Envy

I hate starting reviews. I can never think of anything attention-catching, or witty, or amazingly savvy to start with, so my reviews end up sounding like my Year 12 Literature exam. I keep expecting to lose marks for using colloquial language, and not discussing enough the religious connotations of King Lear. Luckily, at the Arthouse, on a bitterly cold Melbourne night, there was music to be had, and have music we shall.

The evening started with Brisbane screamo band Art Vandelay, who despite their amusing name, were anything but. Perhaps I just don’t understand screamo, or maybe I’m getting too old, but I was so bored I counted the bubbles in my beer. Perhaps if they added some hooks, they could tackle the 30 Second to Mars- AFI market, but tonight, their Just Another Rock Band.

Brisk followed, with much of the same, tight musicianship cooked into an indiscernible mix of screams and noise. Again, maybe it’s me? These boys can play, there’s no doubt there, and play very well, and their songs are well constructed, and the crowd warmed up to them, but, again, maybe it’s just me, not keeping up with the times.

Melbourne boys My Disco brought an interesting change to the night’s metal/screamo vein: predominantly instrumental, indie/punk noise. Their songs, or ‘sections of sound’, built to crescendos of classical proportions. If I had been drunker, I’d have been inclined to dance, unfortunately one pot of Carlton isn’t enough to get me flailing my arms about Woodstock- style. Their screeching guitar, sharp beats and funk bass showed off their prowess and creativity, although repetitive at times. Their on-stage nature was like that of surgeons- methodical, calculating, making each beat important.

Headliners Envy finally took the stage, much to excitement of punters desperate to push their way to the front (some use the old “my friend is in there!” technique, others just push their way through like a runningback) to experience the Japanese hardcore sensation. Their music, although in the same vein as most else I had heard tonight, had something different- it was melodic and sublime; with such ferocity it had the glasses on the Arthouse bar shaking. One punter described it as “Epic” and I was inclined to agree, even if he was munted out of his mind tank.

Tracks like “Shield of Selfishness” and “A Far Off Reason” caused a storm to erupt at the front, with fans bashing around to the progressive sound. Envy have toured all over the world, from Europe and the UK, all over Asia and now, Australia, and have played with such metal heavyweights as Dimmu Borgir and Napalm Death, and it’s not hard to see why. Their music is universal, an elevated sound that will appeal to headbangers young and old, punk or metalhead, and we can all bash around in the pit together. I’m not sure that harmony between definitive genres of alternative music fan was exactly what Envy was going for, but it sure works.

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