OFFICIAL NEWSBLOG OF PROSCRIPTOR MCGOVERN’S APSÛ

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Additional Australian Date Added



Friday, January 20th, 2012 - The Bendigo Hotel, 125 Johnson St., Collingwood, AU. ABSU will be a special guest with Stargazer, Demonreich and Order of Orias.

More information here.

Australian Dates:
Thursday, January 12th, 2012 @ The Globe, Brisbane, AU
Friday, January 13th, 2012 @ The Sandringham Hotel, Sydney, AU
Saturday, January 14th, 2012 @ The East Brunswick Club, Melbourne, AU
Sunday, January 15th, 2012 @ The Brisbane Hotel, Hobart, AU
Wednesday, January 18th, 2012 @ The Kings Arms Tavern, Auckland, NZ
Friday, January 20th, 2012 @ The Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood, AU

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

'European Connexus Conjuration Tour 2012' Dates Announced


ABSU, IMPIETY and SPECIAL GUEST
presented by Rock Hard

Friday, April 6th, 2012 - Norway Oslo @ Inferno Fest (ABSU only)
Saturday, April 7th, 2012 - Switzerland @ Winterthur Salzhaus
Sunday, April 8th, 2012 - France Paris @ Glazart
Monday, April 9th, 2012 - Belgium Antwerpen @ Trix
Tuesday, April 10th, 2012 - UK Manchester @ Moho
Wednessay, April 11th, 2012 - Ireland Dublin @ The Pint
Thusday, April 12th, 2012 - UK London @ Underworld
Friday, April 13th, 2012 - Germany Oberhausen @ Helvete
Saturday, April 14th, 2012 - Germany Lichtenfels @ Ragnarök Fest (ABSU only)

Friday, December 16, 2011

New Interview and Australian Meet & Greet

Aftermath Magazine has posted a new interview with Proscriptor. You can check that out here.

Also, ABSU will participate in the Meet & Greet in Sydney before their performance that day (Friday, January 13th). Additional information regarding this event is available here.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Tour Update - Venue Change for Australian Date

The January 12th Tour Date Location has changed to The Jubilee Hotel (Downstairs Room) in Brisbane.

'The Sun Of Tiphareth' Box Set - Additional Details

Proscriptor McGovern is proud to announce the upcoming release of The Sun of Tiphareth vinyl box set via The Crypt in mid 2012.

This commemorative collector’s edition will feature the classic 1995 stereo mix, an unreleased new stereo mix by J.T. Longoria & Proscriptor, live/rehearsal tracks and the 'And Shineth Unto The Cold Cometh' EP. This will be strictly limited to 500 copies only.

The package will contain:

- Three 180g heavy weight LPs in two gatefold sleeves
- Original and alternate cover art posters
- Extensive booklet featuring unseen photos and insightful liner notes/memoirs by Proscriptor, etc.

Vinyl box sets for 'The Third Storm of Cythrául' and 'Tara' will follow.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Two Additional Tour Dates Added

Chaos NZ Promotions will host ABSU on January 18, 2012 with support from Exordium Mors, Heresiarch and Nullifier at the Kings Arms Tavern in Auckland, New Zealand on the continuing Connexus Conjouration Tour 2012. In addition, ABSU will perform at the Inferno Festival in April, although the exact date hasn't been specified yet.

Tickets available here.

Current Tour Dates (Updated):

Thursday, January 12th, 2012 @ The Globe, Brisbane, AU
Friday, January 13th, 2012 @ The Sandringham Hotel, Sydney, AU
Saturday, January 14th, 2012 @ The East Brunswick Club, Melbourne, AU
Sunday, January 15th, 2012 @ The Brisbane Hotel, Hobart, AU
Wednesday, January 18th, 2012 @ The Kings Arms Tavern, Auckland, NZ
Friday, April 6th, 2012 @ Inferno Festival @ Oslo, NO
Thursday, May 24th, 2012 @ Maryland Death Fest X, Baltimore, MD

Sunday, November 20, 2011

ABSU at Maryland Death Fest X in 2012

ABSU will be performing at Maryland Death Fest X in Baltimore, MD in May of 2012.

