Metalcore meets Gothenburg melodic death metal on the first full length release from Tampa, Florida's The Absence. From Your Grave features plenty of tasty guitar riffs and solos, and in fact that is what really makes this CD. Peter Joseph and Patrick Pintavalle make a formidable duo, as their demonic, technical, yet highly melodic riffs push tracks like "Necropolis" and the thrashing title cut to a step above much of the US metal fare that comes out these days. The feel here is similar to early In Flames, Iron Maiden, Soilwork, At the Gates, with a little touch of Atheist on the technicality end. Singer Jamie Stewart has that trademark throaty rasp that many of the Swedish singers carry, and it meshes well with the heavy guitars on tunes like "Summoning the Darkness" and "Heaven Ablaze", two of the more pummeling and intricate tunes on the CD.
The brief intrumental "Shattered", featuring some nice acoustic & electric guitars, and leads into the blistering and maniacal "I, Deceiver", one of the more brutal pieces on From Your Grave. This one is a perfect example of thrashy death metal, much like the recent offering from Nightrage. Here' Stewart's vocals are at their most venemous, and the mix of pounding riffs and melodic harmony leads make for one of the more powerful songs on the CD.
If you dig bands like Black Dahlia Murder and Unearth, then without a doubt this latest from The Absence will tickle your fancy quite a bit. Produced by Erik Rutan, guitarist for Hate Eternal & Morbid Angel, who also manned the board for Soilent Green and Into the Moat, the CD sounds crisp and powerful, especially the guitars and drums. Metal Blade has a find here, check it out!
Track Listing
1. 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
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