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Blindead - Absence



8.4 | 81 votes |
Release date: 9 October 2013
Style: Post-metal, Progressive metal

Owners:

69 have it
15 want it


01. a3
02. b6
03. s1
04. e5
05. n4
06. c7
07. e2
08. a7bsence

Staff review by
R'Vannith
Rating:
8.3
This year I've been convinced that some Polish metal musicians and their associates must also be wizards. The latest major releases from Riverside and, in this case, Blindead display excellence of production values which I can only describe as something magical or seemingly impossible, as both these bands recordings have come to us in an impeccable packaging of sound. The quality here is superb.

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published 29.12.2013 | Comments (18)

Found in 16 lists
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Comments

Comments: 79   Visited by: 349 users
30.08.2013 - 07:12
Rating: 9
Diverge

Looking forward to this one, having recently discovered Blindead.
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05.09.2013 - 12:23
Rating: 8
Paz
Nuclear Cowboy
The first single:



I'm not impressed to say the least.
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05.09.2013 - 13:32
Rating: 8
Góral
Combo Breaker
I guessed that it will be a different but.. I am really surprised.
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05.09.2013 - 15:15
Rating: 8
Paz
Nuclear Cowboy
Damn it!

The whole thing sounds like a poorly digestible (for me) blend of Katalolnia, Riverside and Tool :/
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05.09.2013 - 15:57
Rating: 9
tea[m]ster
Au Pays Natal
Written by Paz on 05.09.2013 at 15:15

Damn it!


Oh man, I for one love this! I love the direction the band is taking. Their use of ambient/electronica in all their releases is unmatched and is really impressive in this song. The production is crystal clear. I think we should hold off and give them a break until we hear the whole album first. Although for me, first impressions, I cannot see myself not liking the album
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rekt
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05.09.2013 - 21:07
Nivrame

Written by Paz on 05.09.2013 at 15:15

Damn it!


Keep calm!
It sounds amazing, I'm really sad that I can't listen it on better speakers. Try to feel the atmosphere this song makes, it's good as always.
I am really suprised, but for the 1st listening I was about to think that Jonas from Katatonia is singing this.
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05.09.2013 - 23:22
Rating: 8
Góral
Combo Breaker
Musically it's not bad, but serious objections to the vocal. However still (perhaps naive) hope for a big stuff.
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08.09.2013 - 09:28
metalbeast3

Written by Góral on 05.09.2013 at 23:22

Musically it's not bad, but serious objections to the vocal. However still (perhaps naive) hope for a big stuff.


Yeah, I'm with you; the vocalist sounds like he's trying to pull a Maynard-esque vocal style that doesn't really work out. This seems less profound and thought-provoking than Affliction 1996 (or MXMVI). Furthermore, the track listing seems absurd and far too reminiscent of its aforementioned predecessor. The electronica influence brings to mind Cult of Luna's Vertikal (2013), but it focuses more on ambient pads, while Vertikal was more lead-heavy. My opinion is obviously based on this song, s1, and on the album's tracklist. It is therefore very subject to change when more, or all, of the album is released. I hope it does so for the better so I can have another beloved album! :
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08.09.2013 - 14:46
Rating: 8
Paz
Nuclear Cowboy
I decided to translate the band's official statement about this album:

The main theme of Absence are letters and messages which the main character receives from the dead friends. These messages describe retrospective relations with him and carry a posthumous thoughts. Each of these deceased friends received his animal avatar and the symbol of a specific deserted town. The track titles as the coordinates of the graves in the cemetery (a3 = location #A, 3rd row) runs through the stations and consecutive letters to finally make up the Absence, but also to an alternative name of the album which you have to guess...
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09.09.2013 - 17:22
Rating: 8
Góral
Combo Breaker
For the most impatient: "a3" is now available on iTunes - link.
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12.09.2013 - 07:04
Rating: 9
Diverge

