CD-1
“Reverie” (Unreleased Album '96)
01. Off-World Endeavour
02. Towards Summer We Soar
03. Contact
04. Disgust and Hate (Calhoun Conquer)
05. Quantum Leap
06. World Eneaded World
07. Source of the Spice
08. Quantum Leap (alt. version)
09. Cosmos (World Eneaded World) (alt. version)
10. Source of the Spice (alt. version)
“Avowals” (Split CD '94)
11. Preposterous Nitty Gritty
12. Empatic Endeavour
13. Towards Sumer We Soar
14. Outerdimensional Deployment
CD-2
“Abstract Absurdity” (Unreleased 7"EP '93)
01. Int(r)o - The Depths of Nowhere
02. Cybernetical Existence
03. Abstract Absurdity
04. Nigrum (In Candida Vertunt)
“Unreal Overflows” (Demo '92)
05. Intro
06. Mournful Chronicles (Instrumental)
07. Global Surgery
08. The Soul Ways
09. Engulfed
10. Outro
“Chronogical Turbulence” (Live '96)
11. Empatic Endeavour
12. Preposterous Nitty Gritty
13. Source of the Spice
14. Outerdimensional Deployment
15. Towards Summer We Soar
“Rehearsal Promo ‘91” (Demo '91)
16. Trapped in a Lifetime
17. The Soul Ways
Comment:
Official re-issue in 2-CD that includes all the recorded stuff between '91-'96 by this legendary spanish band of technical Death Metal. Includes the unreleased album '96, their split CD from '94, an unreleased 7"EP from '93, the demos '91 & '92 and 5 live tracks from '96 with great sound. Comes with a complete booklet with exclusive interview, photos, covers, etc. For lovers of bands like DEATH, OBLIVEON, GORGUTS, PESTILENCE, ATHEIST...
El disco que nos ocupa es un caso especial. Se trata de un album grabado en 1996 que supuso el final del grupo en cuestión, ABSORBED, que desgraciadamente nunca llegó a consolidarse. Así pues, ¿por qué hablar ahora de un disco de 1996 de un grupo que ya no existe? Muy sencillo: esta es la primera edición oficial de “Reverie”. Si bien el trabajo de estos gallegos ha estado a disposición del público por “otros medios”, no llegó a publicarse.
Afortunadamente, Xtreem Music ha decidido recuperar la obra de una banda de culto donde las haya. Para ello se ha decidido incluir todo el material de ABSORBED, es decir, el disco y sus trabajos en formato demo, todo ello remasterizado por Dave Rotten. “Reverie” nunca fue terminado dado que el grupo dejó de existir durante el proceso de grabación, en el que se puso de manifiesto la inestabilidad de la formación. En esta edición encontraremos temas nunca oídos y versiones alternativas, todo ello con formaciones diferentes en muchos temas. Es decir, todo lo que llegó a hacer el grupo en una sola edición en doble CD.
¿Estamos entonces ante un disco para coleccionistas o nostálgicos? No. Esto es lo mejor de todo. Permitan que me explique.
ABSORBED practicaba una forma bastante particular de death metal técnico. Su estilo bebe de la influencia de las primeras propuestas de esta corriente de finales de los ochenta y principios de los noventa, como DEATH o ATHEIST, añadiendo un tratamiento especial que a un oyente actual como yo mismo, con la perspectiva temporal, le puede recordar a OBLIVEON, NOCTURNUS o DEMILICH. ¿Qué quiere decir esto? Se trata de un death metal pausado, racional y sorprendentemente tranquilo, muy pesado pero sin llegar en ningún momento a ser realmente agresivo ni brutal. Lejos de buscar el prodigio técnico, las composiciones se basan en la construcción de texturas, melodías y atmósferas inquietantes a la par que etéreas y oníricas. Las guitarras despliegan armonías que pueden recordar a VOIVOD y melodías que remiten incluso a CARCASS, y que se graban en la memoria al instante. Todo ello sobre una sección rítmica muy cambiante y con abundantes toques jazzeros y que frecuentemente toma el protagonismo. Las voces (y digo “voces” y no “voz” porque no hay sólo una, recordemos que los temas fueron grabados por formaciones distintas) son quizá la parte que más puede identificarse con el death metal tradicional, resultando quizá algo monótonas en ocasiones pero contribuyendo en todo caso a la sensación general de oscuridad e incertidumbre.
