Advent - Naked and Cold

Artist: Advent
Album: Naked and Cold
Release Date: 9/8/09
Label: Solid State Records

In the world of heavy music, when you think of brutality, some of the first things that come to mind are blast beats, double bass, low tuned guitars and a variety of different vocals that range from low grunts to high shrieks. Enter Advent, a four-piece metallic hardcore band from North Carolina, who other than having the screamed vocals and down-tuned guitars, don't incorporate many of the elements that we associate "heavy" with these days, but in the end, Advent's Naked and Cold is as brutal and angry as any album I've ever laid ears on.

Musically, Advent are definitely more hardcore than they are metal. Evidenced by the speedy punk influenced drumming, shouted gang vocals, quick hardcore style riffing and lack of double bass drumming, blast beats, and open note breakdowns heard throughout many of the songs. Advent does include three instrumental tracks to give your ears a brief respite from the barbaric brutality they serve up. These songs, being the first, fifth and last are all similar with their ambient, machine-like sounds that build into a noisy climax before calming back down.

Lyrically, Advent are more than "Christians in a band". The songs range from calls of repentance ("Revival," Crown of Thorns," and "Golgotha") to anger against our apathetic society ("Naked and Cold," "Out of Line," Pierced With Grief" and "Nothing") and finally to songs that call out hypocrisy in the church ("Overcome," "Pack of Fools" and "With Anger"). Advent has a lot of righteous anger pent up and they effectively release that both musically and lyrically.

Rating: 8/10 If you are looking for a brutally heavy, straightforward hardcore album, Advent's Naked and Cold is definitely for you. Be prepared for a righteous tongue lashing. As Joe Musten screams in "Revival," "Jesus Christ, King of Kings," Advent have made their intentions clear.

Reviewed by Matthew Alexander

Tracklisting:

1. Intro
2. Nothing
3. Overcome
4. Naked and Cold
5. Interlude
6. Pack of Fools
7. Revival
8. Crown of Thorns
9. Golgotha
10. Pierced With Grief
11. With Anger
12. Out of Line
13. Outro

(Buy Here)