Advent (band)

History

Advent came together in 2005 following the breakup of Beloved. Joe Musten, Johnny Smrdel, and Matt Harrison started the group, bringing in Michael Rich and Chris Ankelein. They quickly signed with Solid State Records and put out their debut album, Remove the Earth, in 2008. Harrison left shortly after, reducing the band to a four-piece, and they joined the "Stronger Than Hell Tour" alongside Demon Hunter, The Famine, Oh, Sleeper, and a reunited Living Sacrifice. In 2009, they released Naked and Cold, and then Ankelein left, replaced by longtime friend Jordan McGee. At McGee's first show, Musten was absent because he was filming a music video for The Almost, so members of Call to Preserve—the band they were touring with—handled vocals. The group continued playing until 2011, when they called it quits. Musten moved on with The Almost, Smrdel launched a local business, Rich relocated to Portland, Oregon, and McGee joined The Ember Days, Civilian, and a few other acts.

The band reunited in 2015, though the news didn't break until 2016. They released all their old demos from previous albums and later announced a new EP titled Pain and Suffering, set for January 27, 2017. They also signed with Bridge 9 Records. The EP came out on that date through Bridge 9 and was well received. Its lyrics touch on personal themes, including the death of Musten's father at age 64 from a heart attack, addressed in the track "Shadow of Death."