Interview by Kris Peters
Sydney heavy rock outfit Wicked Envy shook the music scene to the core with the release of their debut EP What The Hell Am I Doing in June 2022.
Bringing to you all forces of modern rock and metal, infused with heavy, powered riffs, gritty vocals and bewitching melodic vocal interplay, Wicked Envy were a breath of fresh air amid a cluttered market with a commanding live performance to match.
Following last year's single Paralysis Demon, Wicked Envy continue on their merry way this week with the premiere of Final Descent via HEAVY at 5 pm on June 5 before an official release the following day. The dominating new track commands attention, taking you on a gut-wrenching final journey through a doomed flight with a sonic intensity to match the increasing tension of the lyrics.
Desiree Hancock (vocals/keys) and Jakub Kyral (bass) joined HEAVY earlier today to discuss Final Descent and the immediate future for Wicked Envy. We start by mentioning the song's intro, that starts off almost leisurely before whipping into a frenzy. It's a nice, steady, unnerving passage of music that is used to good effect.
"Originally it was going to be very hard rock, like we've done in the past," Kyral began. "And then we went into the studio and our producer Clay was very much 'We have to make a few changes, what are some of your influences on the song? Where do you want it to go?' Des and I were talking about it, and we wanted a very Spiritbox with Sleep Token, ambient vibe…"
"A modernised sound," Hancock added. "We'd been speaking with our producer Clayton, and we wanted to go in that more modernised direction. We're pretty much classic rock, hard rock based with a little bit of dark vibes. Now we wanted to try and push for that modern feel."
In the full interview, Desiree and Jakub discuss in greater detail their new single, Final Descent. They discussed the band's decision to depart from their traditional hard rock style and embrace a more modernized sound, drawing inspiration from Spiritbox and Sleep Token. They also explored the song's theme, which draws inspiration from aerophobia and the movie Final Destination, and discussed the band's plans for future releases and live shows, emphasizing their high-energy performances, horror-themed theatrics, and the desire to connect with their audience on a deeper level.