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ADVENT

Eclectic Prog • United States


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Advent biography
Founded in New Jersey, USA in 1989 - Still active as of 2019

ADVENT is a modern rock band from New Jersey that proves how imagination, a couple of influences and a good delivery can lead to beautiful music and a very strong rock style. The group excels at combining contemporary themes (with a contemporary sound, of course), showing a genuine and fresh passion for prog. While they always strive to play with eclecticism, keeping in mind their various influences, their music isn't overly complex but achieves powerful and beautiful melodies and rhythms.

The band was born in 1989, long before the release of their first album. Guitarist Alan Benjamin and keyboardist Henry Ptak first joined forces as a progressive duo, then Henry's brother Mark was invited over for a deeper sound and stronger compositions; the band took its definitive form in 1996 with the release of a self-titled debut album. If Alan Benjamin proves the most gifted multi-instrumentalist, being well versed in both jazz and classic rock music, the Ptak brothers on keyboards easily work their way through a classical-humoristic style and the electronic genre; they also supply some percussion. Almost 9 years after the release of this first album, drummer Drew Siciliano was hired - a strong creative force - as well as guitarist Greg Kantona whose influences are as eclectic as A. Benjamin's, ranging from modern rock to classical to avant-garde. Lastly, bassist Benjamin Rose joined in as the band eventually readied for live concerts.

Stylistically, ADVENT rely on their own vision as well as on various influences: English and Italian Renaissance music come to mind, with vocal counterpoints being a strong facet of their art. Their progressiveness relies on Western-influenced melodies, good lyrical compositions and strong (if minimal) instrumental experiments.

Most of ADVENT's music has the contemporary sound of the 90's and new millennium prog, although other sounds sometimes show up in their music such as retro, movie soundtrack and other unusual styles. They combine catchy folk, pop or avant-garde, nothing too obvious but definitely present in their sound. Prog fans will be happy to know that the band has composed covers for GENTLE GIANT and PROCOL HARUM, pieces which appear on well known tribute albums. Their brand of prog is mostly similar to GENTLE GIANT and PROCOL HARUM, with a few hints of YES, GENESIS and Anthony PHILLIPS.

ADVENT is a fine, if unknown, progres...
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ADVENT discography


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ADVENT top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

2.97 | 32 ratings
Advent
1997
3.41 | 79 ratings
Cantus Firmus
2006
3.76 | 110 ratings
Silent Sentinel
2015

ADVENT Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

ADVENT Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

ADVENT Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

ADVENT Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

2.50 | 2 ratings
Canto XXVI
2018

ADVENT Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Silent Sentinel by ADVENT album cover Studio Album, 2015
3.76 | 110 ratings

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Silent Sentinel
Advent Eclectic Prog

Review by kev rowland
Special Collaborator Honorary Reviewer

5 stars It is safe to say, that for one reason or another Advent haven't been the most productive of bands when it comes to releasing albums, and this 2015 was only the third over eighteen years, and it is still their most recent. I first came across them at the time of their second album, 'Cantus Firmus' in 2006, and I was suitably impressed by their very English sound, mixing Gentle Giant with mid-Seventies Genesis. The core band has expanded between the two albums, growing from four to six (and misplacing their drummer along the way), but Henry Ptak (keyboards, mandolin, percussion, lead vocals, backing vocals), Alan Benjamin (guitars, bass, violin, mandolin, recorder, glockenspiel, keyboards, percussion, backing vocals) and Mark Ptak (keyboards, percussion, lead vocals, backing vocals) are still there, and they have been joined by Greg Katona (guitars, percussion), Joe D'Andrea (drums, percussion, lead vocals, backing vocals) and Brian Mooney (fretted and fretless basses) along with various guests. They have lost some of the Genesis influences this time around, instead moving more overtly to Hackett and with some very strong strides indeed towards Camel. Indeed, one can imagine 'On the Wings of an Ant (Verse 1)' coming from that band's canon, with sublime melodic vocals, delicate keyboards and guitars and delightful fretless bass.

