Category Archives: The Absence

Metal Anarchy’s Music In The Age Of COVID-19 Series: Interview With Taylor Nordberg (Inhuman Condition, The Absence)

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Time for the next edition of Metal Anarchy’s “Music In The Age Of COVID-19” series, the feature where I discuss the ongoing pandemic with various musicians. This time I have an interview with Taylor Nordberg (Inhuman Condition, The Absence, Goregäng, etc.)

METAL ANARCHY: How have you been holding up during the coronavirus pandemic?

NORDBERG: I’ve been doing alright. I’ve been pretty healthy this last year, and I’ve probably been the busiest I have ever been, so I suppose that’s good too!

METAL ANARCHY: Have you been using your downtime to work on new music?

NORDBERG: Definitely! At the start of the pandemic, Jeramie [Kling] and I did a project where we wrote a song, recorded it, mixed it, and released it all in one day. Then we did that for 12 different metal sub-genres and had it released on Blood Blast Distribution. We collaborated with a ton of friends in different bands around the world, and it was just a fun, intense, “let’s see who’s crazy motivated!”, kind of experience. From that, we formed a punk band called FORE with our buddy Brian “The Canadian Glenn Hughes” Stephenson, and Spiesi (former Kreator bassist) and we play 80s/90s style punk, like Bad Religion, Pennywise, The Offspring, NOFX, etc. We also finished up the new album for The Absence, new music from Goregäng, Jeramie played on the new Ex-Deo album, we obviously finished up this Inhuman Condition album, and 5 additional songs. It’s been crazy busy!

METAL ANARCHY: What was the last show you played or attended before the shutdown?

NORDBERG: We just played our first show this last weekend, actually! We played a crazy club gig with Deicide here in Florida. Before that, Jeramie and I’s last show was playing with Massacre in Peru last February, and Terry [Butler]’s last show was in March with Obituary on the Black Label Society tour.

METAL ANARCHY: Are you planning to play any livestream concerts during this time?

NORDBERG: We haven’t really considered it much, but it could happen. Terry has done a bunch of great livestream shows with Obituary over the last 6 months, but we have been so busy planning the album’s release we haven’t planned any livestreams yet.

METAL ANARCHY: Do you think the live entertainment industry will ever recover?

NORDBERG: I strongly believe it will. It won’t be the same as it used to be, maybe, but music is such an important industry in the world, it’s crazy that it isn’t deemed “essential”. People want music. People want LIVE music. It’s such a positive release for people and I think it’s going to come back in some way, because I know the musicians want it too.

METAL ANARCHY: Lastly, is there anything fans can do to help your band or others that may be struggling during this time?

NORDBERG: Support the bands you love! Now, more than ever, bands need help from their fans. Most bands make their money on tour selling merch, and we have all been out of work for over a year. Many band members support their families from touring so any shirt, CD, or sticker counts. We have shirts, socks, sweatshirts, and hats at www.king-dark.com/collections/inhuman-condition and you can preorder our album on our Bandcamp at inhumancondition.bandcamp.com.

The Absence Premiere “Choirs Of Sickness” Music Video

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The Absence have premiered a new video for their new song “Choirs Of Sickness.” This track is from the band’s new album “Coffinized,“ which will be released on June 25.

Taylor Nordberg commented:

“Today’s the day! We all wait for this from the moment the riff is written, and it’s exhilarating to get this juicy jam out to you! We all busted our butts off on this record, and ‘Choirs Of Sickness‘ encompasses so much of this album’s dark tones, and bold new melodic boundaries. Dig it!”

Jamie Stewart added:

“Every single song bears a torch of deprivation, darkness and triumph. In the end, we do actually win. One second, you feel creative and accomplished, validated and whole. The next, you seem empty and worthless, and feel the claustrophobia of being forced into an unwilling casket. ‘Coffinized‘ collects in detail the hysterical scratches and screams found on the inside of this casket’s lid – the kind of gashes made by four beings who are very much alive and giving their all to be heard from a forced burial.”

[via Decibel]

The Absence Planning To Release New Album In Early 2021

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The Absence have revealed that they are planning to release a new album in early 2021. Mike Leon commented:

“This record has a lot of my favorite music that the band has ever created, and it has pushed the boundaries of what I thought was possible for us beyond my wildest dreams. The fact that the gentlemen at Fascination Street Studios in Sweden have lent their masterful ears and knobs for the mixing and mastering process just furthers the excitement! It is my firm belief that this is truly The Absence in its strongest, most exciting form, and we can’t wait to share this monster that we’ve created!”