Tickets and additional information available here.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

ABSU/Infernal Stronghold Split 7" To Be Made Available For East Coast Mini-Tour



ABSU and Infernal Stronghold will release a split one sided 7" flexi that was pressed exclusively for their upcoming joint East Coast tour later this week. This release features one new song from each band, and is pressed on clear vinyl with four different colored silk-screened covers (red, blue, silver, gold) featuring artwork by NYC artist Dilek Baykara. This release is limited to 250 hand numbered copies and will ONLY be available at these shows - nowhere else!

Track List:
1. A Myriad of Portals (Part B of "A Song For E-A") [ABSU]
2. Flesh Totem [Infernal Stronghold]

Tour Dates:
ABSU and INFERNAL STRONGHOLD
11/10: Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter
11/11: Brooklyn, NY @ Europa
11/12: Reading, PA @ Reverb
11/13: Revere (Boston), MA @ Wonderland Ballroom
11/26: Montreal, QC @ Messe des Morts Festival

Sunday, October 9, 2011

January 2012 Tour in Australia

ABSU's first tour of Australia to commence in January - the "The Connexus Conjouration Tour 2012"

With Portal (QLD), Ruins (TAS) + Guests TBA.

Thursday, January 12th, 2012 @ The Jubilee Hotel, Brisbane (Tickets available from http://www.oztix.com.au)
Friday, January 13th, 2012 @ The Sandringham Hotel, Sydney (Tickets available from http://www.moshtix.com.au )
Saturday, January 14th, 2012 @ The East Brunswick Club, Melbourne (Tickets available from http://www.moshtix.com & East Brunswick Club )
Sunday, January 15th, 2012 @ The Brisbane Hotel, Hobart (Tickets available at the door)

Friday, October 7, 2011

"Abzu" Streaming

Decibel Magazine is streaming the entire album "Abzu". You can listen for yourself here.

Other reviews:

“…a hellaciously adventurous, unrelentingly brutal slab of fully actualized gonzo metal… It is a new extreme metal benchmark…” – Decibel

“…another strong release for one of black metal’s most underrated groups. Few albums can touch the complex drum play… a top tier album of 2011.” – Metal Underground

“Very few bands truly know how to create music that sonically obliterates the listener while maintaining a critical groove. Absu clearly is one of them and Abzu is clearly their greatest release this side of Tara.” – Blistering

“Proscriptor’s drums are of particular note as they absolutely detonate across the disc, and they’re treated in the furious mix like the lead instrument they ought to be… Without doubt, one of the best records I have heard this year.” – Hellbound

Monday, October 3, 2011

New Interview with Proscriptor

ABSU General Interview

A grim blizzard of savage old school aggression and ground-breaking extreme fusion, the new Absu album, Abzu, is the second part of the Americans’ current, ongoing trilogy of mythological masterworks and arguably the most remarkable collection of music that they have produced to date. Founder, drummer and chief songwriter Proscriptor McGovern now leads us through the arcane mysteries and hidden depths of this most extraordinary of blackened tirades…

What has been happening in the world of Absu since the last album?

“We embarked on extensive touring in 2009 in support of the self-titled album Absu. Later that year, guitarist Zawicizuz was replaced by Vis Crom and in May of 2010, Aethyris relocated to Oslo and joined former label mates Pantheon I. It was a mutual decision between both parties, as he departed ABSU on an extremely optimistic note. We then decided it would be best if ABSU were to be reduced down to trio, as it has tightened our live performances tremendously. Anyway, we began composing and arranging the songs for Abzu last year, toured with Immortal in the States in February this year and immediately recorded the new album a week later.”

Are you constantly creating or is there a specific state of mind that you have to achieve before you begin work on a new album?

“It usually fluctuates between both intellectual sensations. If I randomly have a thought or idea, I will cease that particular activity to document my idea(s): both musically and lyrically. For example, when I was composing the lyrics for our newest album, my ideas kept multiplying, which then created new themes for the next album and I find this as a routine formula.”