I actually think this is one of the strongest tracks of the year. I honestly cannot think of a better single that has been released, with the possible exception of Overcome by Hacride. The vocalist is very strong and enthralling, at least for me.
Expectations are now VERY high for this record.
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12.09.2013 - 20:27
Rating: 8
Góral
Combo Breaker
Written by Diverge on 12.09.2013 at 07:04

The vocalist is very strong and enthralling

Agreed. And that's why I'm surprised that "s1" is all so soft.
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12.09.2013 - 20:47
Rating: 8
Góral
Combo Breaker
I don't know how long it will be on youtube, better hurry up: "A3".
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12.09.2013 - 21:24
Rating: 8
Paz
Nuclear Cowboy
Written by Góral on 12.09.2013 at 20:47

I don't know how long it will be on youtube, better hurry up: "A3".

This time too sugary for my taste and not complex musically.
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12.09.2013 - 22:45
Rating: 8
Góral
Combo Breaker
Written by Paz on 12.09.2013 at 21:24

This time too sugary for my taste and not complex musically.

Sadly, but I must agree. So far each new is less interesting. Anyway, I decided. Even if the next track will be performed by Sylwia Grzeszczak, I need to hear it live. Period.
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12.09.2013 - 22:54
Rating: 8
Paz
Nuclear Cowboy
Written by Góral on 12.09.2013 at 22:45

Even if the next track will be performed by Sylwia Grzeszczak, I need to hear it live. Period.

I'm with you
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13.09.2013 - 01:08
Rating: 9
tea[m]ster
Au Pays Natal
Written by Paz on 08.09.2013 at 14:46

I decided to translate the band's official statement about this album:


Thanks for this Paz, well done.
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rekt
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03.10.2013 - 07:13
Rating: 9
Diverge

And it is indeed a very good album.
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03.10.2013 - 14:12
Rating: 8
Paz
Nuclear Cowboy
Written by Diverge on 03.10.2013 at 07:13

And it is indeed a very good album.

Nice. I'll spin it tonight.
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05.10.2013 - 02:59
Rating: 8
Góral
Combo Breaker
Yes, this is a good album. But "good" it's really not enough for this band. Perhaps too early to tell, but I feel that Blindead during the exploration of new ideas has lost its identity. Compared with previous albums it's much softer, the sound is more clear, affordable. Maybe that was the purpose, but I miss this overwhelming, dark, psychedelic atmosphere, well known from previous albums. Instead, we got a good album for a summer afternoon, to listen with family on a sunny terrace.. In summary: This is a good, enjoyable post-rock album. Like many others. Nothing more than that. Just behind.
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05.10.2013 - 03:35
Rating: 9
Diverge

Written by Góral on 05.10.2013 at 02:59

Yes, this is a good album. But "good" it's really not enough for this band. Perhaps too early to tell, but I feel that Blindead during the exploration of new ideas has lost its identity. Compared with previous albums it is much softer, the sound is more clear, affordable. Maybe that was the purpose, but I miss this overwhelming, dark, psychedelic atmosphere, well known from previous albums. Instead, we got a good album for a summer afternoon, to listen with family on a sunny terrace.. In summary: This is a good, enjoyable post-rock album. Like many others. Nothing more than that. Just behind.

No, by no means has Blindead lost its identity. It's a clear shift to a softer sound, true, but there was no point on that album that I thought Blindead didn't sound like the Blindead of old. I wouldn't really characterize it as a "good album for a summer afternoon" either, to be honest. It's definitely not as dark as Affliction or Autoscopia, but there are certain anxious moments on this album still (b2 and parts of n4 are pretty overwhelming). Besides, I wouldn't have really characterized Blindead as "psychadelic" to begin with.

