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ABSOLACE

Progressive Metal • United Arab Emirates


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Absolace biography
Based out of the United Arab Emirates, ABSOLACE was formed in 2007 by composer and multi-instrumentalist Greg Cargopoulos and his old school friend Jack Skinner (guitars). Towards the end of the year Kyle Roberts (keyboards) hooked up with the formative duo, and from then on compositions were crafted and initial recording sessions started taking place. Later on Lebanse Nadim Jamal (vocals) hooked up with the band as well, and from the fall of 2008 until the summer of 2009 an album was carefully assembled, followed by an additional post-production phase.

Absolace's debut album Resolve[d] was issued in early 2010. Shortly after another addition was made to their line-up when Ben Harris (bass) was asked to and accepted to join the band. With a full line-up in place, the band has since started performing live, and was met with positive reviews after opening for Anathema in the fall of 2010.

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ABSOLACE discography


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ABSOLACE top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.39 | 9 ratings
Resolve(d)
2010
3.88 | 7 ratings
Fractals
2012

ABSOLACE Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

ABSOLACE Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

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ABSOLACE Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Fractals by ABSOLACE album cover Studio Album, 2012
3.88 | 7 ratings

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Fractals
Absolace Progressive Metal

Review by big.mo

4 stars Fractals is Absolace's second work, issued two years after the debated first experience Resolve(d). The band is based in the UAE despite its members are multiethnic. Compared to their previous lineup, a definite bass player, Ben Harris, has been enrolled to relieve the drummer Greg Cargopoulos from his double role. This has added a quid to the lineup. Nadim Jamal (vocals) and Jack Skinner (guitar) are the remnant of the band with Kyle Roberts, the former keyboards player, appearing as a guest on some tracks. Fractals provides good hints to include Absolace in the prog metal family. Indeed the work is characterized by deep guitar riffs and definite bass lines, added to a melodious voice, reminding on one side Tool and melodic doom metal and, on the other, Pain Of Salvation and Riverside. Of course theirs is an atypical prog metal, devoted to melody, and even in darkest moments Jamal's voice is able to break the clouds and let the sun in. The album is made of ten songs, all clearly prog metal but two: Shape and Form, a melodic metal ballad and A, showing a touch of jazzy sounds leading to a cantabile refrain. The other tracks are, as mentioned above, full of interesting bass solutions such as "funkyish" slapping and powerful guitar riffs.
 Resolve(d) by ABSOLACE album cover Studio Album, 2010
3.39 | 9 ratings

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Resolve(d)
Absolace Progressive Metal

Review by toroddfuglesteg

3 stars The new sensation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

This band is from the Arab peninsula, but some of the band members have some suspicious Anglo sounding names. UAE is a pretty cosmopolitan emirate and I get 2-3 recruitment enquiries from the IT industry there every week. Hence, I have my suspicions. But what the lame camel, it only music that matters here.

Absolace is not the traditional prog metal band in the world and I am not convinced they belongs in this genre. To me, this album sounds like a crossover between Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Anathema, Radiohead and Dream Theater. I am sure others will add some of the more modern bands to my list. I lost contact with that scene a decade ago. But my point is; Absolace sounds current and their vocalist is very Eddie Vedder like. He is also a superb vocalist and his name is Nadim Jamal. Note that name because he may go onto joining a bigger band in due time. The rest of the band does a more than competent job on their respective instruments.

The music is both heavy, slightly melancholic and melodic. What is sadly missing is a couple of killer tracks and those are my only gripes here. A bit own identity would be a big plus too. Absolace sounds like a band from the west coast of USA and has taken nothing from the Arab peninsula. That may be both an advantage and a disadvantage. Anyway; the quality of this album is mostly very good. But the killer tracks is missing and hence my stars. But this album puts Absolace on the world map and they should be checked out.

3.5 stars

Thanks to windhawk for the artist addition. and to NotAProghead for the last updates

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