The Absence was just reviewed in Metalliville UK, it gained 9/10 !
“Revengine are a rare thing – a band from Finland that don’t do 200mph guitars topped with operatically trained world class vocals and heavenly sonorous keyboards harmonies.
That is not to say they’re crap obviously though power metal purists would be likely to detest this lot. Their Metallica -meets-alternative mix however satisfies this particular journo to almost standstill, coupling rough rhythm lines and the emotive Seattle matched throatal chords Antti Jokiranta delivers all eight numbers via, with might.
Bouncing contemporary and old-school paces versus grindy grunge arrangements get angrier across the middle of each tune, leaving you feeling if you’ve ended on a different song than the one you started on each time. Replacing solos on some numbers with chattery rhythm guitar breaks is smart work indeed, cliché -phobic not knowing which way to take it. Regarding this whole album, on the other hand – I take it to be quite a belter myself.
Recommended for those days of depth or diplomatically pent-up anger.
9/10
By Dave Attrill
RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE:
Drowning Pool, Nickelback, Alter Bridge, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Korn & H-Blockx”