Band: The Absence
Album title: Enemy Unbound
Label: Metal Blade Records
Distributor: Metal Blade Records – Rough Trade Benelux.
Release date: 10/09/2010
Release: CD

Although The Absence is an American four-piece, hailing from Florida, the band has always sounded like a Swedish death metal band. They clearly are inspired by bands such as In Flames and most definitely by the kings of Swedish death metal, At The Gates.
So on this latest release of The Absence, Enemy Unbound, you can hear the perfect blend between death and thrash metal. It’s their third release and all of their records have already been released on Metal Blade Records, which you almost call their ‘mother ship’ by now.
The vocalist Jamie Stewart has clearly pushed his limits by spewing forth the lyrics with more force and violence than ever before. Also the guitar work has improved a lot by adding even more blistering solo’s and leads to the sound of The Absence. This addition can be heard in almost every song, but it is most remarkable in songs as Erased and Maelstrom, which are the best songs on the album too.
I would also like to mention the very ingenious intro, called Vertigo. Definitely worth checking out and it immediately puts you in the right atmosphere to start listening to the album.
But, altogether, Enemy Unbound isn’t as distinctive as the previous record, Riders Of The Plague. The title track for example is not renewing enough to stick to the mind. This counts for the entire album. Luckily, Solace brings some variation by slowing down a bit.
If you are into Swedish death metal which doesn’t always have to be original to be cool, then you should definitely order this album … for Christmas perhaps?

76/100

Nick Tronckoe.