Aebsence
Unusual
6.2
I’ve been putting off this review for awhile, but by this point, after 6-7 listens, I figure I’m not going to gain any further insight into what makes Aebsence tick. Unusual is the debut album from this Hungarian quartet, and it’s a unique listen, that at first sounds like something very familiar, but a deeper listen reveals twists that are rare in the rock music scene. On the surface, they are a hard rock band, but the progressive elements raise them above the mediocrity latent in that genre.
Aebsence carry a modest Tool influence in the guitarwork, without the spacey feel that Tool invokes, and then they accent that with backing instruments such as a Jew’s Harp, flutes, and violins. But the vocals of Peter Budai give this band a defining sound. His usual voice is a pretty standard, mid-pitch croon, like the singer from Seven Mary Three, but then he also contributes background chanting vocals, and occasionally switches from singing in English to another language (I’m guessing Hungarian). The production is pretty meaty, with a very full bass sound, while the stranger instruments come through clearly. The end result has a very nice sound for a low-budget production job.
As usual, the album starts off with a useless intro, but the following song is their best work. “Countdawn”, driven by big chords, features flourishes of violin, before a nifty chorus. “Brainmash” is another fine track, propelled a driving bassline. Unfortunately for Aebsence, the album tends to tail off towards the end.
Unusual is a decent rock album, especially for a debut. Although, the band could benefit from a little more consistency in their songwriting, so hopefully the next album will bring some needed growth. If you’re up for some hard rock with a flair for the unusual, Aebsence may scratch the itch.
