This one was a very tough one
Absent's piece: I really like the majority of your effects. I do not, however, like the lens flare. I think it's very distracting and the colors don't match the rest of the piece. I love your, "RISE AGAINST" text, but the lyric text seems to just be awkwardly placed.
Fire's piece: I love the focus and the angle. The text seems spot on, but the effects seem to me all dream-like. And...it's Rise Against. Dream-like does not come to mind when thinking of Rise Against. But it's very clean, and simple.
Like i said, really tough decision. But i had to go with Fire on this one.