This does not sound like an album which has been released in 2015, nor any time in the previous forty years, and definitely not from a band formed in New Jersey! Pastoral, incredibly English and complex, if one said this was a lost album from the Seventies the only snorts of derision would be from those who would rightfully say that an album as fine as this could not possibly have been misplaced for that number of years. As it is, I am somewhat surprised that I have not heard more about this album, as it is one of the finest I have come across for a very long time indeed. This contains pretty much everything I want from a progressive rock album, and it has been getting some extended repeat plays. When I next sort out my albums and remove everything I have reviewed, this is going to be added straight back on out of choice as I know I am going to keep coming back to this time and again. Complex, complicated, yet so very easy to listen to indeed. It is full of layers which makes one think of Yes, and particularly Gentle Giant (as well as the use of multiple instruments), quirky time signatures and harmony vocals abounding, this is actually an incredibly easy album to listen to and one which makes me smile.

Let's just hope it isn't quite so long until the next one, as this is a delight from beginning to end. The prog world needs to discover Advent.

 Silent Sentinel by ADVENT album cover Studio Album, 2015
3.76 | 110 ratings

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Silent Sentinel
Advent Eclectic Prog

Review by Tarcisio Moura
Prog Reviewer

3 stars 3.5 stars, really. I heard about this american band only recently. I can´t really recall where I did get the info about them before getting their CD Silent Sentinel. I also did not know it was their third release, so I can´t compare to their earlier efforts. What I got here was a very fine record, well produced and recorded that shows a kind of retro prog band. Although from USA their musical roots are firmly planted on the english prog scene of the early 70´s. So be prepared for some nice vintage keyboards and strong tunes.

Musically speaking they area roughly a mix of Gentle Giant, their biggest and most obvious influence (specially the vocal parts, including some very fine multi layered ones) and Gabriel era Genesis (great guitar parts!) plus some jazz and Canterbury sound thrown in for good measure. The songs themselves are, mostly, not as complicated as GG used to be at its prime, but to me this is something good, because they are not trying to do things they are not capable of. The CD flows evenly, with the majority of the tracks keeping up the quality most of the way through more than 75 minutes of music. However, this is not easy listening music, and it is best appreciated if you listen carefully each track separately. To get it all in one sit might be too much.

Although I liked the Silent Sentinel very much, the reason I don´t give it a four star rating is because, to my ears, they haven´t really reached their full potential as songwriters yet. They have yet to come up with stronger and more original stuff to show to the world what they came for. With this CD they came very close, but it is obvious that they can do better with some more experience and playing together. The performances are impeccable and the overall sound is very pleasant. A little more passion and personality, however, would do wonders to their sound.

I´m really looking forward to listen to their next work. Very promising. Gentle Giant and Genesis fans should not miss this one. It´s very worth checking it out!

 Silent Sentinel by ADVENT album cover Studio Album, 2015
3.76 | 110 ratings

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Silent Sentinel
Advent Eclectic Prog

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

3 stars ADVENT is an American band who have released a much talked about album this year called "Silent Sentinel". This is their third studio recording and there's been a nine year gap between each one. The music here is very GENTLE GIANT-like with plenty of acoustic moments and harmonies. They use violin, mandolin, glockenspiel, fiddle and recorder along with the usual instruments.

The album opens with "In Illo Tempore" where we can here crickets to start as light keyboard- like sounds take over. Atmosphere and more as it starts to build before it settles late and blends into "To Dunsinane" where we hear nature sounds before vocal harmonies and a strong GENTLE GIANT flavour takes over. "On The Wings Of An Ant(Verse 1)" again reminds me of GENTLE GIANT with those reserved vocals and piano. "Voices From California" is one of my favourites. Vocals and light keyboard sounds to start as it builds. It does settle back with backing vocals and intricate sounds. Great sound after 4 minutes during an instrumental section. "The Uncharted Path" has some nice acoustic work early on as piano and a full sound kick in after a minute. I'm not a fan of some of the keyboard sounds. A much better sound arrives after 2 minutes. Organ, recorder then violin follows. "Reloj De Sol" is a short piece with acoustic guitar melodies. "On The Wings Of An Ant(Verse 2)" opens with vocals and acoustic guitar as the organ joins in.

