Maximum Metal Rating Legend
5 Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
2.5-2 Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors.
1.5-1 Bad - Major problems with music, lyrics, production, etc.
0 Terrible - Waste of your life and time.

Note: Reviews are graded from 0-5, anything higher or not showing is from our old style. Scores, however, do not reveal the important features. The written review that accompanies the ratings is the best source of information regarding the music on our site. Reviewing is opinionated, not a qualitative science, so scores are personal to the reviewer and could reflect anything from being technically brilliant to gloriously cheesy fun.

Demos and independent releases get some slack since the bands are often spent broke supporting themselves and trying to improve. Major releases usually have big financial backing, so they may be judged by a heavier hand. All scores can be eventually adjusted up or down by comparison of subsequent releases by the same band. We attempt to keep biases out of reviews and be advocates of the consumer without the undo influence of any band, label, management, promoter, etc.

The best way to determine how much you may like certain music is to listen to it yourself.
Band
Advent
Title
Valholl
Type
LP/EP
Company
Independent
YOR
2003
Style
Black
5/5/2003 - Review by: Troy Cole
Many layers, vocal styles, and atmospheres
Hailing from Italy, ADVENT an extreme symphonic metal group has unleashed their sophomore effort entitled 'Valholl' consisting of 3 tracks. I was not able to hear the first demo 'From A Distant Landscape' but 'Valholl' has many layers, vocal styles, and atmospheres.

Definitely well produced and very impressive for a second recording. This band has mature and solid song writing skills with good musicianship and vocals. Each song has catchy riffs and pace changes coupled with appropriately placed clean vocals, screams and guttural growls. Along with the catchy riffs, Giorgio Mula plays more complex than most most black metal bands these days while interjecting melody along the way. Spoken passages add even more depth to the songs along with piano and acoustics. This 3 song demo has been stuck in my player and in my head for weeks. It's rare these days to hear something once and have it stick with you especially within this genre of music.

I'm very impressed with this demo and wish I had heard the first one to see how much they had matured along the way. I can't see how a demo of this standard would not land this band a record deal with a label. There is definite mass appeal with what ADVENT have created here. If ADVENT continues to mature in this vain and release awesome songs like these they will have a great future ahead of them.
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ALL REVIEWS FOR: ADVENT
TITLE
DOR
COMPANY
REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
Valholl
2003
Independent
Troy Cole5/5/2003
-

ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: ADVENT
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