Some albums hit differently, especially based on the lyrical content. I kept pushing off Advent Horizon’s new album Falling Together, kept ignoring it on my list. But after some gentle encouragement from the band members, I prioritized it and loved it. And partially for reasons I did not expect. The album released on May 15th.
The band has been making music for fifteen years at this point. This is their fourth album. The lineup includes Rylee McDonald on vocals, guitars, keys, and percussion; Mike Lofgreen on drums, percussion, and screams; Cason Wood on bass, synthesizers, piano, and organ; Grant Matheson on vocals, keys, and guitars; and Kristen McDonald on vocals. You’ll also hear Zach Boorman on guitars, keys, and backing vocals, Doug Robinson on guitar, and Cressa and Griffin McDonald on backing vocals.
The band plays a modern progressive rock. They love a good, heavy riff, but the music is also light and airy, feeling fresh, like it’s lifting a weight off your shoulders. All the players lay down some impressive performances. Overall, I think it’s pretty familiar as far as progressive rock is concerned—the album even begins with a 20-minute epic. So all the prog trappings are here. And they do it very well.
But something else connected me to the record. Falling Together is a deconstruction story. You may know that I wrote my own religious deconstruction story called The Tumult of My Heart, and I immediately noticed the themes and emotions, ones I had experienced also. The album is daring and bold in that way—it’s incredibly difficult and requires deep bravery to step outside of something that’s defined your entire life. This album bids us redefine ourselves. It explores the feelings of loss and loneliness, the sudden absence of faith and grounding and belief, like losing an old friend.
But what sets this apart, and something I further connect with, is found in the title itself, Falling Together. This is the deconstruction journey of a married couple. Many people find themselves completely alone, experiencing a rift even from their spouse. This album is so beautiful in that way, painting this picture of evolving, growing, and “falling” together into a new life, a new way to be. My wife Tiffany and I experienced that, and I’m forever thankful she decided to walk the path with me.
Falling Together has some incredibly strong songs. I’ll readily admit the opening epic is probably my least favorite on the album, though. Don’t get me wrong. “In a Lone and Dreary World” is a rock-solid track with a great central riff, some excellent lyrics, and this sense of setting the stage. But the next three songs are even better, and you’ll be pressed to find a better trio of tracks in any album released this year.
Those songs are “Faith’s Window”, “Patience”, and “Past Life Parable”. I adore all of them. “Faith’s Window” is one of my favorite songs of the year. It has such harmony, such honesty, such swelling emotion. It contrasts a floating, weightless chorus with darker moments and surging shadows. It’s amazing. “Patience” rocks pretty hard and feels quite colorful. I especially love the synth solo in the second half. It hits so hard. “Past Life Parable” has storytelling vibes. I love how the whimsy and rebirth it communicates.
The final three songs don’t let up. “Gravity I” and “Gravity II” come next. The former is a hovering instrumental track, only a few minutes long, but it’s absolutely gorgeous and dreamy. The latter is energetic and feels immediately powerful. And as it progresses, it only gets more intense.
The album doesn’t end as you might suspect. “Animals” is a synth-laden song with almost no rock elements. It’s more acoustic, ambient, fluttering beauty. I love the message. I love the gentle feelings of experiencing reality for the first time. I love it’s natural and tender bent.
Falling Together is a wonderful record that will lyrically connect with so many right now. It casts fear to the side and stands tall in conviction reborn. Advent Horizon offers us a thrilling album with a fantastic rhythm section, emotional guitars, and fiery synth, but the album’s greatest impact is through its authentic lyrical voice. I hope you’ll give it a try.
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