Advent

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 inn 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, progressive rock band. What is important is that their output is solid, consistent and quite interesting.