Artist: Absence Of The Sacred

Title: Come Hither O Herald of Death

Type: Album

Label: Sonic Blast Media

This is a band from Singapore, and although the metal bible reference site I use states this came out in 2009, I am reliably informed it is in fact a current release. The opening tune ‘Enslave Fire’ sounds promising, there is even a touch of non-standard musical instruments included in the mix of melodic death metal and minor persuasions into weak melodic black metal, oh yeah a little thrash too! I find this a lot with bands from far out places of the world, there is so much influence to hold, they wear it all at the same time, especially with such albums as this. Having listened to this release over and over again, I get where the band are coming from, it’s a tried and tested format if I am totally honest, and one that often washes over me this particular style. In the bands defence, metal genres are so vast these days; this is always going to happen, at least in some quarters of this album possesses tiny idiosyncrasy’s, a little bit more flair, this keeps you entertained, its technical, quite brutal but in the same sense the artist has a knack for controlling this emotive response and really ties down their music so they stop at the point where you think it’s all going to go wrong and out of control.

There is deft precision, and some gold star awards are due for the song arrangements themselves. Taking the positives from the bands work, I can highlight such tracks as ‘Veneration Unorthodox’ for being both intense and brutally nasty in their execution. The mix certainly is a professional job, the gruff rasping vocals (courtesy of Mike Priest ex-Impiety) are more suited to more intense death metal, but what you get from this album is the music, I really enjoy this aspect, the vocals, well, I don’t really mind them, they’re just a little out of sorts for my money. The drumming on the other hand is a different kettle is fish. Its brutal, varied but almost sounds like a cluster bomb is hitting your ears.

The music of ‘CHOHOD’  infects ones soul and remind you of their many influential peers, I have to credit the song writing, this is good, but personally, it’s a love or hate effort, I’m still not sure if I actually like this album and In am nearing double figures in the amount of playtime its had. Absence of the Sacred have got a solid, relevant modern death metal reference with many influences, it’s a choice of whether you can embrace such influences with relative ease and that is where the enigma lies with this album.

http://www.facebook.com/absenceofthesacred

(6/10 Paul Maddison)