SC Distributon

It's no surprise that Envy have increasingly found inspiration in instrumental rock and experimental ambient music ? genres that historically circumvent cultural trappings. With each album since their inception in the early '90s the group have chipped away at the linguistic and cultural barriers inherent in international rock music. Their breakthrough came with 2003's A Dead Sinking Story, the groundbreaking third album that replaced familiar hardcore breakdowns with the sound of actual emotional breakdowns, and ? along with ISIS and Explosions In The Sky ? helped blur the lines between more than a few genres. That began a transition that leads straight to Recitation, by far the most musically and lyrically dynamic, technically diverse and emotionally complex album of Envy's two-decade career. All the touchstones of classic Envy are there: Enormous dynamic range, soaring melodies that feel equally inspired by late 80s power ballads and dramatic film scores, and tortured, impassioned vocals that, even in a foreign language, vaguely recall 19th Century romantic poetry. The difference with Recitation is in its execution. Where recent co-releases with fellow underground rock icons Thursday and Jesu hinted at a band in transition, Recitation is a fully realized vision from a band at their most inspired. Packed with more songs than any previous Envy album ? songs lengths range from 90 seconds to nearly 9 minutes ? Recitation is more than most any Envy fan could have hoped for, a triumph for the band and an inspiring leap forward for heavy music the world over.

More than two years after Thursday first put the idea in our heads, Temporary Residence Ltd. is proud to finally bring together two influential bands from two very different places. Recorded in Spring 2008, both bands turn in some of their most inspired work yet. In addition, Thursday invited Anthony Molina of Mercury Rev to remix the dark instrumental "In Silence" into the pitch-black closing track, "Appeared And Was Gone," providing the perfect transition into the massive dynamics of Envy. Beginning with the subtle electronics of the symphonic opener, "An Umbrella Fallen Into Fiction," Envy thrashes and burns through a trio of thoughtful face-melters. Pressed on audiophile-quality 180 gram vinyl and featuring original artwork by acclaimed poster artist, Dan Grzeca, this deluxe set includes a free copy of the CD format beautifully incorporated into the exquisite package design.

Transfovista is the first long-form video documenting the long and winding history of Envy's sound and vision. Presented here are seventeen of the band's most notable live performances, spanning a dozen years and countless pieces of murdered equipment. Beautifully edited from a variety of sources culled from hundreds of live shows, Transfovista is a perfect documentation of where the band started, where they've been, and where they are now. From tiny basements to massive outdoor stages and back, this is how the first fifteen went for a band that is becoming more legendary with every passing moment.

Originally released in 2003 on Level Plane Records, the album expanded Envy's American audience, and marked the first time the band toured North America. The original vinyl pressing sold out immediately, and not surprisingly now fetches over $100 on eBay. Here, finally, both CD and LP formats are repackaged and re-released along with the lion's share of their seminal back catalog. The vinyl has been remastered, sounding better than ever. Along with their now-legendary second album, All the Footprints That You've Ever Left and the Fear Expecting Ahead (also reissued recently by Temporary Residence), A Dead Sinking Story is widely regarded as an innovative high-water mark for hardcore. These two albums are justifiably viewed as modern hardcore classics whose monumental footsteps created an unending ripple.

Celebrating the release of their incendiary new EP, Abyssal, and in conjunction with their forthcoming North American tour, Temporary Residence Limited is proud to re-introduce the lion's share of Envy's colossal back catalog. Along with their second and third albums ? All the Footprints You've Left and the Fear Expecting Ahead and A Dead Sinking Story, respectively ? we are happy to finally bring you Compiled Fragments 1997-2003. This collection of singles, rare tracks and unreleased gems maps Envy's storied transformation from pioneering spastic hardcore to masters of exquisite, triumphant doom. Originally released in 2003 on the group's own Sonzai Records in Japan, this album has never been available in North America, and has never been previously released on vinyl.

Originally released in 2001 on respected Japanese punk label H.G. Fact, All the Footprints You've Ever Left and the Fear Expecting Ahead introduced Envy to Americans when it was licensed for limited release in 2003 on Dim Mak Records. Their original pressing sold out almost immediately, and the album has been scarcely available ever since. The vinyl now regularly fetches over $100 on eBay, and the CD is equally difficult to score without paying increasingly undesirable import fees. Along with their now-legendary follow-up, A Dead Sinking Story, All the Footprints is widely regarded as an innovative high-water mark for hardcore. These two albums are justifiably viewed as modern hardcore classics whose monumental footsteps created an unending ripple.

Following their acclaimed fourth album, Insomniac Doze, Japan's Envy return with this face-melting four-song EP. Though acting as a stop-gap between Insomniac Doze and their eagerly anticipated next full-length, Abyssal sounds more like the missing link between the driving, cacophonous force of their breakthrough third album, A Dead Sinking Story, and the lush, cinematic tones of Insomniac Doze. In fact, were it not for its somewhat brief half-hour running time, Abyssal would be the ideal Envy album, marrying their vast influences into a transcendent, almost romantic sound that is rarely heard or felt in heavy music.

The year is 1991. The line between alternative and mainstream culture in America is irreparably blurred, just as a group of Japanese teenagers form an uncompromising thrash band half a world away, spitting 2-minute blasts of indecipherable terror for anyone that can stand the physical and emotional damage it willfully inflicts. Fast-forward fifteen years: Punk's corpse has been cannibalized to the bone and Envy has irreparably blurred the lines dividing the various factions of hardcore. Still terrifyingly sincere, their songs are now life-affirming, triumphant portraits for anyone strong-willed enough to withstand the emotional epiphanies they inspire