Maximum Metal Rating Legend

The Absence - From Your Grave - 2005 - Metal Blade Records

Track Listing1. Intro 2. A Breath Beneath 3. Necropolis 4. From Your Grave 5. Heaven Ablaze 6. Summoning The Darkness 7. Shattered 8. I, Deceiver 9. My Ruin 10. Seven Demons

Metal Blade just keeps dishing out the prime time, death metal wonders of the world, those young hard edged bands that just keep stepping up in a big way with powerful debuts that really help solidify the label's mammoth presence both in the underground and mainstream metal community. Now The Absence emerges, a talented five-piece out of the Tampa, Florida scene. After a few lineup changes early, the band is now set to dominate the genre that they grew up with. Combining on punishing death metal romps mixed with tons of melodic arrangements and intricacies, the band sound as if they have been in the business for over a decade, almost bordering on the sounds of veteran bands with a handful of professional recordings under their resume. Their debut, "From Your Grave", has now been released and fans of the early Swedish death metal sound will find plenty to rejoice about.

When one thinks about new bands that are inspired by the Swedish sound, you almost find yourself saying, "No, not again". While bands like Arch Enemy, In Flames, and Soilwork re-tool and re-invent themselves using today's more modern influences, The Absence go back to the roots, really providing pure, white knuckle fever that rages with emotion and traditionalism. In all honesty "From Your Grave" could have been released during Sweden's "early stages", where bands like Dark Tranquility, Sacrilege, Armageddon, and Dimension Zero were just starting to mesmerize fans with their melodic, breath taking sounds. This band harkens back to those early sounds, with plenty of fast rhythm, timing changes, technical precision, and of course an abundance of twin guitar harmony.

Patrick Pintaville and Peter Joseph just provide dazzling guitar work here, with huge leads and solos mixed in with their galloping speed fests and melodic signatures. Jeramie Kling allows for plenty of patience behind the kit, using intricate patterns to mix with the progressive elements brought by the timing changes. Vocalist Jamie Stewart provides a harsh vocal style that is reminiscent of the early Swedish death vocalists. His register is tinged with a black metal scream, but at times Pintaville and Kling step in with some alternate vocals as well. You won't find any Emo influences here, nor is there much clean vocals. For the most part this in your face, melodic death metal in the same vein as the early Swedish explosion. Fans of Burden Of Grief and In Thy Dreams will enjoy this one!

Note - The man behind the production is none other than Erik Rutan (Hate Eternal, Morbid Angel).



--EC 12.02.05