ABSORBED

The music on "Reverie" is technical/progressive death metal with references to Atheist, Cynic, and especially Sadist. This time around less technically focused and more atmospheric. While the band are generally well playing, they are still at least one level below the above mentioned acts and the same can be said about the songwriting. Taking into account that "Reverie" is a self-financed release it's still pretty decent though. The sound production isn't the most powerful but it's not terrible either.

All in all "Reverie" is a slight below standard release by Absorbed. The album features lots of promise and intriguing ideas, but the musicianship, the songwriting and the sound production do drag my rating down a bit. I don't want to be too negative about this release but I'm probably being a bit nice with a 2.5 - 3 star (55%) rating.

The three bands represent three different musical styles. Absorbed play a technical/progressive death metal style in the vein of Atheist and especially the Italiens in Sadist comes to mind. Dismal play hardcore while Unnatural play death metal. The former and the latter both have four tracks featured on the split while Dismal have six tracks featured. Absorbed are probably the most interesting act on the split and they are quite well playing too. The sound quality isn't that great though and this mostly sounds like demo material. You do get the general idea that especially Absorbed have a lot of interesting ideas, that could probably have been worked on and developed into something great with better time in a studio.

"Avowals" might not be the most interesting release today, but back in 1994 it was pretty interesting to hear bands from that part of the world (yeah metal from Spain was once considered pretty exotic), and all three of them do a decent job here. A 2.5 - 3 star (55%) rating is warranted.

This album is pretty impossible to review because it consist of so many recordings and so many different music styles. From Suffocation like death metal to Atheist and then some hard core. At their best on the song called Towards Summer We Soar, they are a really good band in the Cynic/Atheist alley. The next song Disgust And Hate is a light weight thrash metal tune with [&*!#]ty sound. The next song again, Cosmos Turbine, is a Pestilence pastisj. A good one too. The end result of this album is too confusing to be really enjoyed. Sorry, but this album is a miss.

2 stars