#austere — Public Fediverse posts

It’s been some time since Splendidula has visited these pages. The fearsome Carcharodon reviewed their sophomore record, Post Mortem, as a wee n00b long ago in 2018, wherein he saw glimmers of potential in the gothic doom metal. He didn’t cover 2021’s Somnus for unknown reasons, though I think he might have been pleased with the heavier post-metal inclinations that permeated the record. The years since then have been rough for this Belgian group, marred by the passing of several loved ones, including their bassist Peter Chromiak. Absentia emerges in the wake of these tragedies as a means to both express and confront this debilitating heartache and loss.

Chromiak’s absence is felt in the very essence of Absentia. Although drummer Joachim Taminau took up the bassist role, the burly bass presence from the prior two records is all but gone. Splendidula kept much of their gothic doom but, fittingly, chose to fill the void with another of metal’s most expressive subgenres—DSBM. Whereas Kristien Cools previously stuck to clean vocals (for the most part), she now becomes both beauty and beast, dividing her time between sorrowful singing and shrieking. She also leans on a couple of notable guest vocalists. Tim Yatras (Austere) adds blackened snarls and backing cleans to “Absentia,” followed by Aaron Stainthorpe (ex-My Dying Bride, High Parasite), who contributes his rumbling growls and velvety baritone to “Echoes of Quiet Remain.” These guest selections neatly encapsulate the two different aspects of Absentia.

Absentia by Splendidula

While much music (and art in general) is born from a place of grief, Absentia is practically synonymous with it. Underneath the stoic exterior lurks a raw torment that flares up whenever and however it wants. For example, “Donkerte” begins with despondent singing, but as the verse progresses, Cools’s voice escalates until finally a primal scream spills out. Later, the double-tracked cleans and screams give the impression of one putting on a brave face as anguish roils inside. When her voice dips into the lower ranges (particularly in “Absentia” and “Let It Come to an End”), it takes on a sort of nasally drawl which augments the mournful atmosphere, though this likely won’t appeal to everyone. Also like grief, sections of certain songs tend to linger for longer than one might like (“Echoes of Quiet Remain,” “Kilte,” “Absentia”).

Absentia musically conveys the importance of a healthy support system during times of grief. Though much hinges on Cools’s vocal performances, the other two members of Splendidula help to sustain her in subtle but important ways. During “Dalkuldar,” a forlorn respite from the turmoil, the snare rhythms and bass drum beats are akin to a bolstering drumline. The tempestuous percussion also heightens the sense of desperation in “Kilte.” Closing track “Let It Come to an End” flips the script, letting Cools take a backseat and bringing guitarist Guy Van Campenhout’s growls to the forefront, perhaps emblematic of leaning on loved ones during times of crisis.

In terms of emotional devastation, Absentia is as potent a record as you’re likely to find. Kristien Cools keeps improving with each release, and the compositions complement her increasingly diverse vocal styles well. The deeply personal nature of Splendidula’s work of art is both strength and weakness. The intense and authentic expression of grief is harrowingly beautiful, but in a way that seems impossible for an outsider to fully appreciate. Like attending a funeral for someone you didn’t know, it’s easy to empathize with those in mourning but difficult to feel the same deep personal connection. That said, the next time grief comes for me personally, I may be very grateful that I became acquainted with Absentia.

Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Argonauta Records
Websites: splendidula.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/Splendidula
Releases Worldwide: April 3rd, 2026

Austère et résistant, cet if lie la caserne Mellinet et les récents habitants du quartier à

Jardiniers, botanistes, élagueurs… Ils et elles travaillent au service des espaces verts de la ville de Nantes (Loire-Atlantique).…
#Nantes #FR #France #Actu #News #Europe #EU #actu #Actualités #austère #caserne #europe #habitants #if #lié #mellinet #paysdelaloire #quartier #récents #Républiquefrançaise #résistant
https://www.europesays.com/fr/280753/

https://www.europesays.com/fr/280753/ Austère et résistant, cet if lie la caserne Mellinet et les récents habitants du quartier à #actu #Actualités #austère #caserne #EU #europe #FR #France #habitants #if #lié #mellinet #Nantes #News #PaysDeLaLoire #quartier #récents #RépubliqueFrançaise #résistant

We're always striving for the best possible student experience. That's why we're now using EmergeLMS developed by @flightbridgeed

This fantastic learning management system has a great user experience and is incredibly intuitive.

We're still migrating many of our courses across to the new platform over the coming months, but have a look at what's already available.

https://emergelms.corom.edu.mt/

#medicine #medical #austere #remote #LMS #aeromedical #wilderness #pharmacology

What a great show! #austere #metal #blackmetal #livemusic #supporttheunderground #music #centralerockpub #erba

#Dear Friends of #freedom,

Here is a fine #postcard featuring my favourite #cructacean (me)
https://www.hack.xxx/collections/techmagick/products/the-moon-fine-art-postcard

As we know:
- Support each other udder of the Cult of the #Dead Cow
- Our admins have to live in #austere capitalism
- Do others best and to hell with the #rest (rest when you are dead)

I will be #assembling my #hacked team of #crackers any year soon. They must be #dedicated to core #principles of [to be undecided] #protecting the week and #flexible and have no skills worth #mentoring, mentioning or boosting. We look #forward and backwards to your #participation

The Prolonged Casualty Care (PCC) guidelines detail best practices intended for #casualty management over prolonged time in #austere, #remote, or #expeditionary settings, and/or during long-distance movements.

The good news is that Deployed #Medicine makes the #PCC clinical guideliness free to view online:

https://books.allogy.com/web/tenant/8/books/31645fe7-9b9f-4e23-846c-768253e47a62/

#Ukraine #medic #emt #tccc #teccc

If you don't always have time to watch an #emergency #medicine video, what about trying a #podcast? Listen in the car, on the train, while out for a run....

The College of #Remote & Offshore Medicine (#CoROM) publishes just such a podcast series!

Application of #ultrasound in an austere environment? Episode 25. Management of severe #burns in an #austere environment? Episode 18. There's a lot to choose from.

https://anchor.fm/corom-foundation

#medics #emt #tccc #tecc #firstaid

The perfect resource?

"#Guerilla #Medicine: An introduction to the concepts of #austere medicine in asymmetric #conflicts"

Unfortunately they still talk about "nationally authorized resistance organizations" and "State-authorized resistance efforts"

Nonetheless, this page provides a publication download (in PDF) on the topic of "medical support to resistance forces."

https://www.europeanmedics.eu/guerilla-med-publication

Should be an interesting read & a worthwhile resource

#Ukraine #medics #emt #tccc #tecc #emergency

Open-Source Medical Devices Hack Chat - Join us on Wednesday, January 29 at noon Pacific for the Open-Source Medical Devices Hack Chat with ... more: https://hackaday.com/2020/01/28/open-source-medical-devices-hack-chat/ #hackadaycolumns #stethoscope #thehackchat #diagnostic #instrument #otoscope #austere #medical #war