Let me first off say that I love Absolva, and if there was ever a band that deserved to be so much more well-known it’s them. I’ve followed them round for years, seen them in all kinds of places from snooker halls to the pub down the road from my house, where my mate (and esteemed MV colleague) was so pissed that he told Chris Appleton (the bands singer and brilliant guitarist) with tales about football despite the extremely pleasant Mancunian telling him “I don’t really like football mate” about four times.
This live album, recorded at four different shows from 2016-2019, is fabulous too. And proof that the band are one of the finest metal bands on these shores.
The thing is, though, the quotes from Appleton are telling: “My favourite band growing up was AC/DC, and the legendary ‘If You Want Blood (you’ve got it)’ was an album that stuck with me,” he says. “That was made up of different shows, not just one concert, and became the model for the making of our new live album.”
It is a fact, that every single modern live album is compared in some way to one of the greats of the past. You know them, I own them. Maiden? Lizzy, Motorhead? AC/DC. Four of the greatest bands ever – possibly the greatest ever – and they’ve all kind of defined the genre.
Strip that away, though and “Live In Europe” stands on its own as a belter. 45 minutes. 10 songs. Fan favourites. “Life On The Edge” which ushers itself in as the opener with the scream of “We are Absolva!” is the signpost. It’s the sound of the band, borrowing from the past, but modern enough to look at the future.
A couple of my personal favourites are here too. “Never A Good Day To Die” and the fabulous “Never Back Down”, and its clear that everyone in the band benefitted from the return of Luke Appleton on rhythm guitar. Metal needs added meat and he gives it an edge.
There’s a camaraderie here, though that’s beyond mere brotherhood. The gallop of “Live For The Fight” might actually be their mission statement, and the wonderful fists in the air, gritted teeth chug that’s in the riff of “Defiance” proves there’s not many better than the other Appleton on his guitar.
Iron Maiden is a clear influence (and if you are in a metal band that doesn’t love Maiden are you even in a metal band?) and “No Tomorrow” could have been on “Piece Of Mind” (maybe “Live After Death” would be more accurate?)
The thing about Absolva is that they genuinely understand to keep their songs to the point. “Harsh Reality” has more of a “message” maybe, but it still thunders in and out in under four minutes and when they are playing with a smile on their faces, like on “Victimiser”, there’s few better.
The last one “Code Red” is – as ever – a proper stand-out moment and it does three things. 1) Remind you just how much you miss seeing Absolva 2) makes you long for any gig and 3) underlines the fact that although – maybe – the glory days of the live album belong in another era, that’s no reason to stop making them,
Rating 8.5/10
