Ensemble Economique
In Silhouette
Denovali (2017)
Brian Pyle, the individual behind Ensemble Economique, begun a crazy trip as a member of Starving Weirdos in the mid '00s. This insane musical duo, featuring Pyle alongside Merrick McKinlay, traversed the paths of rock and electronic music, applying deranged psychedelia, resulting in the impossibility of pigeonholing their musical endeavors. After the group disbanded, Pyle was left unsatisfied with the … Read more
Ensemble Economique
Melt Into Nothing
Denovali (2014)
I became familiar with Ensemble Economique back in 2010 when they released their album Psychical, with Bryan Pyle (formerly of Starving Weirdos) combining world music with a very intriguing soundtrack type of feeling. Even though the original incarnation of the band with their fascinating influences was monumental, Ensemble Economique has crossed into darker territories. Pyle has reduced this act to … Read more
Ensemble Pearl
Self Titled
Drag City (2013)
It's genuinely hard for me to get excited about supergroups in general--they're almost never as good as the sum of their parts. And unfortunately, despite the calibre of the musicians involved, that seems to be exactly what has happened to post-everything supergroup Ensemble Pearl on their eponymous 2013 debut.Anchoring this band of notably crazy musicians is Stephen O'Malley, known best … Read more
Ensemble Pearl
Self Titled
Drag City (2013)
There's soundtracks to the apocalypse and then there's soundtracks to everything afterward. Ensemble Pearl provides the latter. The din and drone as your mind takes in the ruins of its surroundings, the dissonant fear of realization and finally the despair of acceptance. Stephen O'Malley has provided many a piss shiver in his work with Sunn O))) - a deliberate, almost … Read more
Enslaved
RIITIIR
Nuclear Blast (2012)
the black metal horde Enslaved seems to have been around forever. Unlike most bands of their genre and pedigree they have managed to add elements to their style to make themselves more their own band with each release. Each album has flirted with their Pink Floyd fascination while stripping away the unneeded kvlt aspects of the band's sound. For most … Read more
Enslaved
Utgard
Nuclear Blast (2020)
Experiencing a band grow and evolve is one of the most rewarding parts of being invested in music and for Enslaved, their fanbase has been given plenty of opportunities to be in awe of just how progressive and inventive the Norwegian's have been since their inception almost thirty years ago. The core of the band - Grutle Kjellson and Ivar … Read more
Entertainment
Gender
aDistant/Stickfigure (2008)
Dark, moody, atmospheric rock from this Athens, GA four piece. Sounds like outtakes from The Cure's Pornography but if Simon Gallup was on ludes instead of acid. "Patroness" tries hard to capture the spirit of Joy Division, but somehow ends up reminding me of a Gary Numan tune. There's enough musical ability to rise above the fray, but next time … Read more
Enthroned
Obsidium
Agonia (2012)
Belgian black metal veterans Enthroned offer up a new platter of palpable devastation with Obsidium. With this album they show the versatility that has carried them throughout their career. Obsidium will be revered amongst black metal purists, but easily approachable by those unfamiliar with the genre. Metalheads of all sorts will be coming together to bask in the darkness of … Read more
Envy
A Dead Sinking Story
Level Plane (2003)
There're plenty of bands in the world, but the ones that really stick out are the ones that leave you scratching your head, unsure of what you've heard, but a little bruised, beaten, and fulfilled because of it. Japan's Envy is one of those bands, a flurry of sound that differentiates only in extremes, from pummeling assaults to lush, gorgeous … Read more
Envy
Abyssal
Temporary Residence (2008)
Seriously, I think that I am still atoning for not paying more attention to this Japanese band earlier. I mean that I had some of their records but never really felt that deeply about them one way or another (maybe subconsciously due to their singing in Japanese thus making it a bit difficult to connect to the music). Then I … Read more
Envy
All the Footprints You've Ever Left and the Fear Expecting Ahead (Reissue)
Temporary Residence (2008)
Besides being a mouthful of a title, All the Footprints You've Ever Left and the Fear Expecting Ahead is one of my favorite Envy records with its capture of the band's raw emotion and the sound of a band becoming more comfortable with themselves. This is a reissue that is a part of Temporary Residence's recent big Envy offering the … Read more
Envy
Compiled Fragments 1997-2003
Temporary Residence (2008)
So here it is, Temporary Residence Limited finally is releasing this record stateside negating the need (if you happen to be a hopelessly addicted completist like I myself happen to be) to pay import or international shipping fees to acquire an elusive entry into the Envy oeuvre. Compiled Fragments 1997-2003 is a "singles collection" or more accurately a collection of … Read more
Envy
Insomniac Doze
Temporary Residence (2006)
"In such an ugly time the real protest is beauty," said some smart dude once. Right now, July 17 of 2006 at 3:36 p.m. I'm living in one of the ugliest times in the history of the homo sapien. Reading any newspaper makes that abundantly clear with who-knows-what on the horizon. At the moment out of everything that I can … Read more
Envy
Insomniac Doze
Temporary Residence (2006)
Unless you haven't heard Envy before, which would be a tragic mistake, then you already know how incredible this Japan-based melodic hardcore band is. This band truly is the instrumental representation of angst and sincerity that is a rare find in the crowded pool of crappy hardcore bands today. That being said, their new album, Insomniac Doze is sure to … Read more
Envy
Insomniac Doze
Temporary Residence (2006)
I came to Insomniac Doze with no prior knowledge of Envy, but with a strong interest in Japanese culture. As a country, Japan isn't exactly renowned for its success in the international music scene. Its successful exports tend to be few and far between, offering only a brief glimpse into what is in fact perhaps one of the most diverse … Read more
Envy
Recitation
Temporary Residence (2010)
Knowing full well this album was dropping this year (it was on my albums to look forward to in 2010 list last year), I was surprised by its release and caught unaware that it had finally dropped to the public; and this definitely affected the way that Recitation hit me for some strange reason. I sit here and say, “You … Read more
Envy
The Fallen Crimson
Temporary Residence (2020)
I doubt that many musicians would claim to not be slightly jealous of Envy's career trajectory. From humbler beginnings as a hardcore band singing in a non-native tongue, to issuing splits with the likes of Thursday and Jesu, releasing albums through Stuart Braithwaite's Rock Action, and palling around with Steve Aoki, they've been met with almost universal acclaim and success … Read more
Envy / Jesu
Split
Hydra Head / Daymare (2008)
Slipping under one's nose is not something an Envy or Jesu release tends to do, but somehow, this split between the two is not receiving the same amount of press as Envy's other split with Thursday. Thursday might be a "bigger" band, but considering the amount of press that Jesu usually gets on a release and the admiration that Envy … Read more
