Riding the high of their debut album release, A Bitter Truth You Can’t Undo, we’re catching up with Advents. Hailing from New York City, the band knows a thing or two about breaking out of the molds that confine us — and it only has made the scene love Advents more.
The band, comprised of members Tyler Simpson, Kevin Chapilliquen, Sebastian Ferlin, and Joe Koza, is on the rise in no small part due to their tangible authenticity, passion, and undeniably captivating sound that lucky fans were immersed in on Advents’ recent summer tour. With an incredible blend of metal and rock sounds and deeply relatable lyrics, Advents‘ new release proves that they’re ready for the next level.
We got to chat with the band about new music, capturing the human experience in writing, and what comes next. Meet Advents.
You just returned from a tour with Shallow Sky. Which new songs from A Bitter Truth You Can't Undo got the strongest reactions from the crowd?
Hate Myself, Never Heaven, and Counterfeit Love have all been getting great responses so far. We’ve been closing with Counterfeit Love, which is a perfect slot in the set for it. It gives everyone a last chance to move as much as possible, and it’s a pretty dynamic song with a lot of twists and turns.
What were some of the highlight moments or core memories from that run?
We heard from a lot of people that they’ve been waiting to see us for years, so it was great to finally meet listeners of the band face to face. We’ve had conversations online with people and know a lot of them by their usernames, so it was cool to put a face to a real name and to see their reactions to the songs live.
It was also great to travel through parts of the country that all of us haven’t been to before. We covered around 10,000 miles in total over the course of just about a month, so it was a long but fulfilling experience.
A Bitter Truth You Can’t Undo is a really powerful album title. What overarching themes or messages were you exploring across this release?
Each one of the songs delves into a different set of topics and circumstances. We wanted to explore the very real nature of the different experiences people have in life as human beings, whether it be a situation, relationship, or something else entirely. To try to put it concisely, there are fundamental truths and occurrences that happen to us as part of the human experience that cannot be changed, but it’s ultimately up to us how we choose to interpret and respond to them.
Was there a specific moment during the writing or recording process where the core identity of this record really clicked into place?
We had a couple of songs already nearly completed, but the vast majority of the record was written in just under two and a half weeks or so. I’d say it all started to come together throughout that time as a whole. We locked in and wrote songs we’re really proud of, and we didn’t have a ton of time to stress or over-edit.
The album introduces more atmospheric layers and dynamic textures to your sound. Are there any specific styles or experimental elements you’d like to explore next?
The next round of songs are still in their very early phases, but we’ll likely follow the soundscapes that we’ve been working with to this point to see how far we can take them. There will definitely be more risks on the next release, but that’s about all I can say for right now. It’s too early in the process to know, but it’ll be different, and it’ll be what we want to do first and foremost.
What is the music scene like in NYC right now? Are there any local bands on the rise there that you’d like to give a shout-out to?
There’s always something going on here, but I like to think it’s been in an even better place since the pandemic ended. People seem eager and excited to get out to shows. Check out the bands Graypath and Deadlands – definitely two you shouldn’t sleep on.
If you could build a tour lineup with any 3 bands, who would they be? (So each member can pick one!)
I’ll give you one band from each of us – Linkin Park, Metallica, Alpha Wolf, Wage War, and Advents. This would never happen, but it’s fun to think about.
Now that the debut album is out in the world and you're back home from the road, what’s next on the horizon for Advents?
We’re going to continue to work on new music and try to plan some more shows heading into the rest of the year and early next year. Other than that, push the hell out of the record so as many people as possible can hear it.
Finally, what is the main thing you want listeners to walk away with after experiencing this album?
We want everyone listening to run these songs through their own experiences and lens through which they view the world. Although all of our experiences can be very different, the feelings and emotions we all experience can fundamentally be very similar. This is very much an album for the human being and how what happens in the world can affect your life and your perception of it as a whole.