"The Silent Sentinel" is the longest piece at over 19 minutes. Again light keyboard sounds including what sounds like harpsichord. Vocals before 3 minutes. I like the haunting vibe that comes in. Vocal harmonies before 5 minutes. A nice instrumental section starts after 6 minutes then it turns dark before 9 minutes. Harpsichord-like sounds then take over. A full sound kicks in before 12 minutes followed by mellow vocals and sound before it turns fuller again. "12/12" is an acoustic guitar driven track. "Sentinel's Reprise: The Exit Interview" opens with some killer bass as vocals and harmonies kick in quickly. This is very GENTLE GIANT-like. The keys and guitar sound excellent here. "Second Thoughts" is more acoustic led music before we get the final act of "On The Wings Of An Ant(Verse 3)" which is a favourite of mine. Vocals and atmosphere lead the way. "Full Moon And Empty Hours" features more acoustic sounds and atmosphere. "Riptide In Aeternum" sounds great when it picks up before a minute with organ and that rhythm section. "Romantas" ends the album and it has a medieval sound that pops up on this album quite often. I like the electric guitar. A strange change before 6 minutes doesn't sound right to me. Vocals before 11 minutes.

Most Prog fans will eat this album up but I just can't pull the trigger on 4 stars with that almost 78 minute length and overall pleasant and safe sound.

 Silent Sentinel by ADVENT album cover Studio Album, 2015
3.76 | 110 ratings

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Silent Sentinel
Advent Eclectic Prog

Review by BrufordFreak
Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

3 stars This album has such better sound recording and engineering than their previous work, 2006's Canuts Firmus. As a matter of fact, it is the clarity of the instrumental recording that makes this album so special, so engaging. Everything is a couple of steps better than their previous album--which I liked. Cantus Firmus showed so much potential. Silent Sentinel is fulfilling a great deal of that potential. The multi-voiced vocal harmony weaves are sometimes quite ingenious and complex (very similar to some of the best of GENTLE GIANT like on "His Last Voyage" or "A Reunion") but they can also be just as often sounding like the lame straightforward harmonies of the 1980s band ASIA or 1980s YES. In my opinion, the album's "weakness" and strength are one in the same: Guitarist Alan BENJAMIN's penchant (and/or reverence) for imitation of the guitar sounds and stylings of Steve HACKETT's circa 1973 (Foxtrot). His imitation is flawless, but, in my opinion, unnecessarily so. Even his acoustic guitar pieces--which I adore--are so full of Hackettisms. But the electric work is where it goes too far; there is just no need to be that true to another man's sound and style--especially a sound that was limited by 1973's recording limitations.

My favorite songs are the most scaled down: the brilliant church/Renaissance-like "On the Wings of an Ant" series "(verses 1, 2, & 3)" (2:16), (2:20) and (7:09), respectively (10/10); the acoustic guitar solo pieces, 6. "Reloj de Sol" (2:35), "12_12" (2:39), and 11. "Second Thoughts" (2:21). Song 8. "The Silent Sentinel" (19:11) is about as good as an epic GENESIS tribute or imitation gets (9/10). Song 5. "The Uncharted Path" (6:22) (9/10) captures the wonderful old-feeling GENTLE GIANT-like sound and the upbeat and humorous BEACH BOYS-like 4. "Voices from California" (7:34) (9/10) is also quite enjoyable.

