The Tampa, Florida-based melodic death metal group The Absence have premiered a lyric video for “Walking Shadows,” a previously unreleased track recorded during the sessions for their acclaimed 2018 comeback album “A Gift For The Obsessed.” Watch it below:
“Walking Shadows” made its live debut last night during a headlining performance at the Tampa area-venue The Verona, which served as a kickoff show for a national tour that will see the band join forces with Deicide, Origin and Jungle Rot starting on Saturday (May 11) in Austin, Texas.
During the tour, the band will offer a limited-edition three-song cassette featuring cover art by Mark Riddick (Fleshgod Apocalpyse, Arsis, The Black Dahlia Murder) that contains “Walking Shadows” – which features a guest appearance from longtime band friend and collaborator Santiago Dobles, guitarist of the prog-metal group Aghora – as well a cover of Bad Religion’s “Do What You Want” and an exclusive live version of “Septic Testament.”
Says Stewart, “We are ridiculously excited to finally share our new single and music video for ‘Walking Shadows’ with the world! This was definitely a standout track from the ‘A Gift For The Obsessed’ sessions, and we knew that we should wait until the absolute perfect moment to release this beast of a song since we recorded an abundance of songs and then some. So, what better time to drop ‘Walking Shadows’ than on the eve of our megaton tour with the mighty Deicide, Origin, and Jungle Rot? This track is utterly devastating, and it will most certainly be a smash given the complete heaviness of this package.
“We wanted to shoot a full-fledged music video,” Stewart continues, “but due to time constraints and tour obligations with other projects, all band members were not available. So, instead of axing the idea completely, we decided to film a live-action lyric video solely featuring myself. Our drummer and all-around renaissance man, Jeramie Kling, shot all of the live footage for the video, and Adam Hutton of BurdenInSilence Designs did all of the editing and effects. Both did such a fantastic job, we were all completely stunned with the outcome!
We will see all of you maniacs out on the road in May and June. Bring an extra face – you’ll definitely need it once we’re done playing!”
The Deicide dates mark The Absence’s first tour since a national trek last year alongside Exmortus and Hatchet. Since then, many of the group’s members have continued to play alongside high-profile acts, with drummer Jeramie Kling manning the kit for Venom Inc., bassist Mike Leon gigging with Soulfly and Cavalera, guitarist Joey Concepcion performing with Sanctuary and filling in for Jeff Loomis in Arch Enemy and guitarist Taylor Nordberg playing bass on tour for Soilwork.
The Absence came onto the scene in 2005 with their crushing, Erik Rutan-produced Metal Blade debut, “From Your Grave.” The album and its two follow-ups, 2007’s “Riders of the Plague” and 2010’s “Enemy Unbound,” showcased the perfect mixture of heart-wrenching melodies and skull-pounding aggression, truly making them one of the premiere bands of the melodic death metal scene. THE ABSENCE further ensconced their reputation via numerous tours supporting some of the biggest names in metal, including Cannibal Corpse, The Black Dahlia Murder, Amon Amarth, Sabaton, Goatwhore, Evergrey, Malevolent Creation, Kataklysm and Destruction.
Following a lengthy hiatus, the band regrouped in 2016 with a new lineup uniting founding members Stewart and Kling with longtime bassist Leon and guitarists Nordberg and Concepcion – first for the self-released digital single “Septic Testament,” and then for “A Gift for The Obsessed.” The album – which was mixed by David Castillo at Sweden’s Ghost Ward Studio (Katatonia, Opeth) and mastered by Thomas “Plec” Johansson at The Panic Room (Watain, Scar Symmetry) – includes a cover of Suicidal Tendencies’ “You Can’t Bring Me Down” featuring guest vocals by Bjorn “Speed” Strid (Soilwork, The Night Flight Orchestra).
The Absence live with Deicide, Origin, Jungle Rot:
05/11 Austin, TX – Come And Take It Live!
05/12 Dallas, TX – Gas Monkey Bar & Grill
05/13 El Paso, TX – Rockhouse Bar & Grill
05/14 Mesa, AZ – Club Red
05/15 Los Angeles, CA – 1720
05/16 Oakland, CA – Metro Opera House
05/18 Seattle, WA – El Corazon
05/20 Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall
05/21 Denver, CO – Roxy Theater
05/22 Kansas City, MO – The Riot Room
05/23 Chicago, IL – Reggie’s
05/24 Cleveland, OH – The Odeon Theater
05/25 Westland, MI – Token Lounge (no Deicide)
05/26 London, ON – Call The Office (no Deicide)
05/27 Ottawa, ON – Mavericks
05/28 Toronto, ON – Mod Club
05/29 Montreal, QC – L’Astral
05/30 Quebec City, QC – Le d’Auteuil
05/31 Manchester, NH – Jewel Nightclub
06/01 New York, NY – Gramercy Theater
06/02 Reading, PA – Reverb
06/03 Durham, NC – Motorco Music Hall
For more info:
www.facebook.com/theabsenceofficial
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