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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)

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Comments: 79   Visited by: 349 users
19.12.2013 - 20:01
Rating: 7
Cynic Metalhead
Paisa Vich Nasha
Written by tea[m]ster on 19.12.2013 at 17:48

Written by Cynic Metalhead on 19.12.2013 at 15:43

This is some good stuff. Certainly, not to miss it.

I'll listen to this record again.


Where have you been? Better late than never


Well, I came to know bit late as I was busy listening to other records(including old one).

But, i just saw you collection and I think we'll hardly quote to each other.

Anyway, I'm not much into progressive but this new record appealed me. I'll definitely giving more spins to this.
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19.12.2013 - 20:18
Darkside Momo
Retired
Written by Diverge on 19.12.2013 at 19:06

Anyway, the ending of this album is actually amazing. I'm trying to think of a better ending to an album this year, and I don't think another one comes to mind.

Easy: "Lost Among Liars" by Vulture Industries but yeah, we're only discussing top-notch material
----
My Author's Blog (in French)


"You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you"

"I've lost too many years now
I'm stealing back my soul
I am awake"
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02.02.2014 - 17:28
Rating: 9
tea[m]ster
Au Pays Natal
I don't think of this as "alternative" metal. Prog metal I can buy. Post metal? Yes. Doom? Maybe. But alternative? Nope, don't see it.
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rekt
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03.02.2014 - 15:55
Rating: 8
Paz
Nuclear Cowboy
I would be happy if someone changed their genres tag, because it's a little confusing... There is no "prog doom" on their first 2 albums. The way I see it:

Atmo sludge (2003-2013)
Prog doom (2009-)
Alternative (2013-)

I have no problem with labeling them "alternative" now, as well as Tool.
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04.02.2014 - 01:42
Troy Killjoy
perfunctionist
Written by Paz on 03.02.2014 at 15:55
I have no problem with labeling them "alternative" now, as well as Tool.

I've only listened to some of the new album so I can't make any edits yet, but I'll do some investigating and let you know what I come up with.
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"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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04.02.2014 - 04:55
Rating: 8
R'Vannith
ghedengi
Written by Paz on 03.02.2014 at 15:55

I would be happy if someone changed their genres tag, because it's a little confusing... There is no "prog doom" on their first 2 albums. The way I see it:

Atmo sludge (2003-2013)
Prog doom (2009-)
Alternative (2013-)

I have no problem with labeling them "alternative" now, as well as Tool.


No "prog doom" certainly, but what about just doom? I think they've had a doom element throughout all their albums, so perhaps atmo sludge/doom is a more accurate label for their first two, in my view at least. There also seemed to be a stronger hardcore element to their sound on those albums.

From the Impulse EP things clearly get progressively doomy, and "Affliction XXIX II MXMVI" has the most noticeable doom element.

And if tea[m]ster hears post-metal in them (though he's reffering to this album in particular) then you can bet there's post-metal in it. They clearly fit into the post-metal scene, just not in any typical sense, as their music is noticeably different from the norm, particular from "Impulse" onward, where we see the band truly living up to the tag of "progressive doom" we've given them. So they should have post-metal listed as a stylistic tag from the band's inception, I'd say.

Their latest would be best described as progressive/alternative, with post-metal elements, in my view, there's not nearly enough doom to warrant that being a major tag.

We'll see what Troy comes up with before changing anything.
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04.02.2014 - 11:17
Rating: 8
Paz
Nuclear Cowboy
^ Yeah, your description is a little more fair I think.

Written by R'Vannith on 04.02.2014 at 04:55

And if tea[m]ster hears post-metal in them (though he's reffering to this album in particular) then you can bet there's post-metal in it.

Jay hears post-metal everywhere Now honestly: "Affliction" is post-metal masterpiece, so when this (hateful) word will be found here ---> I'll be happy.
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05.02.2014 - 02:54
Rating: 8
Paz
Nuclear Cowboy
Thanks Troy, you nailed it!
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05.02.2014 - 03:20
Troy Killjoy
perfunctionist
Written by Paz on 05.02.2014 at 02:54
Thanks Troy, you nailed it!

It helps when the internet pretty much takes care of all the work for you. All I have to do is read a few reviews and look at some other databases and give a quick sample listen and voila. Glad to see someone appreciate the change though - they're usually met with more complaints.
----
"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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05.02.2014 - 05:01
Rating: 9
Diverge

I personally would have labelled it as "alternative metal" and left it at that, but the new description certainly doesn't mislead people about the nature of the record. So I can't really complain.
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27.04.2014 - 20:57
Rating: 10
Calabi

It was probably a bad idea to listen to this as my first foray into Blindead, but this album is so emotionally powerful that I could easily rank it among my other favorites.

Hence the 10.

And to think the only reason I tried it at all was the album art.
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23.09.2014 - 11:30
Rating: 9
_deepblack

These guys were stunning with their album Murder in Phazes a Doom death actually Post Metal album IMO and this album looks like a very mellow good post rock album in a very good way first i thought it was disappointing but after more listening its a very good album \m/
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23.09.2014 - 12:16
Rating: 8
Paz
Nuclear Cowboy
Yeah, it's definitely a grower.

With time I'm starting to appreciate this album more and more. Some live experiences certainly make the justice as well.
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07.10.2014 - 04:10
Rating: 9
rlro

Not as good as the previous one, but still very good - just the last song makes the entire album worthwhile. It becomes better and better each time you listen to it.
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13.01.2015 - 02:54
Rating: 9
Diverge

Written by tea[m]ster on 02.02.2014 at 17:28



Hey man, you absolutely need to check out Live at Radio Gdansk by Blindead. If you have Spotify, you can stream it or you can simply buy it somewhere. Why do I mention it? Well, surprisingly enough, I think it might be the best live album I've ever heard. Goddamn every song is just done perfectly. It's a must-listen, and in fact I might even 10 it if I ever think of adding it to the MS database.
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13.01.2015 - 03:01
Rating: 9
tea[m]ster
Au Pays Natal
Written by Diverge on 13.01.2015 at 02:54

Hey man, you absolutely need to check out Live at Radio Gdansk by Blindead.

I Already have! Paz suggested it in the post/sludge/atmo thread a couple months ago. I checked out a few YouTube vids of it - looks and sounds amazing. There are even a couple of guest appearances
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rekt
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13.01.2015 - 04:51
Rating: 9
Diverge

Written by tea[m]ster on 13.01.2015 at 03:01

Written by Diverge on 13.01.2015 at 02:54

Hey man, you absolutely need to check out Live at Radio Gdansk by Blindead.

I Already have! Paz suggested it in the post/sludge/atmo thread a couple months ago. I checked out a few YouTube vids of it - looks and sounds amazing. There are even a couple of guest appearances

It's over 70 minutes of music, so it's highly recommended. Production is super clear, the audience doesn't interfere. It's just masters of their craft delivering the live performances of their lives. The guest performances only make it more spell-binding.
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20.05.2016 - 02:05
Rating: 8
God Alone

I remember it left me completely cold at first and it put me off listening to it again. Revisiting it now after a couple of years... something clicked.
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21.05.2016 - 03:13
Ganondox

Written by metalbeast3 on 08.09.2013 at 09:28

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! :


The vocals remind me of Alkerfeldt, not Maynard.
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