Envy of None | Stygian Waves

There was a palpable sense of anticipation in the air when Envy of None announced their debut in 2022. After all, it marked the first full-band project from world-renowned guitarist Alex Lifeson since his groundbreaking work with the legendary prog-rock trio Rush. Lifeson joined forces with a remarkable lineup: rising star Maiah Wynne on vocals, esteemed producer Alfio Annibalini (guitar, keyboards), Coney Hatch’s Andy Curran (bass, programming, guitar), and features Canadian session legend Randy Cooke (Mick Jagger, Alanis Morisette, Kelly Clarkson) on drums. Their debut exceeded expectations, with Record Collector describing it as "rich in creativity" in a 4-star review, and France's Rock Hard Magazine naming it Album of the Month and praising its "effective, modern, inspired tracks."

The band’s playing oozes conviction and class, Lifeson’s guitar work more inventive and powerful than ever, but it’s the talismanic Maiah Wynne – now hailing from San Francisco – who truly defines Envy of None’s sound. With her pensive, deft lyricism and impassioned vocal performance, Wynne pushes Stygian Waves into fresh, mesmerizing territory. The 11 songs on the album mark a significant progression in the band’s sound, every song meticulously lasered down to its most essential and captivating elements. With the band’s very own Alf Annibalini on mixing duties, the songs benefit from an intrinsic understanding of their evolution, his involvement in the writing process ensuring the mix truly captures the essence of their vision. Mastering by Harry Hess at HBomb Mastering (Barenaked Ladies, Billy Talent, Big Wreck) completes the album’s flawless sound quality.

With Stygian Waves, Envy of None overcomes any challenges typically associated with the notoriously tricky second album. Sharper, tighter, and more memorable than anything they’ve done before, Stygian Waves is the work of a band at the top of their game – and still only just getting started.