Absence Of Heroes

Released as this and last year exchanged their muscular musical presences was an EP which is as rich in enterprise and passion as it is in stirring promise from a band one can only feel we will be hearing much more of in the future. Based in Southern California, Absence Of Heroes is a rock band which places a steely and compelling grip on thoughts and attention with a release that bruises and enchants in equal measure.

Consisting of John Williams, Diego Rivera, Justin Ferguson, and Bobby Dylans, the band reaps influences from the likes of Bane, Chevelle, Pantera, Tool, Deftones, Slipknot, Terror, Godsmack, Incubus, and Alice In Chains to fire up its own imaginative encounters to intrigue and fire up the listener. The band and their engagingly crafted songs are as eager to rip flesh through sharp incisive riffs and snap bone with big punchy rhythms as they are to offer a seduction of mesmeric melodic teasing to sooth the welcomed forceful assault. There is also an attitude to the songs lyrically and emotively which makes you take notice just as much as the accomplished sounds laying the dramatic canvas for their bed.

The Moreno Valley band within moments of the fiery atmosphere of Raymond secure a rigid focus on their release, its thick textures and expressive vocals wrapped around rampaging beats and a wonderfully snarling bass provocation, immediately magnetic. A mix of alternative metal and a harsher metallic brashness the track is a fully engaging tempest of sound with moments of respite and melodic elegance within the perpetual heavyweight ambience.

The song alone sparks up plenty of lingering interest but placed alongside the other quartet of tracks combines for an immense proposition feeding the needs now and sure deep promise for the coming horizons. AOH opens with a guitar caress which is tender and welcoming and more than able to hold its warm lure as the grouchier voice of the bass and brewing energy of the song enthral form within the stance of the track. There is a lush breath to the song once into its stride which offers whispers of Placebo, Chevelle, and Tool to the potent wash of heart and expression coated emotive sounds.

The tracks Children and Tom Selik (has an awesome mustache) continue the excellent and thrilling companionship of the release, the first built from the same mould of the previous song but with its own distinct character and imagination whilst the second is a stirring incitement of thumping rhythms and rapacious riffs around a drifting breeze of mellow yet charged vocals with a hard to ignore attitude. It is an irresistible agitator of the passions and best track on the EP with its flames of guitar melodic sharpness and infectious recruitment of emotions and thoughts adding extra pleasure.

Final song on the EP is Accident Prone, another track which is adventurous and proof that the band is unafraid of pushing the limits of their songwriting and imagination within an appealing and easy to confront sound and delivery. Consistently the bass fires up rapture for its menacing snarls but throughout the band and songs every aspect is pure persuasion through their cogent enterprise and skill.

Absence Of Heroes is a group of musicians who through their excellent release leave no room for doubts when imagining their destined success, They should be a band lying easily on the lips of recommendations as rapidly growing mass of fervour driven fans head their way . - Ringmaster Review