Review by Adam M on May 25, 2015.

Fans of gothic acts such as Fields of Nephilim will feel right at home with this Order of Isaz release. It is an emotionally draining and atmospherically rich release that demands your attention. The types of elements that portray these things are actually rather subtle shifts and changes in the music.

Nice melodies are created with the simplest amount of control over the instruments at play. The musicianship as a whole creates a gothic feeling that is very effective for the band, much as it is for the similar act Tiamat. With these types of acts, a very gentle mood can mean a lot in terms of dynamics and Order of Isaz showcases this quite clearly. Adding to the quality of this album is a consistency that makes every track work well in unison with the remainder of them to create a well-rounded listening experience. Even the Dead Can Dance cover fits into place nicely into the overall mood. It’s appropriate that the very next track, the last one Dying Star, closes the album on an emotional high. That track shows a shoegazing aspect as do many of the other ones present on this disc. To complement the drama created on this disc is the fact that the mood is one that echoes loneliness and darkness rather than positivity. The culmination of different atmospheric elements creates an album that has an almost unending level of feeling. There isn’t the necessity of an extreme heaviness on this album, because of the moody effects that are created by moderation.

Seven Years of Famine is a great album for fans of bands like Theatre of Tragedy, Tiamat and Moonspell. Followers of gothic music from both the metal and rock genres have plenty of reason to rejoice with Seven Years of Famine.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Review by JD on May 4, 2012.

When does a good thing end up being too much? Guess everyone asks this question to themselves once in awhile, especially in the music field. There is that line to cross in all music, but metal seems to have that certain line in every genre and sub-genre that makes it up and they all walk that tightrope.

Germany’s At Vance is a powerful collaboration of amazing musicians that combines the grandness and intricacies of Neo-classical metal with more straight ahead Power Metal with shades of other styles added in. Coming through as a mixing of Stradovarius, Rainbow and Malmsteen with a little Helloween added in. This titanic foursome can play their instruments, and better than most with some originality that some power metal fails to have.

"Only Human" is an album that showcases what Neo-Classical Metal is all about. The song 'Take My Pain' is one of the many tracks here that is brilliantly arranged, yet has a power that most Neo-Classical acts fail to deliver. Others like 'Hold Your Fire' and 'Witch’s Dance' are just as great, but '..Pain..' holds a little more expression and heaviness that others. This power they add in is exactly what shredding metal needed to put in.

The album’s artwork is one of my favorite of all time (a voluptuous angel lovingly comforting a winged Demon) and it sums up my feeling for At Vance’s album. This is a well rounded metal album that shows the world why the metal world have the best musicians and music anywhere. Like Neo-Classical or not, metalheads everywhere need to hear this slab of metal.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9.5
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 9
Originality: 9
Overall: 9.5

Rating: 9.2 out of 10