ADVENT HORIZON – Immured
- Posted on 05-06-2013
An older release I know, but I was recently sent this by postal mail (the way we used to get music to review before digital files became the norm) so now is as good as time as any to hunker down and put words down about Advent Horizon. Progressive rock is the name of the game for this Utah unit, with strong ties to King Crimson, Rush, and Three to these ears with this 10 song effort. I love the alternative, almost jazzy-strumming guitarists Rylee McDonald and Levi Benjamin Shell employ- there are times that Blind Melon, Saigon Kick, and Porcupine Tree all align with "Some Kind Of Thief" especially when the bottom drops out rhythmically and a psychedelic, atmospheric nuance takes shape before kicking back into gear.
Rylee as a vocalist also has a comfortable mid-range ready made for rock radio- Ty Tabor would be proud of the King X-like "Sky is Falling" just as much as his harmonic layering for the acoustic/electric shape shifter "Words". Keeping the arrangements at a reasonable 4-6 minute clip allows the listener a chance to sit comfortably with each track without feeling boredom- Advent Horizon is acutely aware of audience attention spans wandering and keep the technical play to a minimum.
I’d be curious to hear what the evolution of new material will be like for this band- as "Immured." is an excellent starting point. The best progressive rock to my ears maintains that difficult see saw between off time innovation and fresh riff/ chord combinations against parts that drive a melody or hook home. As such Advent Horizon know how to deliver on both fronts.
www.facebook.com/AdventHorizonBand