envy unveils its eighth album.
Since its creation in 1992, the band has made a name for itself in the Screamo scene, which now extends to the confines of Post-Rock and its derivatives. In 2024, Tetsuya Fukagawa (vocals/keyboards), Nobukata Kawai (guitar), Manabu Nakagawa (bass), Yoshi (guitar), Yoshimitsu Taki (guitar) and Hiroki Watanabe (drums, Heaven in her Arms) unveil Eunoia, on Pelagic Records.
The album kicks off with the steamy Piecemeal, which returns us to the dissonance we know from the band, yet captivates us with ease, letting the singer’s few words appear as the guitars kick in to explode on Imagination and Creation, letting heaviness and haunting tones mingle. The drums set the rhythm on fire, giving way to screams and more soothing clean vocals, serving the duality to be found at every moment of this troubled composition, which perfectly combines the most ethereal elements with a furious blast. The sound fades naturally, then gives way to The Night and the Void, where softness reigns, gradually tinged with a soaring darkness that gradually descends into rage, letting the screams appear at the climax before the quietude carries us to Beyond the Raindrops, where ambient effects play a prominent role. Saturation is sure to darken the lullaby as Whiteout begins with a jerky approach that’s as catchy as it is aggressive, before allowing itself a foggier pause that doesn’t last. The musicians get carried away once again, offering a series of well-crafted bursts of madness, while Lingering Light takes on a more disquieting tone, verging on anguish during the most gripping passages, before returning to fury on Lingering Echoes, where the intensity builds in waves to become a veritable as wild as gripping tornado. The band return to a more serene mood with January’s Dusk, where their Shozgaze roots come to the fore to accompany the spoken words of the vocalist, who despite the language barrier succeeds in making us feel all the viscerality of this rise in power, and we can truly say that the final majestic eruption is the high point of this album.
envy‘s reputation is already well established, but the band continues to exploit its recipe for slapping us in the face with its breath of fresh air on every album. Eunoia is as furious as it is complex, demonstrating a mastery as advanced as it is visceral. The album is already a classic.
95/100
Hello and first of all, thank you very much for your time! How could you introduce the band envy without using any musical label, such as “Screamo” or “Post-Rock”?
Tetsuya “Tetsu” Fukagawa (vocals) : The words delve into a deep inner world. It’s an experience as if inexpressible human emotions (anger, sadness, hope) were embodied in sound. Overwhelming sound energy and emotional swell.
Where does the name envy come from, and how do you link it to the music you play?
Tetsu: I picked it out from the dictionary. I thought it was the closest to the music we want to pursue and make. The band name expresses human weakness and complex emotions. We want to express emotional fluctuations and conflicts musically. I think it symbolizes the band’s philosophy and musicality.
The band is about to release its eighth album, Eunoia. How do you feel about it? Do you already have any feedback?
Tetsu: I think we’re very satisfied with the finished product. We cut out the unnecessary parts and kept only the essential parts. We’ve received good reviews from people we trust.
How would you sum Eunoia’s identity up in only three words?
Tetsu: Words, creativity, transparency
How did the creation process happen for Eunoia? Did you notice some changes or evolutions compared to the previous records?
Nobukata “NOBU” Kawai (guitar): There hasn’t been any particular change. I prepare phrases and ideas and we all arrange them together. It’s always been that style.
What about the artwork, what were the guidelines you gave the artist and how does it fit with the music you created? Is there a concept behind the album?
Tetsu: For me personally, music is about inner harmony and « beautiful thoughts ». Designs with quiet beauty, not overly flashy, but visually calming. Soft visuals like waves, wind, light, elements of light and shadow, hope and peace. I think they are well suited to visually conveying a sense of clarity. Personal growth and self-understanding are also themes.
The band’s sound has always been anchored in the duality between violence and spokenwords with airy music. How do you create and fuel the coexistence of those two elements? Why did you decide to keep Japanese language as envy’s main language?
Tetsu: Spoken word is a way to directly convey emotions. Words have a sharp meaning in music and can compete with the music to create intensity. Japanese is the language in which I can express my emotions and thoughts most naturally and deeply, and I can appeal directly to the listeners. The sound of Japanese itself is very beautiful, and I can faithfully convey the message I want to convey.
Do you have a favorite song on this album? Or maybe the hardest one to achieve for the album.
NOBU: Each song has its own meaning, so it’s difficult to narrow it down to just one!
Where do you find your inspiration to create music? Is there a concept on Eunoia?
NOBU: From everyday life. I often work on it by picking up sounds after I get home, remembering things I feel in my everyday life or melodies that start to form in my head. I aimed for this work to be compact and a little dark, using a lot of minor keys. I achieved my goal of making it compact, but it didn’t end up being a dark piece. I couldn’t. It just happened naturally.
Do you think you improved yourself as a musician and songwriter with this new record?
NOBU: I don’t think I have any musical talent to begin with, and I don’t think I’ve developed any. However, my desire to simply convey my feelings and my desire to see how far I can delve into my musical career with the time I have left in my life have grown. I think my next album will be completely different from this one.
From its creation, envy played in a lot of countries, from your motherland Japan to the USA, Europe… How do you feel about playing live? Do you have a special “ritual” or habit before going on stage?
Tetsu: Japanese listeners tend to concentrate and listen to music, and express their emotional reactions internally. In America and Europe, audiences express their emotions more extrovertedly, and I feel a more dynamic reaction. But even in the quieter parts, they often listen with respect. I don’t have a particular ritual, but I like to quietly close my eyes and take a deep breath to calm my mind.
I was lucky enough to see you twice, at Hellfest 2019 then in Paris back in 2022, do you remember those shows? Do you like playing in France? Maybe you plan to come back to Europe soon?
NOBU: Of course.
Are there any musicians or artists you would like to collaborate with? Whether it is for one song, or maybe more.
Tetsu: Personally, there is no artist I want to collaborate with. I don’t listen to much music.
What do you know about the French Metal scene? Are there any bands you know and like?
Tetsu: The drummer from Gojira (Mario) came to see us at a venue in France. I was very happy and honored. The performance at the Paris Olympics was also very unique and well-produced. I enjoyed watching it at home.
If you had to organize a concert for Eunoia’s release show, which bands would you love to play with? I let you create a poster with envy and three other bands!
Tetsu: The release show has already been decided and will be an envy-only show. I can’t think of any bands I’d like to play with. Sorry for the boring answer.
Last and funny question: which dish would you compare envy’s music with?
Tetsu: How about curry? A lot of spices are mixed together to create a dish. And there are many different kinds of curry. Listeners can choose between rice or naan.
That was the last question for me, so thank you very much for your time and your music, last words are yours!
Tetsu: Please listen to the new album and if there is a show near you, please take the time to come and see it. I am also looking forward to the live show in France.