When five members of today’s current and former members of In This Moment, Skinlab and Five Finger Death Punch came together to create music,fans of these bands might think they have gotten the sound and style of the band figured out. In the case, of Las Vegas based band Inivida be careful what you think. When it comes to the debut album As The Sun Sleeps, whose official release will be March 31, 2017 on SPV Records nothing is what it seems music wise. Each song has its own beat, style, sound and groove making each and every tune its own unique entity something that makes Inivida stand apart.
Invidia is made up of Travis Johnson (In This Moment) on vocals, Matt Snell (ex- Five Finger Death Punch) on bass, Brian Jackson (ex-Skinlab) on guitars, Marcos Medina (ex-Skinlab) on guitars and Darren Badorine on drums. The band came together in December 2015 when Johnson and Jackson started to talk about making music together, from there the other members joined in. Not to be overlooked and seen as almost like a six member of the band is producer, Logan Mader (Once Human, Machine Head) who helped shape and create the sound of Invidia. The band is breaking down walls and stereotypes with its definition of what a Hard Rock/Metal band should sound like with its music merging genres from Alternative Rock, Industrial, Thrash, Rock Rap and more.
The first song on the album is “Now or Never”, is a powerful tune which has a strong Industrial side mixed with a Heavy Metal percussion and guitar section as Johnson shows off his vocals chops. There is a groove that will have fans moving and head banging to the catchy chorus and song all together. This track was a great choice to introduce Invidia to the world.
Next is “Making My Amends”, one can’t help but notice a Hard Rock/Punk vibe mixed in with an in your face guitar and percussion section which is the driving force of the song. Johnson’s vocals are mixed between singing and growls. One can’t help but be moved during the middle of the tune when an almost haunting dueling guitars takes over and Johnson speaks his lyrics over the music.
“Feed The Fire”, which will be released world-wide on February 3, 2017 as the bands next single is the third song on the album. One can’t help but hear a bit of Pantera and Godsmack moments in the music and lyrics. Johnson provides a strong vocal performance. The chorus is strong making it a track fans will find themselves drawn and singing along with. This slower paced Hard Rock song with a bit of groove mixed in was a smart move to be the third single to be released off the album.
A song that is sure to be another fan favorite off the album is “Smell The Kill”, which shows off all sides of Johnson’s vocals providing a powerful and emotional presentation. Most fans have come to know Johnson as bassist for In This Moment, but his gift as a singer will blow those that do not know him as one away. This is the song for fans to become acquainted with him vocally. This heavily built Hard Rock song that’s got some killer grooves in it proves again that not one song on this album are the same.
“Truth In The Sky” shows off a Rock Rap vocal style by Johnson which will have fans head banging along with the guitar and percussion section that is an in your face Nu-Metal experience. A short guitar solo comes in during the middle of the song that is accompanied by some strong bass and drum playing by Snell and Badorine.
Fans will get a surprise from “The Other Side”, when they realize special guest Aaron Nordstrom of Gemini Syndrome lends his vocals to the Hard Rock track. One must say that between Johnson and Nordstrom this song out of all on the album provides harmonies and vocalizations whichare stunning and strong at the same time.
The title track, “As The Sun Sleeps” finishes off the album with a powerful Heavy Metal experience. With a chorus that repeat lines such as “no hate, exactly all the same” shows off a catchy positive statement. With dueling guitars intertwined with a powerhouse percussion performance this song undeniably proves who and what Invidia are as a band.
Invidia, Latin meaning “ envy, conjuring a sense of spite and resentment at the success of others” has a connection when it comes to this song. Johnson explains “We’re a Vegas based band, we’re out at night, and that’s also when the ‘demons come out to play’, as the last track on the record says. You see a lot of envy and judgment in the world, even more so if you’re an ‘out at night’ sort of guy.” But of course, the band had no intention of bringing about any sort of emotions when writing the album, they just wanted to make great music and have a good time. Certainly, with this last song the album comes full circle.
Invidia has proven to have created an album were not one song sounds the same nor the meaning of lyric. For Johnson, Invidia is not a side project and even has gone on to say “Maybe we’ll tour with In This Moment and I’ll get to pull a double every night.” Invidia is a band full of five mean that have created something exciting and embodies many genres mixed together. As The Sun Sleeps is sure to be an albums listeners of all types of styles of Rock music will embrace. Invidia is on its way to great success.