It is a moderate shift in sound, though, and one that I think will easily alienate people. An analogue is clearly Process of Guilt and their move from Erosion to Faemin, refining their post-metal leanings and centralizing an album around it. I see this appealing to people who like Ihsahn, present-day Opeth, Katatonia, and even grunge.
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05.10.2013 - 12:52
Rating: 8
Paz
Nuclear Cowboy
Written by Diverge on 05.10.2013 at 03:35

An analogue is clearly Process of Guilt and their move from Erosion to Faemin

Good example. This album is equally disappointing for me.
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05.10.2013 - 16:39
Rating: 9
Diverge

Written by Paz on 05.10.2013 at 12:52

Written by Diverge on 05.10.2013 at 03:35

An analogue is clearly Process of Guilt and their move from Erosion to Faemin

Good example. This album is equally disappointing for me.

Fair enough. That album fascinated me the whole way through, although I recognize it's not the most engaging, unique album on the planet. I think that these kind of albums are ones that will get 1/3 of the listeners entirely behind the sound.
I like both albums (Faemin and Absence), but after about five listens, I definitely like Absence more than Faemin. For me, there's a very subtle mastery going on here, even if some songs perhaps overstay their welcome.
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05.10.2013 - 20:09
Rating: 8
Góral
Combo Breaker
Written by Diverge on 05.10.2013 at 03:35

No, by no means has Blindead lost its identity.

If you feel that "this appealing to people who like Ihsahn, present-day Opeth, Katatonia, and even grunge", you should think again about a loss of identity problem.
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05.10.2013 - 21:16
Rating: 9
Diverge

Written by Góral on 05.10.2013 at 20:09

Written by Diverge on 05.10.2013 at 03:35

No, by no means has Blindead lost its identity.

If you feel that "this appealing to people who like Ihsahn, present-day Opeth, Katatonia, and even grunge", you should think again about a loss of identity problem.

I meant that they have expanded their potential audience base with this album. Also note that I acknowledged it was a major change, but that throughout it still sounded like Blindead. They haven't utterly given up the sound that they explored on the last few albums, and I think many people are over-estimating the amount of change that's happening here. Affliction really suggested these days were coming.
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06.10.2013 - 01:21
Rating: 8
Paz
Nuclear Cowboy
Agree. Their acoustic gigs also portended all this...

In summary: Blindead never lost its identity, but simply fell into 'the vortex of mediocrity' just like some of the previously mentioned bands.
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06.10.2013 - 02:25
Rating: 9
Diverge

Written by Paz on 06.10.2013 at 01:21

In summary: Blindead never lost its identity, but simply fell into 'the vortex of mediocrity' just like some of the previously mentioned bands.

Hahah that's a good way to put it. I'll always enjoy Process of Guilt and Blindead for what they've done (I just really enjoy their new directions), but the grand majority of their fans will consider it mediocre.
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06.10.2013 - 08:33
Rating: 8
Monolithic
♠♠♠
Written by Paz on 06.10.2013 at 01:21

Agree. Their acoustic gigs also portended all this...

In summary: Blindead never lost its identity, but simply fell into 'the vortex of mediocrity' just like some of the previously mentioned bands.

Not only that, but it also pushed us into a vortex of uncertainty. I kinda feel puzzled as to whether I should like this new sound or not. They've got some good songs here and there but I still need to give it another spin.???
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06.10.2013 - 13:07
Rating: 8
Góral
Combo Breaker
Written by Paz on 06.10.2013 at 01:21

In summary: Blindead never lost its identity, but simply fell into 'the vortex of mediocrity' just like some of the previously mentioned bands.

For me the situation in which the absolutely unique band "fell into the vortex of mediocrity" = lost its identity. Don't be afraid to call a spade a spade.
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06.10.2013 - 19:49
Rating: 8
Paz
Nuclear Cowboy
Written by Góral on 06.10.2013 at 13:07

For me the situation in which the absolutely unique band "fell into the vortex of mediocrity" = lost its identity. Don't be afraid to call a spade a spade.

I used that term with reference to songwriting quality. They have lost identity, because kinda changed the style and reach for some influences you think? I would say no. It seems that they simply exhausted the post-metal theme and felt the desire to change. I really appreciate it, but jeez: why the songs are average as fuck?!
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