You all live in different parts of the US…does that make writing and rehearsing a logistical nightmare?

“I will admit this particular album was the fastest paced, for ABSU, in all areas of creating an album: composition, arrangement, recording and mixing. Ezezu began the writing process with the second and fourth tracks on the album: Circles of the Oath and Skrying in the Spirit Vision, which started in early June of 2010. On June 23, I underwent a back surgery procedure called spinal decompression, which did not allow me to play drums for one month. Between July and December, both Ezezu and Vis Crom composed the remaining tracks, as I arranged the longest piece on the album: A Song for Ea. This album has also been the most challenging as well. The current line-up is scattered all across the United States, so the album was physically written utilizing internet file sharing. We even rehearsed, at times, while communicating via cell phones, so there was limited face-to-face rehearsal time. We rehearsed one week prior to a small American tour supporting Immortal and exactly one week after in preparation for the studio experience. With that being declared, we entered in March, tracked the entire rhythm section, composed the Mellotron/lyrical arrangements and had it mixed by the mid portion of June this year. As usual, we tracked and mixed it at Nomad Recording Studios outside of Dallas and engineering/mixing was handled by J.T. Longoria.”

What are the ingredients which makes this such a great line-up of musicians for Absu?

“First of all, thank you for such complimentary words! I would say there are numerous ingredients, such as knowledge, courage, will, ambition, a Thelemic and maniacal sense of mind.”

Please explain the conceptual elements behind the new album and how they tie in with its artwork…

“The trilogy, which consists of the last album (Absu), the new album (Abzu) and the next album (Apsu) is a mere perception, but Abzu is not a concept album – it is a collection of theorems, which ties into both pieces of artwork which represents the album. The CD cover is basically a continuation from the last, self-titled album. The Abzu is Enki's shrine and the temple in Eridu; a mythical place where life influencing powers reside and the results are incomprehensible, unfathomable and secretive; a place producing raw materials. The Elder Sigil produces such ambiguities placed in the center of the main pillar. The vinyl cover contains an interpretation of the Emerald Tablet of Hermes because it stimulates right brain responses and arouses intuition, imagination and insight. At this point, my verbal explanation is inadequate, but it gives me a starting point to somewhat explain the Enochian cuneiform implication of ‘V.I.T.R.I.O.L.’ sealed within the rim. There are seven Latin words in the statement. In alchemy, the Below, there are seven metals. In astrology, the Above, there are seven planets. In each of us, there are seven chakras. Taken together, they point to seven levels of action internalized by a concocted philosophy classified as the 'Anzu Ceremony'. In Sumerian mythology, the Anzu Bird is a divine storm-bird and the personification of the southern wind/thunder clouds. This demon, thirty-three percent man/thirty-three percent eagle/thirty-three percent lion, stole the ‘Tablets of Destiny’ from Enlil and hid them on an apex. In conclusion, this is why the tornado appears to lift the seal of vitriolistic nous.”

This album seems more bleak and raw in musical terms, and yet more psychedelic and disorientating at the same time…would you agree? And if so, were those evolutionary steps deliberate or achieved organically?

“The new album is an amalgamation of previous styles, yet a new one for ABSU’s music. This recording appends dirtier elements of psychedelia and fusion. Lyrically, it descends deeper into Enki's lower world as well Thelemic and Enochian Magic(k) Systems. I can tell you this album is not a natural progression from previous releases, but a feat of metaphysical conquest and murkiness. Ever since the genesis of the band, the main objective has always been to not stimulate the same album on a musical basis. With Abzu, I can honestly say it musically does not compare to prior releases within our discography, including Tara. However, the new album has lyrical intricacy comparable to Tara, but the themes are completely different. I will say out of all ABSU albums, this one has the ‘blackest’ methodology.”

In terms of the metal scene, where do you think Absu belongs? You seem to incorporate so many elements, while still keeping a very strong core identity…do you even recognise black metal (the tag you are most frequently given) as a legitimate genre definition anymore?