The opening of the title song is about as promising as any song I've heard in a long time: awesome instrument choices (organ, harpsichord,12-string acoustic guitars, tuned percussion, occasional background keyboard washes, and, of course, eventually, GENTLE GIANT choral like multi-voice vocal arrangements), incredible chord sequences and melodies, and the incredible gentle voice of the lead singer. And this continues for a good five minutes before things start to falter or lose their focus and get a bit muddled. Actually, it's the arrival of the electric guitar at 5:20 that turns me out. The near-faultless imitation of sound and style of said guitar to those of one Steve HACKETT circa 1973 are equally--sorry to say--distracting. And then the section that begins in the seventh minute is too much like a GENESIS replication, note for note, chord for chord, and, especially, sound for sound. The KARDA ESTRA-like "mysterious interlude" beginning at 8:25 is interesting--especially for the "Entangled" sound that arises within it 75 seconds later. The return of the Steve Hackett guitar at 11:38 bodes not well for the song's further progress. It's just too Steve Hackett! The ensuing solo vocal is a nice bridge to some heavier music beginning in the fifteenth minute and continuing while alternating with some Kerry MINNEAR/ MANHATTAN TRANSFER-like vocal arrangements through the next few minutes. In short, the song "The Silent Sentinel" is a microcosm of all that is wonderful as well as all that is flawed with this beguiling Advent album. I truly love and respect the band's progress and growth. I hope that they will continue to work together and that they will continue to discover and hone their own sound. Still, this is a solid four star album--one that I can happily recommend to all prog lovers. Impeccable quality in sound, construction and melody. Pick it up and listen to it for yourselves: I am CERTAIN you will find a few gems for your self on this exciting album.

 Silent Sentinel by ADVENT album cover Studio Album, 2015
3.76 | 110 ratings

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Silent Sentinel
Advent Eclectic Prog

Review by cirrusbay

5 stars There is really only one way to properly appreciate this album. And it's not while driving. Or eating. Or doing housework. Or any other distraction. No, 'Silent Sentinel' is one of those rare albums that require one's complete attention, so that not a note is missed, as each note is perfectly placed, and each tone is carefully crafted. The result is, frankly, spectacular, where the music is continually intriguing, backed by stellar musicianship and thought provoking lyrics. Lines such as 'Midnight creeps circumspect, pours through the cracks in the walls, and there it collects', and 'Pilots serve their resignations, as passengers spurn all destinations but one', should be inspiring to anyone with a penchant for lyrics. But it's the music itself that holds the most intrigue. As for references, one will note (at times) a 'Gentle Giant' influence most notably, with occasional nods to artists such as Anthony Phillips and even 'Hatfield and the North'. Composer extraordinaire Henry Ptak favors minor and often haunting augmented chords that can perhaps call to mind Tony Banks, circa 'From The Undertow', or 'Evidence of Autumn'. Having cited those influences, the album has enough originality in its walls of sound that purists should not be stumbled. And to top it off, 'Silent Sentinel', years in the making, boasts a hearty 77 minutes without a note of filler. What more can one ask for?
 Silent Sentinel by ADVENT album cover Studio Album, 2015
3.76 | 110 ratings

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Silent Sentinel
Advent Eclectic Prog

Review by rdtprog
Special Collaborator Heavy, RPI, Symph, JR/F Canterbury Teams

5 stars Advent is a American band with a clear influence of the British scene playing Retro Prog with a huge influence of Gentle Giant, the pastoral music of Genesis and Steve Hackett. If you enjoy some light music with flute, acoustic guitar and Canterbury style music where jazzy passages that could remind us the more modern band Nathan Mahl, you will enjoy this. To appreciate this album you can't listen to this as a background music, because the songs are complex and intricate. The way the band has used the multi-parts vocals is one reason to make the connection to Gentle Giant, but also some song structures. There is a lot of acoustic guitar in the pure Hackett style with some symphonic parts at the end of the album with the great song "Romanitas". In the other epic song "Silent Sentinel" , there is many twists and moods including some strange cinematic atmosphere, totally brillant! The tempo of the songs are never getting very fast and when it gets a little speedier in the song "Riptide in Aeternaum", it doesn't last long. It's ironic that this Retro Prog music comes as a breath of fresh air in all those moderns Prog bands that strives for heavier music with some crunchy guitars, big drums sound and the latest keyboards technology.
 Silent Sentinel by ADVENT album cover Studio Album, 2015
3.76 | 110 ratings

