"Atlanta’s burgeoning extreme metal scene got even stronger the day that guitarist Jason Schwartzwalder parted ways with death metal heroes Brutality and moved from Tampa back to his home in Georgia. It was there on Father’s Day 2018 that he formed Mother’s Tomb, later joined by session drummer Jeramie Kling (The Absence, Göregang). Today you can hear hear the results of that relatively young partnership in the form of four-track EP, Absent Not Dead, which is dedicated to Jason’s cousin, Damon Matthew Card, who was murdered in his n his Savannah home on January 29 2016. In the words of the title track, “absent from sight, not dead in memory.”
- Decibel Magazine
"Absent Not Dead is an articulate and very fun opening salvo from these Atlanta thrash freaks. The touches of death metal and shred that accentuate a balls out assault mean that this is one of the more compelling records of the year. Suffice it to say, Redefining Darkness Records have knocked it out of the park once more. "
- Two Guys Metal Reviews
www.twoguysmetalreviews.com/2019/09/mothers-tomb-absent-not-dead.html
"Once the foreboding intro fades in to darkness, Mother’s Tomb kicks thing straight in to high gear as they provide you with one face melting track right after the next. Each of the three tracks that follow the intro are explosive and well executed offerings of thrashing madness that is coupled with elements of death metal to provide you with an incredibly neck twisting and entirely memorable listen."
- Cadaver Garden
cadavergarden.com/2019/09/05/mothers-tomb-absent-not-dead/
Mother’s Tomb was created on Father’s Day 2018 after Jason Schwartzwalder had parted ways with Brutality and moved from Tampa back to his home in Atlanta. Upon returning to Atlanta, Jason wrote what would become "Absent Not Dead", and enlisted some pretty talented musicians to help realize his vision, including Jeramie Kling (The Absence, Göregang). The name, Mother's Tomb, actually has a pretty deep meaning for Jason. Mother is a word for creation and love, beauty and happiness. Tomb is a word for end, death and sadness... Mother’s Tomb is very much about the balance between dark and light, the beauty in death and the ugliness in life, which is conveyed by the music and lyrics.
"Absent Not Dead" is dedicated to Jason's cousin, Damon Matthew Card, who was murdered on January 29th 2016 in his home in Savannah Ga. Damon was the kind of person who lit up a room without saying a word. All those around him, friend or stranger felt his energy and presence. He was special, talented at anything he wanted to do and just a genuinely good human being. The track "Absent Not Dead" is an homage to him not only in the lyrics, describing in minor detail how he died, but also that those who are not with us anymore physically are still here in the people they influenced and the accomplishment’s they achieved. Absent from sight, not dead in memory.
Damon Card 11/7/93 – 1/29/2016
released September 27, 2019
Mother’s Tomb is:
Jason Schwartzwalder - Guitar
Donny Hamilton - Vocals
Brad Jones - Bass
Vincent Dibona - Guitar
Jon McDonald - Drums
All Guitar Rhythm Tracks written and Performed By Jason Schwartzwalder at AlterCrow Studios With Paul Golden in Atlanta Georgia during the night of December 26th and into the early morning hours of December 27th 2018
Drums Recorded and Performed By Jeramie Kling (courtesy of Metal Blade Records) at his own Smoke and Mirrors Productions in Spring Hill Florida January 2019
Bass Performed By Brad Jones at MasterSound Studios in Tampa FL, Recorded By Preston Dicarlo Jan 19th 2019
Vocals Performed by Donald Hamilton at MasterSound Studios in Tampa FL, recorded by Preston Dicarlo March 22nd 2019
Solos on “Mutual Hostility” and second solo on “Absent Not Dead” Written and preformed By Jason Schwartzwalder at MasterSound Studios in Tampa Florida March 22nd 2019
First Solo on “Absent Not Dead” written and performed by Vincent Dibona at MasterSound Studios Tampa FL March 22nd 2019
Solo on “Slaughtering Innocence” written and performed by Ray Brouwer of Garroted recorded by Sean Hart in Coventry Rhode Island in January 2019
Gang Vocals on “Mutual Hostility” and “Absent Not Dead” performed by a wild pack of foogaloots who are also very close friends at MasterSound Studios in Tampa FL
“Absent Not Dead” is dedicated to the memory of Damon Matthew Card who was taken from this world before he had a chance to truly shine. I love you Damo HFM!!
All Lyrics written by Jason Schwartzwalder
All Music Mixed and Mastered by Jason Schwartzwalder and Preston Dicarlo at MasterSound Studios Tampa FL March 23rd and 24th 2019