I suspect that a few Rush fans were a little disappointed when the debut album by Envy Of None popped out of nowhere in 2022. A supergroup by every definition, the band that featured Alex Lifeson sounded nothing like his former outfit. But it was never promised and for me, Envy Of None’s biggest success was introducing Maiah Wynne to the wider world.
Envy Of None – Stygian Waves
Release Date: 28 March 2025 (Kscope)
Words: Paul Hutchings
Alternative, cinematic rock music, the album was a real grower and spread the influences wide. It concluded with the emotional Western Sunset which Lifeson dedicated to his old drummer Neil Peart. A chord was struck.
I had the opportunity to interview bassist Andy Curran the following year. The Coney Hatch legend was one of the most engaging and entertaining people I have ever spoken to, and we talked for a good while about a huge range of topics. Let’s throw in Alfonso Annibalini, and we have the four members who make up this eclectic troop.
Whereas Envy Of None may have been the beginning of the voyage, Stygian Waves presents as more confident, bold and captivating. It is the sound of a band now firmly on the highway, heading along the route they have chosen, all with a majesty that provides a real heady mix to challenge and dispel any doubters.
Indeed, the performances here are impressive across the board. Whilst the debut album saw Lifeson’s guitar turned way down, on Stygian Waves there are some gorgeous flashes of the fretwork that he employed for five decades across the globe.
Not that he is feeling connected with Rush anymore. “After a long career in a very active band, Envy Of None has been a wonderful escape for me, bringing this sense of liberation,” he says. “I’m proud of my past, but I finally feel like I’ve disconnected from it. I’m doing something that’s valid, exciting and enormously satisfying.
“It’s not about that guy from Rush anymore, not that there’s anything wrong with him! In this band, I’m just another player who adores music and is lucky enough to be making it with other people.”
With Lifeson content to be just another musician, he, Curran and Annibalini are happy to let Wynne’s emotive vocals take the spotlight. It is a combination that works in spectacular style, for Wynne’s smoky and evocative delivery touches you right in the emotions. Across the 11 songs here, she weaves her magic, casting a captivating spell that draws you in deep.
It is evident from listening to Stygian Waves, a title taken from the Roman poet Ovid’s work about stygian waves and turbulence at the gates of Hell, that the musical growth between the four has been substantial. Tracks like opener Not Dead Yet, That Was Then and the delicious ballad Under The Stars all ooze character and class.
No two tracks are close to the same. The moody flavours of Not Dead Yet see Lifeson play some simple, repeated tones that appear and disappear like wisps of smoke. The whole feel of the song is one that wraps around you, layers of sound that all rightly compete for individual attention whilst at the same time combining as one organic movement. As Lifeson notes, there are even some James Bond-sounding parts.
It is followed by The Story, which sees Curran lay down a thumping bass line which anchors the song. Wynne delights with her beautiful vocals. The programming and keys add context and substance, whilst the moment we will always secretly hanker for arrives with a burst of lead work which instantly buries deep into the heart.
It is gloriously uplifting to hear those tones, and whilst the overall song bursts with a sonic soundscape, the inner me did punch the air slightly at the sound.
But that would be to distract from the overall collective that is Envy Of None. This is an album where the shining star is undoubtedly Wynne. Her performance here is more assured and more complete, something I think she is comfortable explaining. “I pushed myself a lot more this time, and part of that was due to the growth and trust in each other. We created a space where we could experiment more and encourage each other to really push the limits.”
The band used real drums throughout the album, and although most were added towards the end, one song they came in earlier was the beautifully evocative Under The Stars. Another song that features a burst of classic Lifeson guitar work, it is a truly magical song that fits in perfectly with the rich melodies that run throughout this album.
Elsewhere, there is the addictive groove that rolled through the debut. Thrill Of It All rides a funked-up groove and a Beatles riff that sneaks in unannounced for a quick burst. Then there is the electronica techno ’80s flourishes on That Was Then and Raindrops, both unique in their sound, the latter bringing with it a pop sensibility that once more allows Wynne to shine through.
If there are plenty of surprises tucked in across Stygian Waves, it is the arrival of the final track, the title song of the album, that really provides the sucker punch.
It is an incredible song, something that ties exotic Indian with Sci-Fi in a cinematic score that could easily be part of a film score. One of the shortest songs on an album where nothing overstays its welcome, I have played it over and over to try and absorb the aural delights that explode around you.
I think it will take many more plays before I move on. Wynne explained the basis for the song. “I was really inspired after travelling in India and I’ve always wanted to be the blue alien from The Fifth Element. This is basically a combination of those two things. I had the inspiration and energy to explore something new and fun. We trusted each other enough to experiment further. We couldn’t have done this on the first record, maybe because we weren’t so bold at that stage. This time, we really went out there, and it paid off.”
The excitement does not end with this twisting movement, for there is talk of some shows included in the plans of the band. I am not getting excited as they will likely be across the pond, as they say, but the mere thought of hearing these songs with full musical accompaniment in a theatre with the acoustics to do them justice… Well, let’s just say it makes me warm and fuzzy just to consider it.
Until then, I will make do with one of my albums of 2025. Yes, it’s a bold statement, but this album will be on repeat for months to come.
