Krete

Soon after, Krete began making a name for itself within the local Iowa scene, playing with numerous local & regional acts during its years of activity & performing throughout the Midwest.

By 1999, Brian Hearity had departed the band, with Ryan "L.B." Berrier taking over vocal duties & Nate "N8 Inches" MacKenzie taking over guitar duties; Krete was now a five-piece band. In early 1999, Krete began recording their new release, 327, a five-song EP that documented the band's personnel transition: Nate “N8 Inches” MacKenzie played guitar on tracks 1–3, while original guitarist/vocalist Brian Hearity appeared on tracks 4–5 & also served as a producer.

Krete's live activity was hardly limited to Ottumwa, as the band traveled throughout Iowa & neighboring states, competing in the Lazer 103.3 Battle of the Bands on July 21, 1999, at the Super Toad Entertainment Center in Des Moines against Deviant, Drip, & Heroic Dose; appearing at Budhafest II at Clearwater Beach in Des Moines on August 28, 1999; playing Moshfest 2000 in Manly, Iowa, alongside Smakdab, Nothing, & other acts; taking part in another competition on September 27, 2000, against 4High & Cruciful; & performing numerous other shows. Krete also traveled considerably beyond Iowa, including trips that took the band as far west as New Mexico & Arizona.

Later on, Chad Kurka, a founding member of Krete, departed the band, with his final performance being a hometown show on November 20, 2000. Soon afterward, Krete recruited Bob "Bizob" Thomason to take over bass duties in early 2001. By January 2001, Nate "N8 Inches" MacKenzie had also left the band, dealing Krete another major lineup change; shortly thereafter, Marc Roe was recruited to take over guitar duties.

By spring 2001, Krete had renamed itself Absent. Throughout 2001, the group continued playing around Iowa & the Midwest, appearing with bands such as Heroic Dose, Undone, On a Pale Horse (formerly Painface), Fear of Falling, PygWalk, & Blister Burn. A June 9, 2001 show at Hairy Mary's in Des Moines with Undone & Heroic Dose was followed by a serious trailer accident on the trip home, although the band members survived.

Absent began developing material for a planned full-length, including songs such as "Pretend," "Something Inside," "Down," & "Deadend," with Kevin Drew of Marcato scheduled to guest on "Deadend." Despite being presented in 2001 as part of the band's new recording plans, "Deadend" had already been performed by Krete in 1999, showing that material from the Krete period continued into Absent.

Absent remained very active into 2002. On March 8, they appeared at the 21+ portion of PygWalk's Sound Track to Violence CD release party at the View in Des Moines. Later that month, Absent headlined the second stage of a Jägermeister tour after-party at the Quest in Minneapolis, associated with a tour featuring Drowning Pool, Coal Chamber, Ill Niño, & 40 Below Summer.

During this period, Ryan Berrier also made guest appearances with other regional bands, including Hatred & Fear of Falling. Absent continued writing new material & preparing a three-song demo in March 2002, while plans for their proposed full-length were pushed back.

Sometime later in 2002, Krete/Absent came to an end, concluding roughly four years of continuous activity across both names. Ryan "L.B." Berrier subsequently joined Destrophy on drums, while other members moved on to different projects.