THE ABSENCE - Riders Of The Plague

The Americans from Tampa have certainly taken a step forward with the melodic death they practiced on their debut album – From Your Grave (2005). I don't know if post-vacation relaxation is the reason, but I saw in this opus some of the best work of the genre in 2007. Full of force from the first track to the last, relaxing a bit on Echos and with the instrumental Prosperity, to let you catch your breath. It’s probably in part due to Jonas Kjellgren’s contribution (Carnal Forge, Scar Symmetry), who produced them as good as Sonic Syndicate, or perhaps some advice from James Murphy, invited on Awakening and Outro. What is for sure is that the album will grab you from the start, and each time you listen to it you will discover more of its remarkable coherence. I can’t say it’s something I’ve never seen before, but it’s so well executed and catchy that it goes above the eight or eight-and-a-half of a deja vu. It may even be a 9.5, but I’m still cautious after vacation.
(+) a combination of melody and force, album structure
(-) I would have liked the rhythm section a little louder in places; there’s also some room for improvement with the voice

Tzugu Nota: 9