“I lyrically concoct mythology and paranormal/metaphysical related topics inside of the music. The cadences and accentuations when writing ABSU’s music express my esoteric lyrical content and ideologies. This is the way I perceive it: ABSU’s music a formation of chaos magic(k) because I believe it can change both subjective experiences and objective realities, though some forms of chaos magic(k) disputes that magic(k) occurs through clairvoyant means. Subconsciously speaking, I am not one with today’s world when writing the lyrics for ABSU. In conclusion, and when I initially joined ABSU, I made a stalwart declaration the band was going to be classified as ‘mythological occult metal’ for several reasons. I predicted the hastily growing trend in black metal in 1992, so I did not want to be known as strictly a black metal band. Lyrically, I was creating advanced lyrical themes other bands were not touching. Plus, we were (and still are presently) a mixture of black, death, thrash, speed and progressive music, so I labeled ABSU a style of its own.”

Your interest in the occult, mythology and ancient magick has been a fundamental inspiration over the years…how has your interest developed over time and how integral to your art have those things become?

“Beginning at the age of twelve, I started delving into hallucinogenic/mind-altering substances, which lead myself into Ordo Templi Orientis, (O.T.O.) Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Thelemic Magic(k), Enochian Magic(k), Tasseomancy and Necromancy. After discovering the Cthulhu Mythos and the Book of Eibon, this too led to my fascination with Sumerian and Mesopotamian mythology. After the release of ABSU’s debut album, Barathrum: VITRIOL, I then became beguiled by the tracing of our ancestral attributions, (mainly Scotch/Irish) which formulated the lyrical conceptions of Celtic lore; heavily engrossed on all albums up to Tara. As far as useful texts, there are too many to mention, but all of the Typhonian Trilogies by Kenneth Grant have always been a favorite inspiration of mine.”

What can we expect from the third album in this trilogy? Will there be a traditionally resolved conclusion to this journey or will there be an open door leading you and/or Absu to the next creative milestone?

“The third and concluding installment of the trilogy will be titled Apsu, which is the Sumerian/Akkadian spelling of the abysmal benthos: the Primum Mobile. I decided, many years ago, these three albums in the trilogy would primarily be based on anything and everything that is related to what ABSU is all about. I refused to name these three with unique titles, yet I simply wanted them named ABSU (Absu/Abzu/Apsu) differentiated by their sleeve designs. Prematurely speaking, Apsu may very well be the last ABSU album.”

What are your plans for the next year or so? Will Absu be touring extensively…and if so, where?

“I am striving for sheer promotion for Abzu with an abundant amount of live performances in support. Then, we shall build anticipation of composing and arranging the next album. The release date for Abzu is October 10th for Europe and the 11th for North America. We will be performing at several festivals for the remainder of the year and will embark on touring for 2012 in Australia, North America and Europe.”

Monday, September 26, 2011

"Abzu" Pre-Order Package

Just a reminder that for just $20, you can get the new ABSU album "Abzu" and a T-Shirt. Click here for details.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

"Abzu" Digipak CD & LP Artwork Unveiled

Here. As noted, the CD and LP are available for pre-order through Candlelight and Plastichead.

Also, a location for the November 13th performance in Revere (Boston) as been acquired.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Release Date Pushed Back One Week

The release date of "Abzu" has been pushed back to October 10th (Europe)/October 11th (US).

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

New Track Streaming and Samples Available

Via Pitchfork:

Texas "mythological occult metal" stalwarts Absu's 'Abzu', the scorching second installment in a projected trilogy, is out October 4 via Candelight. Believe it or not, "Abraxas Connexus" is one of its more meditative psych-and-fusion-minded riff implosions.

Also, samples of each song are available here.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

First Review for "Abzu"

First review via No Clean Singing:

Absu’s 2011 pseudo-self-titled album, Abzu sends a message: “We are back, baby!” But wait, you may say, didn’t they already release a comeback album in 2009? With a near-identical title? And a similar cover? And the same funky wyvern mascot? Correct on all counts. But where ­Absu was overweight and boring, Abzu is sleek and stimulating—it is the sound of a band dedicated to constant improvement 20 years after its formation. If only more veterans shared their vitriol and dedication.

