Review- Stillglow Pride/Envy

Maryland based band Stillglow recently released their latest album called “Pride/Envy”, first in a series based on the seven deadly sins.  Continuing to grow musically and lyrically, Stillglow provides a solid listening experience, provoking questions and concerns about self and humanity.
Musically the album spans genres, creating a bridge between the ambient/melodic to the punk/indie.  The broad spectrum of this CD makes it impossible to classify Stillglow as a “band in a box” so to speak. Dan’s (lead vocals/guitar) sometimes quiet clean vocals provide a contrast to his sometimes erratic and energetic screams. The depth that they are able to achieve with only a three piece band is quite remarkable, thanks to intelligent writing on all accounts. Chris(bass/vocals) and Hunter(drums/vocals) are solid yet creative, making each member provide a unique point of view on each song. The music always matches the lyrics and mood of each individual line, heightening the effects of the emotional roller coaster the listener is on.
Lyrically dealing with two very heavy subjects, not only spiritually but personally, Pride/Envy is able to pose the hard questions but also point to the answers.  Pride & envy are two of the seven deadly sins, but you don’t have to be religious to know that they are both something that every human has to deal with.  Stillglow is able to make the listener question his/her own morality without shoving religion in their faces.  The album points to our own sinfulness and then shows the possibility for forgiveness and escape. The alleviation is the key, bringing the listener back up from the bottom of despair. Using a plot complete with characters and a storyline, it displays pride & envy and the consequences therein.
The pride part of the album includes four characters: The Judge, King Hubris, God, and a narrator. The Judge sees that King Hubris puts himself as an equal with God and decides he will provide the justice for God himself. In the first song (Pride Wrought) the Judge sees what the King is doing and decides to exact God’s vengeance. The second song (The Judgement Of) is when the Judge brings Hubris to be punished and the King is unaware of his offense. The last song in the story (Hubris, the King) the King sees his failure and repents, asking for God’s grace and to be made clean.  Pride on both accounts is evident and so is the release from it.
The Envy half of the album is written from the view of a leaf and a piece of dirt, two inanimate objects. The dirt wishes to be mighty and prominent like the mountain, envious of its stature and worth.  The leaf is jealous of the wind and the effect the wind has on what it touches.  The story ends with a song about erosion, and how we all have our own part to play no matter how big/small we might be.  Envy is something that is unquenchable, for when we achieve what we are jealous of we are then envious of something else.  The grass is always greener on the other side.
Showing their maturity spiritually and musically, Stillglow’s Pride/Envy showcases the bands talent, talent that should not go unnoticed.  Well rounded and charismatic, this album makes Stillglow a must listen every time they produce new material.