Sólo podemos imaginar lo que habría podido llegar a suponer este disco de haber sido publicado cuando debía. No sólo se trata de una obra de referencia indispensable en el devenir del metal extremo en España, sino que de hecho quizá estemos hablando de una de las bandas pioneras en su campo en Europa. Pero incluso si prescindimos de consideraciones históricas, es sinceramente impresionante que en 2013 la música de ABSORBED ofrezca una experiencia tan interesante.
Lamentablemente, no parece que vayamos a volver a tener noticias de este grupo, pero nadie debería perder la oportunidad de recuperar o redescubrir una música así. Esto es historia.
Absorbed were a Spanish technical death metal band that were around in the mid 90’s, releasing a bunch of demos/splits etc… over that time period. They were not a blast beat tech death metal band, but more of the jazz fusion variety. Think Cynic, Pestilences’ Spheres album, Watchtower & some Atheist. Really some exceptional musicanshio. This double disc reissue compiles Absorbed’s entire musical output and everything has been remastered. The sound is stunning and disc 1 opens with their unreleased Reverie album, which is the highlight of the compilation. Unreal technical playing and beautiful bass twanging. Off World Endeavor has some killer double bass and nice catchy guitar riffs. Vocals are actually similar to vintage Fleshcrawl. The 3.21 part has a very spacey feel to it with some amazing guitar effects. Towards Summer We Soar has amazing bass lines that are really bad ass, combined with some amazing technical drumming. Outstanding double bass that eventually picks up some speed. Huge Pestilence Spheres influence and the 3.23 part is exceptional. Beautiful rhythm section and solo. This part also screams Watchtower with its progressive elements. All the demos/splits/live parts on the rest of this comp are incredible. The remaster does an exceptional job and tries to reduce as much hiss as possible on the earlier recordings.
The layout is outstanding with a beautiful cover that transports you to some Lovecraftian swamp and a multi paneled booklet that has band flyers, the original release covers, pictures and a truly incredible updated interview that sheds light on Absorbed and their history. This was one band that was locked away in the vaults that unfortunately never really received recognition outside their homeland, until now. Xtreem Music has done a wonderful job in bringing this band to light and I urge you to check this out if you like this type of music. Killer reissue!
ABSORBED were a Spanish Death Metal band, formed in 1991 and were active until 1996. The founding members were vocalist and guitarist Oscar Insua, guitarist Javier Zampa, bassist Javier Zarco and drummer Abel Sanjuas, yet the group endured several lineup changes and eventually disbanded. However, do not despair, as here we have a 2-disc release, consisting of a mammoth 31 tracks. The old members have come together this year to record “Reverie”, which consists of a multitude of quality music. You’ll be injected with a sufficient dose of distortion, doublekick, rumbly bass and hostile vocals.
CD 1 kicks off with quite a ruckus, with Jose Barros growling ferociously as “Off-World Endeavour” begins, and is soon accompanied by the rest of the gang. There proves to be some very funky guitar riffs in this track, so definitely check it out. “Contact” features some impressive solos and solid bass, whilst “Disgust and Hate (Calhoun Conquer) shows off some brutal doublekick. Many of the tracks provided on the album appear twice, often as alternative versions. These include “Quantum Leap”, which is very heavy on the bass, and its alternate version which is more centred on the guitars. The final track on CD 1, “Outerdimensional Deployment” showcases a robotic voice, a rather eerie addition to a heavy song, with a rather appropriate title.
CD 2 opens with “Int®o – The Depths of Nowhere”, introducing some very dark vocals, and speedy musicianship. An intense guitar solo threatens to claim the limelight, but the drumming remains impressive too. Likewise, “Cybernetical Existence” depicts the technical aspect of the group’s brand of Death Metal, with guitar and drums due for a speeding ticket. “Mournful Chronicles (Instrumental)” is, as the name suggests, instrument-only, and the guitar, bass and drums alike use this opportunity to their advantage. All are faster than the speed of sound, for the majority of the song. The bass is particularly noteworthy in the opening of “Global Surgery”, where its malicious drones are bested only by the malevolent distortion of the guitars. The final track of CD 2, and the album, isn’t shy on the growls – “The Soul Ways” is progressive Death Metal in its truest form.
Overall, “Reverie” is a good release, and a remarkable accumulation of ABSORBED‘s work. Unfortunately, the band disbanded once more during the recording process, and many of the tracks were not edited. Despite this, the group have clearly been privileged to host a number of talented musicians, over their brief yet memorable career.
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![ABSORBED - Reverie [+Demos]](images/129_absorbed_reverie.jpg "ABSORBED - Reverie [+Demos]")
