Having returned with a vengeance from an eight-year hiatus via their acclaimed comeback album A Gift For The Obsessed, Tampa, Florida-based melodic death metal powerhouse The Absence has announced its first tour in support of the record, which will see the group join forces with Exmortus and Hatchet for three weeks before headlining another week's worth of shows. A full list of the group's upcoming dates can be seen below.

Says vocalist Jamie Stewart, “We are beyond excited to hit the road with these great bands, and we are very much looking forward to unleashing our new songs live. It’s going to be sick!”

To celebrate their return to the road, the group has unveiled a new lyric video for their crushing song “Thought & Memory”. According to Stewart, the track was inspired by Norse mythology.

“Odin has two ravens - Huginn and Muninn, which loosely translate to thought (or spirit, in some cases) and memory, respectively,” he says. “Each day, these ravens fly, soaring throughout the world, retrieving news from all over to keep Odin informed. It is said that he fears that the two ravens may never return, although he fears more for Muninn (memory/mind) than for Huginn (thought/spirit). There are various interpretations that can be taken - spiritual, magical, poetic - but what I did with the words thought and memory was to take them at their literal definition and apply them to an everyday existence. How can somebody truly use these to guide themselves in a positive direction? We have a million thoughts that run through our heads every single day, and we all have choices to make with them in mind. In these instances, one should uses the memories they have gained to separate what they think is right from what they know is wrong, no matter how hard that choice is. In reference to Odin fearing more the loss of memory over the loss of thought, one could see the possible detriment of a life devoid of memories.

The video, created by Rafael Ortega (Ayreon, Helsott, Sicocis), can be seen below:

A Gift For The Obsessed - which includes includes a cover of Suicidal Tendencies’ “You Can’t Bring Me Down” featuring guest vocals by Bjorn “Speed” Strid (Soilwork, The Night Flight Orchestra) - is The Absence’s first release to feature their current lineup. Led by founding members Stewart (vocals) and Jeramie Kling (drums) along with longtime bass player Mike Leon (Soulfly, Havok, Arsis), the group now features the high-flying guitar work of Joey Concepcion (Jasta, Armageddon) and Taylor Nordberg (Soilwork, Ribspreader), who made their debut on the band's self-released digital single, "Septic Testament", in 2016.

Notably, three of the group's members have kept busy in recent months by touring with a number of high-profile acts - Leon with Soulfly, Kling with Venom Inc. and Concepcion with Sanctuary. Concepcion also appears on Dee Snider's new solo album, For The Love Of Metal.

Tour dates:

July
5 - Tampa, FL - Crowbar *
6 - Atlanta, GA - 529 Bar ^
7 - Spartanburg, SC - Ground Zero ^
8 - Richmond, VA - Canal Club *
9 - Clifton, NJ - Dingbatz *
10 - Brooklyn, NY - Saint Vitus ^
11 - Palladium - Worcester, MA ^
12 - Quebec City, QC - Source de la Martiniere ^
13 - Toronto, ON - Hard Luck Bar ^
15 - Joliet, IL - The Forge %
16 - Minneapolis, MN - Lee’s Liquor Lounge %
17 - Kansas City, MO - Riot Room %
18 - Denver, CO - Roxy Theater ^
19 - Salt Lake City, UT - Club X ^
21 - Boise, ID - The Shredder ^
22 - Seattle, WA - Club SUR ^
23 - Portland, OR - Twilight Cafe & Bar ^
24 - Oakland, CA - Metro Opera House ^
25 - Fullerton, CA - Slidebar #
26 - Mesa, AZ - Club Red +
27 - Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad +
28 - El Paso, TX - Rockhouse Bar +
29 - Dallas, TX - Reno's Chop Shop +
30 - Austin, TX - Come and Take It Live +
31 - Houston, TX - BFE Rock Club +

^ with Exmortus, Hatchet
* with Exmortus, Hatchet, Black Fast
% with Exmortus, Hatchet, Micawber
# with Thrown Into Exile, Goregang
+ with Goregang