In the Halls of Silence

I reviewed Absolon's 2024 album The Blood Seed and found it OK, if on the unremarkable side, and now this Florida-based band is back with their fourth album, In the Halls of Silence, less than two years later. Their core sound is intact, a heavy/power style of metal that is very melodic in the vein of Black Majesty. The vocals remain nasal but, once again, fit the music well and the guitar work is quite flashy. Where Absolon have stepped up their game is in the songwriting, which is much improved. The riffs are strong and there are more hooks than on the last album, with the closer, "Turn Back Time," a standout, possessing a chorus that will instantly lodge in your brain and refuse to leave. I like that Absolon kept things tight with just eight tracks and a running time of 36:07. I feel like they went with their best material and didn't fall into the trap of trying to pad things out with the result a more consistent and enjoyable album. Solid heavy/power metal.