The first time I heard of NYVES (pronounced “knives”), I was a little confused by their inception. As I’ve stated in previous reviews, like solo records, side projects are a great way to create something different than what your main outlet already offers. They’re also great for collaboration. In this case, the collaborators at hand are Demon Hunter vocalist Ryan Clark and ex-Project 86 guitarist Randy Torres. One would immediately imagine, given their unique talents in the hard-rock/metal scene, that NYVES would fall into a similar category. However, I was surprised when I discovered they were an electronic project. I’m not opposed to it at all. I just find it out of the ordinary. Ryan Clark’s voice is very distinguishable, and it’s hard to imagine him not singing for Demon Hunter. Also, while my knowledge of Project 86 is limited to a handful of songs, it wasn’t hard for me to be confused by how Randy Torres’ guitar work would translate to electronic music. After a highly-successful Kickstarter and a partnership with Spartan Records, their debut record Anxiety is finally here. Some of the first released tracks from this project left me a tiny bit disappointed, because they didn’t immediately stand out to me. However, as I listened to this record more, I started to realize just how unique NYVES truly is.
Anxiety opens with “Return”, an almost orchestral-like track. The synths are accompanied by some beautiful strings, and Ryan’s vocals are blend well with the instrumentation. It flawlessly leads into the following track, “Something Divine”. One of the tracks I heard way before release, “Something Divine” is similar in sound to its predecessor, but a little bit faster and a little more intricate. While I originally couldn’t appreciate the track when heard by itself, its placement within the rest of the record makes me enjoy it more. “Smoking Gun” starts out at a moderately fast tempo, like that of a pop rock song, with a wide range of synths. It’s one of the few tracks that’s borderline EDM. Almost like a distant cousin to Nine Inch Nails, it’s exactly the sound I was looking for in NYVES all along, and instantly a highlight of the record. “Just Give Up” brings a little more optimism to the record, and its 80s-inspired synths draw me in instantly. The only element I don’t understand is the organ in the bridge. Perhaps another synth could be used, but it seems a little out of place.
“Parasites” has taken many listens for me to appreciate, and even then it’s a little hard to. Even though it sounds like an unused Demon Hunter track, something about Ryan’s vocals on this particular song seem odd. Maybe it’s the monotony of his range, or perhaps it could be the lack of vocal harmony. Nevertheless, despite my personal criticisms, it actually fits well within the rest of the record. The following track is a cover of The Psychedelic Furs’ “Love My Way”. I’m highly impressed with this version as it pays a lot of homage to the original. With the exception of cleaner, updated vocals and instruments, it’s an exact carbon copy of the original. Anybody that enjoyed the 1982 version will enjoy this version. Following track “Fools” features some great vocal harmonies and flowing, expressive instrumentation. While said instrumentation is mostly piano, the underlying synths and percussion programming in the chorus and bridge are a nice touch. This track isn’t the strongest on the record, but it’s definitely not one to pass up. “The Exit” bears some similarities to “Smoking Gun”, particularly in its Nine Inch Nails influence. Randy’s programming combined with an isolated-sounding piano give the song an eerie effect that’s needed at this point on the album. I’m also a fan of the live drum kit that was included.
“Fall Behind”, like “Something Divine”, was one of the first NYVES tracks I heard. At the time, I couldn’t appreciate it as a standalone song, but more listens and its placement in the record have made it one of my favorites. With calculated synth work, heavily-reverbed drum work, and some of Ryan’s best vocals on the album, it’s one not to pass up. “Idle Thoughts” could be considered a little predictable at this point, but the chorus is there the track packs the biggest punch. In my opinion, it would’ve been the perfect track to close the record. Instead, we’re treated to “Light”, an ominous, warm track that’s similar to “Idle Thoughts” in a sense. It’s slightly more experimental in its structure than the rest of the album. It’s not my ideal choice for an album closer, but it’s still a great track.
As previously stated, I still find NYVES’ inception out of the ordinary. I didn’t expect something like this to come out of these two musicians. That being said, Anxiety has proved me wrong. Drawing from influences like Nine Inch Nails and Depeche Mode, NYVES is a white horse in any market or genre. In the nicest way possible, it’s unlike anything I’ve ever heard. Ryan Clark and Randy Torres have crafted a tribute of sorts to the bands and genres they love. They seamlessly carry over their influence from their respective projects and combine them to create something out of the ordinary. Maybe my original lack of expectations for this record spawned out of the notion that it’d be borderline EDM, which has sucked dry a lot of my appreciation for modern electronic music. Amongst the monotony of this genre, Anxiety is a breath of fresh air that anyone can enjoy.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQFV-ENL8g4[/youtube]
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