Envy on the Coast | Lowcountry | B-

Long Island alt-rock outfit Envy on the Coast has returned with Lowcountry. The new album is a strong follow-up to Lucy Gray and the band's self titled EP.
Heavy guitar and drums, accompanied by frequent guttural screams with the occasional dreary singing, encompass most of the album's sound. Despite this — or perhaps because of this — the music keeps the audience engaged as there is no telling what may come next, as heard on "The Devil's Tongue."
While most of the album's tracks have different themes, the instrumentals set an angry mood for much of the album, leaving the listener wondering why the band has such a bitter view toward the world. Even though the messages are similar, the band still manages to keep most of the music dynamic.
"Made of Stone", featuring lead singer Ryan Hunter's droning voice and somber acoustic guitar, brings a solemn sound to an otherwise post-hardcore album. His beginning pronouncement of, "I don't believe in much of anything," outlines the message for most of the album.
"Clergy" gives the feeling of wandering through a dark, winding forest, and the listener can get lost in the song's flighty melody. The theme, however, is about corruption in the church, so the subject matter does not seem to fit with the sound.
Several hidden tracks on the album make for pleasant surprises, as these are mostly softer and cleanse the hearing "palette" before jumping into heavy songs again. The juxtaposition of the two sounds keeps the album interesting from one track to the next and makes it an acceptable listen.