks, ‘I Will Prevail’ and ‘Until Lambs Become Lions’ carry the album forward ever more, building up more and more demonstrating how able this band really is. At times listening to it, I had to remind myself that this was a debut EP – the production on all the tracks along with the musicianship is quite frankly stunning throughout making it a pleasure to listen to.
Final track ‘The Ending’ on the other hand, is something quite different. I know I was looking forward to this EP, and I know I like this band so I’m bound to be a little biased towards them, but this track was beyond anything I could have possibly imagined them producing. Ever since I heard this track I’ve been trying to work out how I would review it – it’s simply stunning. It opens with pounding guitars and drums building up, leading on to something. The vocals kick in with the most amazing roar and the song just breaks, the vocals, combined with the drums, the guitar and the bass is like the track I’ve been looking for all this time, it just works perfectly. The song continues to build, growing stronger and stronger with dual lead lines, double bass drums, multi-layered vocals, honestly it’s unbelievable that this is from a debut EP. The solo kicks in and the listener is transported to another place, a place where suddenly a piano kicks in, overlayed with digital effects and snippets of vocals and guitars, this is the end of the EP, but my christ what an ending it is. I have been genuinely blown away by this track and since getting the CD, have played it to everyone and anyone willing to listen to it.
I was talking to the bands singer Ant and their drummer Jon when I picked up the EP, just catching up as I hadn’t seen them in a while. Jons parting words to me were to be honest when I reviewed this EP as they could take it, and in all honesty I have been. This EP is so accomplished, so well written and so well recorded that it’s in my CD changer in my car, on my MP3 player and on my laptop so that I can listen to it where ever I am. If anyone doubts anything I’ve said, please, just listen to the final track on the album – if ever there was evidence of a band being able to come up with something amazing on their first go, this is it.
The negative – it finishes after only 6 tracks – and whether you agree with me or not, this EP now ranks amongst some of the best stuff I’ve heard in a long long while.
To find out more about Envy the Fallen including where you can get your hands on this EP, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Envy the Fallen are a 5 piece melodic-hardcore band from Cornwall, renowned locally for their energetic live shows and ‘take no prisoner’ music. Their EP, ‘Hoist the Colours’ marks the first step in their career, one which I think can only get better from here.
The EP opens with ‘The Brave Ones’ ,opening softly and building up, this song opens this EP in truly epic fashion, setting the standard straight off. Pounding drums and roaring vocals underpinned with distorted riffs keep the track going from strength to strength – this track WILL be amazing live.
‘Hoist the Colours’ follows next, opening fast and only getting faster, this track continues the theme of the first track and doesn’t disappoint, another one which will feel well and truly at home on the live scene. ‘This Is Not Goodbye’ follows and changes the tempo a little, opening fast and building up, this track leads from break down to break down using gang vocals to give some extra depth, another good one in the bag.
The next two tracks, ‘I Will Prevail’ and ‘Until Lambs Become Lions’ carry the album forward ever more, building up more and more demonstrating how able this band really is. At times listening to it, I had to remind myself that this was a debut EP – the production on all the tracks along with the musicianship is quite frankly stunning throughout making it a pleasure to listen to.
Final track ‘The Ending’ on the other hand, is something quite different. I know I was looking forward to this EP, and I know I like this band so I’m bound to be a little biased towards them, but this track was beyond anything I could have possibly imagined them producing. Ever since I heard this track I’ve been trying to work out how I would review it – it’s simply stunning. It opens with pounding guitars and drums building up, leading on to something. The vocals kick in with the most amazing roar and the song just breaks, the vocals, combined with the drums, the guitar and the bass is like the track I’ve been looking for all this time, it just works perfectly. The song continues to build, growing stronger and stronger with dual lead lines, double bass drums, multi-layered vocals, honestly it’s unbelievable that this is from a debut EP. The solo kicks in and the listener is transported to another place, a place where suddenly a piano kicks in, overlayed with digital effects and snippets of vocals and guitars, this is the end of the EP, but my christ what an ending it is. I have been genuinely blown away by this track and since getting the CD, have played it to everyone and anyone willing to listen to it.
I was talking to the bands singer Ant and their drummer Jon when I picked up the EP, just catching up as I hadn’t seen them in a while. Jons parting words to me were to be honest when I reviewed this EP as they could take it, and in all honesty I have been. This EP is so accomplished, so well written and so well recorded that it’s in my CD changer in my car, on my MP3 player and on my laptop so that I can listen to it where ever I am. If anyone doubts anything I’ve said, please, just listen to the final track on the album – if ever there was evidence of a band being able to come up with something amazing on their first go, this is it.
The negative – it finishes after only 6 tracks – and whether you agree with me or not, this EP now ranks amongst some of the best stuff I’ve heard in a long long while.
To find out more about Envy the Fallen including where you can get your hands on this EP, check out their Facebook page HERE.