While Absu may have the lyrical and vocal aesthetic of black metal, at heart they want to be Slayer. At this point, aping LA’s finest is more than cliché, it’s juvenile. Bands trying to be Slayer (or Exodus for that matter—I’m looking at you, Heavy Artillery records) ceased to be interesting or innovative years ago. Props to Absu, then for doing their heroes justice and only cherry-picking those elements that work: They embrace their little beauty marks (the Araya-worship screams that punctuate “Earth Ripper”), not their most-xeroxed techniques (no trem-bar solos here).

Love of thrash keeps Abzu from inducing black metal fatigue, unlike some of their older records. New guitarist Vis Crom has elegance in his riffs that Shaftiel and Aethyris lacked, and his aptitude for middle-eastern-style solo melodies finally feels at home in Absu, not shoehorned in. Band leader Proscriptor McGovern works his hardest to out-fill Dave Lombardo, but has a style of his own. Nobody strings together tom hits the way he does.

Concordantly, Abzu feels at once familiar and unique. The production mirrors this: The instruments are dry and crunchy, but register with modern digital clarity. And god damn do those drums pop nicely. I felt a click when I heard this record, like when I try on a jacket in a store and it instantly registers as *the* article of clothing I was seeking. For the first time since Tara, the band is painting by magic, not numbers. (more after the jump . . .)

The album’s side B, the 14 minute epic “A Song for Ea,” is sure to stir up discussion—it’s the longest piece of music Absu have ever recorded. As far as self-conscious focal points go, it’s serviceably melodramatic and atmospheric with subtle keyboard harmonies and great military-cadence snare-rolls, both courtesy of Proscriptor. The best guitar solos on the album lurk within.

That said, the song is very self-consciously divided into separate movements with audible track breaks that seriously dampen the piece’s momentum. As a result it feels more like four separate thrash songs with a synth interlude than a cohesive work. I’m willing to bet that the decision to not break the movements up into separate tracks was a combination vinyl throwback and middle finger to the iPod generation—a fine choice, but one that fails to address the advantages of true through-composition.

Word to the wise, the people who would skip between movements will just fast-forward to their favorite section or skip the track entirely rather than suffer through irritating pauses where track breaks would have been, which is a shame considering that “A Song for Ea” is some of the most creative work Absu’s ever put to tape (hard drive?). A little more tweaking could have made it the perfect capstone to what is already a fine piece of art by some of the scene’s most under-appreciated veterans.

Monday, August 29, 2011

More Tour Dates Announced and Pre-Order Packages Available

Via Brooklyn Vegan and Earsplit:

ABSU will hit the road with Infernal Stronghold (from Philadelphia, PA) and one other band that will include three shows. Tickets for the shows are on sale with the dates are listed below.

ABSU + INFERNAL STRONGHOLD - 2011 TOUR DATES:
11/10: Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter
11/11: Brooklyn, NY @ Europa
11/12: Reading, PA @ Reverb
11/13: Revere (Boston), MA @ Wonderland Ballroom
11/26: Montreal, QC @ Messe des Morts Festival

Preorder Packages from Candlelight Records available here.

Friday, August 26, 2011

More Box Sets Announced

Dark Symphonies/The Crypt have officially announced that they will release triple LP Box Sets for 'The Sun of Tiphareth', 'The Third Storm of Cythraul' and 'Tara' as they did with 'Barathrum V.I.T.R.I.O.L.'. A wealth of unreleased bonus material is planned for each set. 'The Sun...' should be released in 2012 and the other two albums will be released later. More details to come...

Dark Symphomies/The Crypt

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Abzu Vinyl LP Available for Pre-Order

The Abzu Vinyl LP is now available for Pre-Order through Plastichead/Candlelight Records. NOTE: The artwork they are showing is NOT the final artwork for the LP. That will be revealed at a later time.

Plastichead

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Announcing: The Tarot Productions Vault

Looking for some exclusive ABSU merchandise (some of which are extremely limited)?   How about exclusive releases from Tarot Productions or items direct from the vaults of Tarot Productions, many of which are super rare or limited?

