1) The Absence is an American Melodic Death Metal band from Tampa, Florida. Their style has been described as aggressive thrash metal with Scandinavian metal influences. They are currently signed to Metal Blade Records. The band released an eponymous EP in 2004 and followed up with their debut album, From Your Grave, in 2005. The band's second album, Riders of the Plague, was released in 2007. The album was praised in a review for finding an "interesting balance" between the genres death metal and thrash metal.