An Absence of Empathy [Explicit Lyrics]

1. Human Grain

2. Just One More

3. Miseducation

4. I Killed You

5. This Is Gonna Hurt

6. Push The Button

7. In An Empty Room

8. Outcast

9. Blade

10. How Long Can I Resist

11. When I Look Into My Eyes

12. What Kind Of Animal

Editorial Reviews

Joel Glanfield, HP Forum, April 2005
Henning's musicianship and writing style in this album have clearly set a precedent for all 21st century prog-metal!

Product Description
"Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent"

This quote illustrates what this album is about. It is about violence -- human violence, to be precise. It is ever-present and, in varying degrees, ingrained in all of us. Just like wood grain, violence is inherent to our nature, but the question is, what factors determine who lets is show through and how does it show itself?

The same questions haunt the protagonist of An Absence of Empathy. He is a curious individual who wants to know why the media is filled with news about murder, rape and war -- and he is afraid that he might have the potential for violence himself. He starts to research the subject, but it isn’t enough. It can’t show him what motivates the person that acts violently or what plagues them, and it doesn’t make him feel the pain of the victims. His desire to understand one of humanity’s most basic traits leads to a series of vivid dreams – dreams that appear to be so real that he can’t escape this dreamworld until it is all over. In them, he becomes the killer, he becomes the rapist, he becomes the soldier, he becomes the mother crying for her daughter who was raped.

The first song introduces the theme and illustrates how our main character is plagued by his questions about humanity’s major flaw. He starts a journey into the minds of other people to experience violence firsthand. At the end of the album, he draws his own conclusions, and asks himself if there is nothing else to us besides hurting each other. The answer he finds is worthy of discovery.

An Absence of Empathy takes you into the psyche of several different people who are either experiencing or acting out violence. Each form of violence is dealt with in two songs, each one shedding light on a different point view of the scenario. For example, one song illustrates a torture scene from the point of view of the torturer; its counterpoint takes you into the same room, this time from the point of view of the tortured. Another pairing is about violence in schools. One song deals with a teacher using psychological violence towards his students (who then rebel), while the other song is about a school shooting.

An Absence of Empathy [Explicit Lyrics]

An Absence of Empathy,Frameshift,ProgRock Records,Alternative,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

An Absence of Empathy [Explicit Lyrics]

Average customer rating:

Another dark journey... Yawn.
One Word - Wow!
Best album in 15 years
Absolutely Brilliant!
THIS CD ROCKS!!

An Absence of Empathy
Frameshift
Manufacturer: ProgRock Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Unweaving the Rainbow
Bring 'Em Bach Alive
Elements of Persuasion
Sebastian Bach: Forever Wild
Revolutions Per Minute

ASIN: B0007SME0E
Release Date: 2005-04-12

Tracks:

Human Grain
Just One More
Miseducation
I Killed You
This Is Gonna Hurt
Push The Button
In An Empty Room
Outcast
Blade
How Long Can I Resist
When I Look Into My Eyes
What Kind Of Animal

Product Description

"Violence is the last refuge of the incompetentÂ” This quote illustrates what this album is about. It is about violence -- human violence, to be precise. It is ever-present and, in varying degrees, ingrained in all of us. Just like wood grain, violence is inherent to our nature, but the question is, what factors determine who lets is show through and how does it show itself? The same questions haunt the protagonist of An Absence of Empathy. He is a curious individual who wants to know why the media is filled with news about murder, rape and war -- and he is afraid that he might have the potential for violence himself. He starts to research the subject, but it isnÂ’t enough. It canÂ’t show him what motivates the person that acts violently or what plagues them, and it doesnÂ’t make him feel the pain of the victims. His desire to understand one of humanityÂ’s most basic traits leads to a series of vivid dreams Â– dreams that appear to be so real that he canÂ’t escape this dreamworld until it is all over. In them, he becomes the killer, he becomes the rapist, he becomes the soldier, he becomes the mother crying for her daughter who was raped. The first song introduces the theme and illustrates how our main character is plagued by his questions about humanityÂ’s major flaw. He starts a journey into the minds of other people to experience violence firsthand. At the end of the album, he draws his own conclusions, and asks himself if there is nothing else to us besides hurting each other. The answer he finds is worthy of discovery. An Absence of Empathy takes you into the psyche of several different people who are either experiencing or acting out violence. Each form of violence is dealt with in two songs, each one shedding light on a different point view of the scenario. For example, one song illustrates a torture scene from the point of view of the torturer; its counterpoint takes you into the same room, this time from the point of view of the tortured. Another pairing is about violence in schools. One song deals with a teacher using psychological violence towards his students (who then rebel), while the other song is about a school shooting.