You've found the right place. Click here for more information.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Absu.us launched and Lyrics for "Abzu" posted.

Ladies and Gentleman - the new website has been launched. This blog will remain as your news source and in coordination with the new site. The new site was developed for the fans by fans and (of course) with plenty of input from ABSU. Your input is always welcome and appreciated.

As a celebratory treat for the new website, the lyrics for the new album "Abzu" have been posted in the "Lyrical Magic(k)" section.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

"Abzu" Available For Pre-Order

ABSU's 6th full length album "Abzu" is available for pre-order now.

Go here to reserve your copy. For now, this is only the Digipak CD. Other formats will be made available later.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

"Abzu" Information UPDATED - Release Date Confirmed

Via Earsplit:

Candlelight Records today confirms October 4th as the North American release date (October 3rd everywhere else) for ABSU’s new album titled 'Abzu'. As previously announced, the album is part two of a planned trilogy of recordings from the Dallas-based mythological occult metal band. Mixed by J.T. Longoria (King Diamond/Solitude Aeternus), the album features the original works of Polish artist Zbigniew Bielak (Watain, Behemoth, Destroyer 666, Vader).

Recorded at Nomad Recording Studios in Carrollton, Texas, Abzu finds drummer/vocalist Proscriptor and bassist/vocalist Ezezu sharing equal vocal duties and debuts the skills of new guitarist Vis Crom. Proscriptor comments, “Abzu is the first studio release to feature a co-vocalist alongside myself since our third album, The Third Storm of Cythraul. Ezezu’s vocal presentation is beyond superlative and I am overly pleased with his execution and delivery. The songwriting undertakings were equally distributed between both Ezezu and Vis Crom and I must admit it brings an admirable multiplicity to the album as a whole. The last song on the album, “A Song For Ea,” was composed in six movements, as it brought the entire band together as an equivalent songwriting team. Vis Crom has definitely proven to be ABSU’s most proficient guitarist in the history of the band.”

Writing began on Abzu last autumn as Proscriptor notes, “This album has not only been the most challenging in ABSU’s discography, but the quickest paced – composition and arrangement wise. The current line-up is scattered all across the United States, so the album was physically written utilizing internet file sharing. We even rehearsed, at times, while communicating via cell phones. Lyrically, the album descends deeper into Enki’s lower world as well Thelemic and Enochian Magic(k) Systems. My lyrical architecture is extremely convoluted, so I decided to create a generalized synopsis explaining the themes behind each song. I feel these are my best poems since 2001’s Tara.”

'Abzu' has benefited from the unity of the band despite limited face-to-face rehearsal time. In fact only two proper rehearsals were had; one preparing for the band’s dates with Immortal earlier this year. The six-date showcase tour was the first live American dates for the band since their headline tour in June of 2009. Proscriptor confirms, “We rehearsed one week prior to the tour supporting Immortal and exactly one week after in preparation for the studio experience. I can honestly say this is the first time ABSU has rehearsed for only one week, as an entire unit, before entering the studio.”

ABSU recently returned from Finland where they performed at the Hammer Open Air Festival. “For the first time in history, we presented a complete and unabridged version of ABSU’s second album, The Sun of Tiphareth,” shares Vis Crom of the performance. “Now, we prepare with eagerness to do the same at upcoming performances in Greece and The Netherlands. The crowds at Party San and Brutal Assault can expect a different, but unique live set. After that, our sights are set on North American abyss.”

ABSU came to prominence with the release of their 1993 debut, Barathrum: V.I.T.R.I.O.L. Each album saw continual expansion of the band’s now highly regarded artistic vision and international fanbase. It was with 2001’s Tara that the band truly arrived. The album reached top lists of countless magazines worldwide. Years, however, would pass before any new material would be recorded. In late 2007, the band finally announced their re-awakening. Now teamed with London-based Candlelight Records, the band would take nearly sixteen months writing/recording their sixth album. Absu, featuring contributions from members of King Diamond, Mayhem, Melechesh, Firstborn and Enthroned, was released early 2009.

