Back in 2015, we had the pleasure of working with Salt Lake City’s progressive rock outfit, Advent Horizon, during the promotion of their gripping sophomore album, Stagehound. Since then, the band has kept busy, releasing the Tequila Mockingbird EP in 2017, followed by the single High Expectations in 2021. In October 2023, they’ve unveiled their third album, A Cell to Call Home—the culmination of three years of meticulous work and undoubtedly their most accomplished effort to date.
With album number three often serving as a defining moment in a band’s career, Advent Horizon approached the project with remarkable care, channeling their collective talents into writing an album that represents a significant evolution in their sound. They enlisted an impressive roster of guest contributors, including Randy McStine, Dave Meros, Jordan Rudess, and Jared Roswell Hill, with mastering by the renowned Jens Bogren and album artwork designed by Travis Smith. The result is an album that feels expansive, polished, and deeply personal.
According to the band, A Cell to Call Home “explores the interplay between love, dependency, and loss—told in the first person through the eyes of a protagonist battling addiction.” While the album might initially feel dense, repeated listens reveal its nuanced layers, allowing the details of the instrumentation and arrangements to shine. It’s a quintessential conceptual progressive rock album: hard-hitting at times, melodic at others, and dynamic throughout. Each member delivers standout performances, from Rylee McDonald’s commanding vocals to the interplay between his and Grant Matheson’s guitars and keyboards. Cason Wood’s bass lines and Mike Lofgreen’s precise drumming provide a solid foundation for the album’s sweeping soundscapes.
From start to finish, A Cell to Call Home is an exercise in musical and lyrical brilliance—thoughtful, powerful, and melodic while maintaining accessibility. Whether you favor the heavier side of progressive music or lean towards its melodic intricacies, this album offers something extraordinary for every prog fan.
Track-by-Track Highlights
The album opens with “Water,” a beautifully melodic piece driven by a hypnotic repeating piano motif courtesy of Jared Roswell Hill, juxtaposed with contrasting riffs that set the tone for the journey ahead. Following a brief piano interlude, “Snow Child,” the band shifts gears with “How Did it Get So Good?” This track begins with a fingerpicked guitar melody, gradually building to a soaring crescendo marked by a larger-than-life guitar solo, including a stunning contribution from Randy McStine.
“Rain on Open Water” showcases Advent Horizon at their most electrifying, blending melody, frenetic arrangements, and crushing heaviness. Meanwhile, the acoustically rich “Your Flaws” introduces a folk-inspired touch, featuring the warm harmonies of Kristen McDonald alongside Dave Meros’s fluid bass work. Kristen returns on “Truth,” which ventures into more synthetic textures with syncopated, uptempo riffing, giving the album a momentary dive into prog-metal territory. “Calling It Off” continues this trajectory with an atmospheric edge before launching into a thrilling keyboard solo by none other than Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater fame.
“Control” begins with a delicate Rhodes piano melody and McDonald’s gentle vocals, only to escalate into a dramatic climax punctuated by a stunning saxophone solo from Hayden Payne. Another reflective moment, “Maybe,” is simply gorgeous, offering fans of melodic prog a true standout moment. The title track, “A Cell to Call Home,” serves as the album’s centerpiece. Clocking in at over ten minutes, it’s an epic combination of massive riffs, counterpoints, complex time changes, and evocative lyrics—all culminating in a breathtaking finale that encapsulates the band’s talent and vision.
The album closes on a high note with “Hold Me,” a quirky yet optimistic track that leaves a lasting impression. It’s a fitting end to a record that brims with intelligence, passion, and memorability.
Final Thoughts
Whatever your personal taste in progressive music, A Cell to Call Home has something to offer. Each track stands strong on its own while contributing to the album’s overarching narrative. Advent Horizon have delivered a spectacular release that not only marks their maturation as a band but also establishes them as a standout act in the prog scene. A Cell to Call Home is a triumph of musicianship and storytelling—an album destined to leave a lasting legacy.
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Each track stands strong on its own while contributing to the album’s overarching narrative. Advent Horizon have delivered a spectacular release that not only marks their maturation as a band but also establishes them as a standout act in the prog scene.