Customer Reviews:

Another dark journey... Yawn........2007-05-18

The Absence of Empathy has another "prog" band going down the dark road - mental health, insanity, evil, etc. (pick your poison). Sadly, I bought many of the reviews and their ratings and picked up this CD. While Frame-Shift is a talented band and the clouds broke on a few singles, the lyrics and weak middle songs clouded the skies again (the last song was aweful). I'll spare you a track by track review. Overall, based on my taste, the vocals were adequate and the band was pretty good. Henning Pauly is an accomplished guitarist, but was never allowed to let loose for long. Also, the band introduced some unusual special effects (trying to be industrial?). Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't.

My biggest complaints are these: many of the songs repeat the chorus or the tag line over and over and over... almost as though they didn't know what else to say. Plus, this is a really dark album. Okay, psycho killer captures victim(s) and tortures them to death. Great. Nice stretch. Really brightened my day. Finally, much of the music never built up enough momentum... sometimes a song would start out with a nice hook or a great intro, only to stagnate and grow repetetive later on - never fulfilling the promise.

This album is like a Terrantino film, without any of the humor. Some of the songs are listenable (if you avoid the dark message). Just One More (song 2) was a bit of a highlight for me. However, overall, this CD won't be played much anymore (I listened to it 4 times).

I give it a generous 3 stars because there are a couple nice hooks and a couple of unexpected surprises - after a lot of repetitive choruses. I'm not trying to offend anyone, but Skid Row is MUCH better than this.

One Word - Wow!.......2006-12-09

I have to admit I bought this CD for Sebastian Bach's vocals, but have to say I am very impressed with Pauly's guitar work. The sound harkens back to the crunchy riff-driven metal/rock songs of the past. This is the CD Skid Row should have made. The vocals are clean and powerful, and the music is very well done.

While the lyrics are dark and sometimes disturbing, the songs will still win you over. A perfect example is the song "I Killed You" where a man finds his lover with another man and shoots both of them. Terrible, terrible story, but the music / vocals overwhelm the listener.

This CD is much different that Frameshifts previous CD with Dream Theater's James LaBrie on vocals. That CD, good in it's own rights, had a more ethereal sound, while "Empathy" is more "in your face" rock.

Best album in 15 years.......2006-10-05

I have to admit that I only bought this album because it had Bach on lead vocals, and to tell you the truth I didn't really expect much (especially considering the shmables that was The Last Hard Men). But, I was astounded after a few listen how great this album actually is. There is not one weak song on here, they are all killers, and Bach is in terrific form. Easily the best release of 2005 and possibly the best album I've heard since the release of Slave To The Grind - which also had Bach on vocals. Coincidence?

Absolutely Brilliant!.......2006-08-18

This is a masterpiece of an album. Henning Pauly is a genius who merges together odd meter, ripping guitar and odd keyboard sounds to create one of the best pieces of aggressive progressive metal ever created. Henning brought in Sebastian Bach to do the vocals and he has NEVER sounded better. Damn, that man can sing (shame he is such an idiot).

Buy this album. It will blow you away!

THIS CD ROCKS!!.......2006-04-23

This is one of the most original and creative recordings I have heard in a long time. The concept behind this album is interesting but it's mostly the song writing and performances that put it over the top. "I Killed You", "This Is Gonna Hurt" and "In an Empty Room" are my favorite tracks. I've had this CD for months now and still can't stop listening to it. When I first got it, I had to ask, "Who is Henning Pauly and why haven't I heard of him before?" This level of musicianship and songwriting are not something you hear every day. Of course, I've known about Sebastian Bach for many, many years but I have to say his performances on this album are even more inspiring than anything I've ever heard him do with Skid Row. From reading their two respective websites, it sounds like they had somewhat of a falling out - that's a shame because the combination of the two is awe-inspiring. I really wish I'd be able to hear another collaboration by the two someday.