At Vance
Early Works Centers

I was very intrigued by "New Discovery" by Artension, so I decided to investigate a bit more about this genre defined as "Neoclassical Metal." As far as I've understood so far, neoclassical is a genre that moves between a band of classic rock/hard rock and a space of melodic power, so it consists of an avalanche of wild solos circumscribed between a classical and ancient sound and a melodic and progressive one.

In short, an interesting and strange genre. But Artension deserved it, these At Vance, not at all. I must say I've never heard any of their albums except this one I'm reviewing, so I can't tell if this band has always behaved this way, but "Early Works Center" is an album that in my opinion can only please those who exceptionally listen to melodic rock/metal, and those who have only listened to amateur bands in this genre.

It fell into my hands out of curiosity because looking into metal databases I realize that (damn!) these guys from '99 to 2005 have conceived 7 albums, so more than one a year. I won't stop here, and surely, I will also procure some of their other works; this one dated 2001 disappointed me quite a lot. The way "Falling One by One" begins is promising because the band seems to have technique; you just have to see the way they use it and the only thing that emerges worthy from the album are the solos. The melody seems to be a bit forced with sudden changes in sound that leave you doubtful right from the start about the CD's quality; this first song settles only in the end with the singing of a woman. It follows with "Fortuneteller," which introduces nothing interesting except for a typical and very predictable anguishing chorus. I continue listening to the album in hopes of finding at least one decent track, and I'm a bit captured by "You'll Survive" because the song is very anchored to a classical spirit of hard/heavy and for the great number of solos; another "nice" one is the energetic rock "Kiss Of Death," but even if I had slightly changed my mind, the next song brings me back down to earth. "The Guide." And I can’t believe it. I invite all interested to listen/search/download this song, for the sole purpose of verifying its "horribleness" and comment it to me, it sounds like a 60s pop song, and one of those unknown ones on local radios. Definitely avoidable. In fact, then starts "My One and Only" which has nothing of metal, nor rock, but 100% pop and also ugly, just like "Our Love," towards the end of the CD there's another one in just acoustic guitar named "Winter," which makes me think "What did they invent, pop metal?"
These two songs should have represented the ballads, typical in melodic metal CDs, and the atmospheres (fortunately) change with the following "Tales Of Mystery." This song more or less indicates the frivolous spirit of the band's compositional system. The style is almost devoid of a structure and compositional organization, it seems everything is hung in the air, it almost seems that the music doesn't even form a base for the voice. And of the same type is also "Out Of Reach"; despite everything, with little strength and little dignity the record pushing to the max is able to give us "Burning My Heart," beautiful, but beautiful compared to the others. Finally, to conclude nicely the album ends with three more romantic ballads: "Tears Of Pain," "Take My Heart," and "Desperado."

Many will ask what's the point of reviewing an album that one doesn't like, I did it to see if someone who knows At Vance is capable of contradicting me and explaining what they deserve. So far, I think that after so many years of metal experience, I've never heard a more indecent album than this one.