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Silent Sentinel
Advent Eclectic Prog

Review by wnelson2

4 stars Anyone concerned that modern progressive rock had become too kitsch and camp or contrarily relegated to atonal avant territory without reference to any semblance of melody would do well to dig into some of the newer lesser known acts (at least to me) like this. A great mix of austere acoustic pieces to more involved and intricately complex pieces with detailed lines evolving from movement to movement. Instruments are beautifully layered switching back and forth at a dizzying pace. Drawing comparisons to the melodic gifts of Gentle Giant and the American band However, this is beautiful progressive rock. Compositions are exquisitely arranged and executed. Production could not be better. Highlights are the two long pieces 'Romanitas' and the title track but the whole album is beautifully paced and programmed. 4.5
 Silent Sentinel by ADVENT album cover Studio Album, 2015
3.76 | 110 ratings

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Silent Sentinel
Advent Eclectic Prog

Review by omphaloskepsis

5 stars Essential and engaging masterpiece of eclectic pastoral prog. 93/100

If you live fast, eat metal, and spit back death growls then stop reading now. Silent Sentinel is not for you. However, if you don't mind mind boggling vocal harmonies, melodic electric and classical guitar, juxtaposed with keys ranging from medieval to jazz, then maybe Advent's- Silent Sentinel deserves headphone space/time in your seasoned ears.

Because of the particular sub-genres of prog, that I am partial to, 2015 has been a banner year for me prog rock wise. Anekdoten, Steven Wilson, Barock Project, IO Earth, Leprous, 3rDegree, and now Advent have all released masterpieces. And we're just 2/3's of the way thru 2015! And, IQ's "Road of Bones" was just last year. What a great bunch of albums. If you ferret your way thru the bands I just mentioned, you will notice I like good vocals, complex harmony and melody galore. Melody? She is most important to me. I like melodic prog-metal. I got reams of metal, but if music isn't melodic, then it's just noise to me.

Different strokes for different folks. Odd time signatures for everybody! Oddly enough,

I stumbled upon Silent Sentinel while hunting for Anekdoten's "Until All The Ghosts Are Gone" on the progstreaming com. website. By the way, the prog streaming site is currently streaming new albums by 3rDegree, Barock Project, I0 Earth. and Anekdoeten. All highly ranked 2015 Prog Archives albums. I digress...From the first listen on I was obsessed and I...I

I had to purchase the CD. Must have snail mail hard copy! I'm old fashion that way. I'm a casualty of the LOUDNESS WARS. Tell you the truth... I'd rather own a vinyl copy of Silent Sentinel. Bigger is better when you're over forty five, over the hill and your eyesight is failing, and the AND's are adding up so high that you can't see the bottom of your album collection. And I only have two to four decades left to listen! Maybe less then 10 years? Only the shadow knows! From here on out, I'm listening to music I'm obsessed with, and Silent Sentinel is exactly that kind of album. The kind of album I need to play on a phonograph with a diamond needle till it skips. And besides I like the artwork! As you look at the 19th century cover, keep in mind ( and I know), that Silent Sentinel's musical palette blends into the artwork, antiquifies it, possesses the purple with a doppelganger ghost out of Grandfather's nursery rime, contaminating my nightmares!. Anyway it happened like this...

Two weeks ago... 2:AM- Wading thru waves of progrockstreaming's bands, I landed on a 19th century grey-green and purple staircase winding counterclockwise into a grandfather clock...ticking. From the pendulums of "In Illo Tempore, To Dunsinane, till the very end the Silent Sentinel never fails to fascinate. Mandolins soar on powdered wings, circling glockenspiels roasted over violins on fire. Guitars sound like keyboards and keyboards sound like guitars and both remind me of music boxes.

