Review Summary: A superior supergroup
In the decades since the prime of Crosby, Stills & Nash, a lot of so-called supergroups have come and gone, most of them leaving only disappointment in their wake. Turns out, compiling a lineup of musicians associated with revered groups doesn’t necessarily (in fact, usually doesn’t) result in top-tier music. Whether it’s a matter of egos clashing, disparate perspectives not meshing, or simply listeners’ expectations being too high, a supergroup producing decent but unspectacular music, and the widespread chagrin which results, has become a bit of cliche.
Now, here comes Absent In Body. A four-piece composed of members (current and former) of high-profile metal bands Neurosis, Amenra, and Sepultura, there’s no way the group can avoid that proverbial kiss of death, the label of “supergroup”. However, in rather shocking fashion, this new band has actually managed to deliver the goods. Debut
Plague God is a quite satisfying slate of music which broad swathes of the metal-loving public will find worth their time.
With the origins of Absent in Body’s respective members in mind, it’s probably not a surprise that
Plague God can broadly be lumped into the post-metal basket, even as doom, sludge, post-rock, and industrial leave their mark on the songs. The band seems to be aiming more for moodiness than viscerality, and they succeed, leaving a rather eerie sensation to envelop the listener. Those seeking bone-crunching riffs and moments of sheer brutality might not be disappointed, but listeners hoping to embark upon a grimly atmospheric journey will find exactly what they’re looking for.
Opener “Rise From Ruins” is an essential piece in the construction of the album’s vibe. The song isn’t especially “heavy” by conventional standards, rather it leans towards a suffocating ambience which confines the listener in a murky, damp cavern. Everything is ominous, providing the sonic equivalent of the sci-fi horror feeling of the album artwork. While later songs bring more regular versions of crushing post-metal, they don’t stray too far from the creepy bleakness which the opener did so much to craft. “In Spirit In Spite” sees early pummeling Cult Of Luna-esque riffs, before moving into a mechanistic musical backdrop intermixed with unsettling clean vocals. “The Acres/The Ache”, another choice cut, sees things slow to a doomy crawl, culminating in cathartic roars.
The (all quite impressive) songs themselves have sufficient room to flow, ranging from five to nine minutes in duration, but
Plague God as a whole doesn’t hit the thirty-seven minute mark, scarcely the length of a standard EP in the long-winded musical terrain Absent In Body traverse. Speaking as someone who traditionally has found only the finest representations of the post-metal genre to regularly justify their bloated runtimes, another song or two on this record would be appreciated. Even if the relative shortness of this album is a gripe, though,
Plague God is quite an accomplished first release, the type of record one would expect from a host of musicians with acclaimed pedigrees, if contrary examples weren’t so easy to find. With any luck, Absent In Body might not be a one-off, and if so, there’s a new band to watch on the post-metal circuit.