The Absence Finish Recording New Album

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The Absence have officially finished the recording process for their new album. The band confirmed the news in the below post:

View this post on Instagram

*NEW MUSIC/ARTWORK IS ON IT’S WAY* Tracking for Album Number Five has been completed!!! We are currently into the mixing phases with some incredibly talented people – we will be sharing that info very soon! In the mean time, we present to you courtesy of the amazing Chad Wehrle, a massively updated version of our beloved Skullerfly logo, aka David Lee Moth. Chad truly exceeded all of our expectations, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to work with him!! So for now, enjoy this sneak peak and please feel free to share this video with your fellow humans around the world. STAY SAFE, STAY TUNED, STAY METAL!!!! Please check out more of Chad's work in the links below: www.cwehrle.com www.society6.com/cwehrle www.etsy.com/shop/chadwehrle

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The Absence Stream Cover Of Bad Religion’s “Do What You Want”

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The Absence are streaming their cover of Bad Religion’s “Do What You Want” via Decibel. The track is available on a limited edition cassette that the band are selling on their tour with Deicide, Origin, and Jungle Rot. That release also features the band’s new song “Walking Shadows” and a live version of “Septic Testament.” Jeramie Kling had the following to say about the cover:

“‘Do What You Want‘ is named accordingly. Fuck norms, fuck stigmas, fuck walls, do what you want. Makes sense to us, bang your head! Special thanks for our friend Stanley Soares for mixing this bastard!”

The Absence Premiere New Song “Walking Shadows”

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The Absence have premiered a new song titled “Walking Shadows.” This track features Aghora guitarist Santiago Dobles and it will be available on a limited edition cassette at the band’s upcoming shows. That release also features a cover of Bad Religion‘s “Do What You Want” and a live version of “Septic Testament.”

Jamie Stewart told Metal Injection the following:

“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, 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 Absence Announce July Dates, Premiere “Thought & Memory” Lyric Video

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The Absence will be playing some July shows with Goregang after their summer tour with Exmortus, Hatchet, etc. Here’s the dates:

07/25 Fullerton, CA – Slidebar (feat. Throw Into Exile)
07/26 Mesa, AZ – Club Red
07/27 Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad
07/28 El Paso, TX – Rockhouse Bar
07/29 Dallas, TX – Reno’s Chop Shop
07/30 Austin, TX – Come And Take It Live
07/31 Houston, TX – BFE Rock Club

In other news, the band have also premiered a lyric video for “Thought & Memory” off their latest album “A Gift for the Obsessed”:

The band said the following about “Thought & Memory:

“The track was inspired by Norse mythology. Odin has two ravens – Huginn and Muninn, which loosely translate to thought (or spirit, in some cases) and memory, respectively. Each day, these ravens fly, soaring throughout the world, retrieving news from all over to keep Odin informed. It is said that he fears that the two ravens may never return, although he fears more for Muninn (memory/mind) than for Huginn (thought/spirit). There are various interpretations that can be taken – spiritual, magical, poetic – but what I did with the words thought and memory was to take them at their literal definition and apply them to an everyday existence. How can somebody truly use these to guide themselves in a positive direction? We have a million thoughts that run through our heads every single day, and we all have choices to make with them in mind. In these instances, one should uses the memories they have gained to separate what they think is right from what they know is wrong, no matter how hard that choice is. In reference to Odin fearing more the loss of memory over the loss of thought, one could see the possible detriment of a life devoid of memories.”

The Absence Premiere “Misery Trophies” Video

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The Absence have premiered a new video for their new song “Misery Trophies,” via Decibel. This track is from their new album “A Gift For The Obsessed,” which will be released on March 23. Jamie Stewart commented:

“‘Misery Trophies‘ is about the toxic people that we all have in our lives. The people who cannot wait to be the bearers of bad news – individuals so devoid of joy themselves, that they revel in the delivery of misery to others.”

The Absence Premiere “A Gift For The Obsessed” Video

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The Absence have premiered a new video for the title track of their new album “A Gift For The Obsessed.” That effort will be released on March 23.

Jamie Stewart commented:

“‘A Gift For The Obsessed‘ embodies many of the dynamics that The Absence stand for as a whole: melody, brutality, speed, dexterity, cadence, etc. — a truly comprehensive and cohesive listening experience indeed! The title of the album/song refers to that very moment when any artist or creator makes something to the integral point of satisfaction — when your craft meets your obsession in furious culmination, and you are finally able to take a step back, if only for just a moment, completely fulfilled by the fruits of your artistic labor. It‘s one of the most maddening yet needed satisfactions in life — exorcism through creation.”

“A Gift For The Obsessed” Track Listing:

01. “A Gift for the Obsessed”
02. “Misery Trophies”
03. “The Forging”
04. “Thought & Memory”
05. “Celestial Hysteria”
06. “Septic Testament”
07. “The Alpha Illusion”
08. “Fear of Existence”
09. “You Can’t Bring Me Down” (Suicidal Tendencies cover) (feat. Soilwork’s Bjorn “Speed” Strid)
10. “Idle Thrones”