Even though Silent Sentinel is definitely original, I'm sure discerning ears will compare with Gentile Giant, Yes and Steve Howe's classical guitar work , Genesis's "Trick of the Tale" and "Wind and Wuthering" come to mind. More the wintery feel of early Phil era Genesis then his unique vocal stylings. Instead,

think Gentile Giant vocal style and harmonies cobbled together with XTC's vocal overtones. Yet, the vocal harmonies are totally new and at times mind blowing intricate, music like an Indian summer morning- Keys leave red-orange-yellow leaves the guitar preening into an unseasonably warm wind, wrapped around chillingly odd time signatures. Advent's drummer surprises in unexpected ways - off beat fills and 13 measure drum solos. I'm not sure it was 13 measures but it felt like it, and it was resplendent. Quantum organic bass lines flux between melody and rhythm. Nice!

Silent Sentinel is a welcome house guest. An old friend. My wife and I have both agree... "A musical event!" Very pretty. Seventy seven minutes of splendid bliss! We listened to it entirely, all the way thru, from tick to tock five strait times!

Silent Sentinel was my introduction to Advent and part of me wishes the band recorded more music. Advent's self titled album debuted in 1997, followed by their 2006 release "Cantus Firmus", and now Silent Sentinel. On the other hand, I'd rather a band wait 9 years to record a masterpiece, rather then settle for mediocre every 3 years. Come to think of it, that's what Discipline does.

Best Songs- " Voices from California", "On the Wings of an Ant (verse 3)- Full Moon and Empty", "Sentinel Reprise -The Exit Interview", and the 19 minute centerpiece "The Silent Sentinel"

 Cantus Firmus by ADVENT album cover Studio Album, 2006
3.41 | 79 ratings

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Cantus Firmus
Advent Eclectic Prog

Review by b_olariu
Prog Reviewer

3 stars Advent, this eclectic prog band from USA, deliver with their second album a pleasent , adventurous music but yet quite melacholic and with two much mellow parts. Cantus firmus is the nam of the release from 2006 and is for me as for many listners a mixed bag of good and inventive arrangements with almost boring parts. Considered the Gentle Giant of moder prog, Advent , never hide their influences and is showed big time here how Gentle Giant they sound from the first note to the last. While I do like this album, pieces like Awaiting the Call... and the longest and most intresting tune of the album an almost epic sided pieces Ramblin' Sailor clocking around 19 min, definetly needs attention, but the rest is quite ordinary yet not bad. I'm bothered by the two much mellow parts, to much vocal oriented passages. Well, what to say, some fans think that this is a very solid album, some that is almost mediocre, I'm in the middle, is ok most of the time with beautiful complicated parts but is far from a masterpiece or something alike. Aformentioned pieces are the best and the most complicated Advent ever done, from symphonic parts to more eclectic ones they did in the end a fairly decent album. 3 stars, very good cover art, shows perfectly what is inside the album, medieval prog rock.
 Cantus Firmus by ADVENT album cover Studio Album, 2006
3.41 | 79 ratings

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Cantus Firmus
Advent Eclectic Prog

Review by maryes

4 stars ADVENT "Cantus Firmus" is a very good example which you can make a very good work using old models and conceptions. Take a great portion of GENTLE GIANT and mix with smallest portions of GRYPHON and THE ENID music and you find the ADVENT style of progressive music. Vocal counterpoints -mainly in theTrack 1 " GK Contramundum" , the "bucolic flavor" from madrigals like in the Track 3 "Parenting Parents" and theTrack 4 "Utter Once Her Name" (remembering GG vocals ), the Track 2 "Awaiting the Call..." (with a symphonic-prog flavor like in The Enid style of music), the initial theme and other moments of the Track'6 "Ramblin' Sailor" (with a strong Gryphon influence ). Only for mention some tracks. Beside this the musicians are excellent and the arrangements shows very fine taste. My rate is 4 stars with excitement !!!
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