'Abzu' Track Listing:
1. Earth Ripper
2. Circles of the Oath
3. Abraxas Connexus
4. Skrying in the Spirit Vision
5. Ontologically, It Became Time & Space
6. A Song for Ea including: a. E-A; b. A Myriad of Portals; c. Third Tablet; d. Warren of Imhullu; e. The Waters – The Denizens; f. E-A (Reprise)

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Official ABSU Facebook Page

ABSU's official facebook page is online now.

You can visit it here.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Barathrum V.I.T.R.I.O.L. LP Box Set Sold Out

The "Barathrum V.I.T.R.I.O.L." LP Box Set that The Crypt put out earlier this year it is pretty much sold out. I don't see it anywhere except on ebay.

I am told that we can expect box set releases of "The Sun of Tiphareth" and "The Third Storm of Cythraul" later down the road. Possibly "Tara" and "In The Eyes of Ioldanach" EP as well. There is no set release date for these.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

"Abzu" Information

This is what we know regarding the upcoming release of "Abzu", ABSU's 6th full length album (not counting compliations, EPs or single releases):

Projected Tracklist (In This Order):
I.) Ontologically, It Became Time & Space
II.) Circles of the Oath
III.) Abraxas Connexus
IV.) Skrying in the Spirit Vision
V.) Earth Ripper
VI.) A Song for Ea including:
a. E-A
b. A Myriad of Portals
c. 3rd Tablet
d. Warren of Imhullu
e. The Waters – The Denizens
f. E-A (Reprise)

Projected Performers (In No Order)
:
Vis Crom: Electric Lead and Rhythm Guitars
Ezezu: Electric Bass Guitar & Voices
Proscriptor McGovern: Main Voices, Drums & Percussives, Other Instruments & Lyrical Magic(k)

Projected Release Date
:
September/October, 2011

Recording Location:
Nomad Recording Studios in Carrollton, Texas

Mixed by:
J.T. Longoria (King Diamond, Solitude Aeternus)

Album Art by:
Zbigniew Bielak (Previous artwork includes: Watain, Destroyer 666) and Costin Chioreanu (Previous artwork includes: Ava Inferi, Grave, and Demonical)

Drummer/vocalist/lyricist Proscriptor confirms, “The entire rhythm section has been successfully tracked and all that remains are mellotron passages and vocal lines. Before attempting the final mix, we plan to transfer the rhythm section onto two-inch tape to thaw out its digital timbre. With this record, we are appending dirtier elements of psychedelia and fusion. Lyrically, it will descend deeper into Enki’s lower world as well the Enochian Magic(k) System.” Continuing he notes, “I can tell you this album will definitely not be a ‘natural progression’ from previous releases, but a feat of metaphysical conquest and murkiness.”

This album will be part two of the "Abyssic Trinity" ("Absu" being the first). ABSU will likely record and release the final part of this trinity, tentatively titled "Apsu", by the end of 2013.

This will follow in the footsteps of ABSU's previous trinities including the "Sumerian Trinity" - The Temples of Offal, Barathrum: V.I.T.R.I.O.L., & The Sun of Tiphareth and the "Celtic Trinity" - The Third Storm of Cythraul, In the Eyes of Ioldanach & Tara.

Upcoming Live Performances:
7/15/2011 Hammer Open Air - Lieto, Finland
8/12/2011 Party San Open Air – Schlotheim, Germany
8/13/2011 Brutal Assault Open Air – Jaromer, Czech Republic
9/10/2011 *TBA – Athens, Greece

Information from Earsplit Compound.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Equimanthorn releases fifth album, "A Fifth Conjuration"

Equimanthorn, the dark ambient band which has featured current and former members of ABSU, is releasing a new album titled "A Fifth Conjuration" on Black Montanas.
Preview / Purchase

Equimanthorn

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Welcome To The All New ABSU News Blog!

Welcome to the all new ABSU news blog! We'll start with an interview with Proscriptor. Noisecreep recently conducted an interview with Proscriptor regarding the new album "Abzu" and tour with Immortal.

Check it out here.