Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Live ABSU Videos
Multiple live videos from ABSU, several of which have never been seen before by the public, are available for viewing here.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Some Additional US Tour Dates Added for 2014
Tour Dates Include:
February 28, 2014 - New Orleans, LA @ Siberia
March 1, 2014 - Houston, TX @ Fizgeralds
March 7, 2014 - Oklahoma City, OK @ The Conservatory
March 8, 2014 - San Antonio, TX @ Limelight
March 9, 2014 - Dallas, TX @ Curtain Club
Thursday, January 9, 2014
The "Thrashstorms" EP Debacle
With the release of the "Third Storm of Cythraul" 3LP Box Set, the liner notes speak of the "Thrashstorms" EP, an album that has reached legendary status in the ABSU legacy. Did they record those songs? Does it exist? Will they ever be released? Here is that story:
In 1996, ABSU began to rehearse several cover songs, intending to release an EP called the "Thrashstorms". Some of the songs were recorded and later released elsewhere but the rest of the tracks remained incomplete. Proscriptor had told Osmose Records on what they had planned to do and Osmose put it int heir newsletter. With the annoucement, Relapse Records famously put in their catalog before even knowing if the EP had been pressed.
The following bands were going to be covered on the EP:
I. ABSU - Thrashstorms +
II. NECROVORE – Divus de Mortuus (Divus de Mortuus) 1987
III. SACRIFICE – Necronomicon (Torment In Fire) 1986
IV. KREATOR – Flag Of Hate (Endless Pain/Flag Of Hate) 1985/1986
V. DESTRUCTION – Bestial Invasion (Infernal Overkill) 1985 *
VI. VOIVOD – Ravenous Medicine (Killing Technology) 1987 **
VII. POSSESSED – Swing Of The Axe – (Demo 1985/The Eyes Of Horror) 1985/1987 ***
VIII. MANOWAR – Wheels Of Fire (Kings Of Metal) 1988
IX. BULLDOZER – Insurrection Of The Living Damned (The Day Of Wrath) 1985
X. IRON MAIDEN - Transylvania (Iron Maiden) 1980 ****
XI. MAYHEM - Carnage (Deathcrush) 1987 *****
TRACK NOTES:
+ "Thrashstorms" was an original track by the band, later reworked into "Hallstatt". The band did eventually record "Thrashstorms" in 2007 for the "Speed N' Spikes Vol. II &" EP.
* "Bestial Invasion" (Destruction) in rehearsal format was featured on Mythological Occult Metal: 1991-2001 album.
** "Ravenous Medicine" (Voivod) was originally going to be featured on a Voivod Tribute album to be released by Relapse Records, but fell through. The track remains unreleased.
*** "Swing of the Axe" (Possessed) was featured on three different releases: 1. Mythological Occult Metal: 1991-2001 (Osmose Productions/The End) 2005; 2. Seven Gates Of Horror: A Tribute To Possessed (Karmageddon Media/Candlelight Records USA) 2004 and 3. V/A: Thrashing Holocaust (Necropolis Records) 1999
**** "Transylvania" (Iron Maiden) was featured on 1. A Call To Irons - A Tribute To Iron Maiden (Dwell Ministries) 1998 and 2. Mythological Occult Metal: 1991-2001 (Osmose Productions/The End) 2005
***** Originally, the band wanted to cover "Carnage" for this EP. They later were given the opportunity to cover a Mayhem song for the "Originators of Northern Darkness" tribute album but Behemoth had already selected it. The band chose "Deathcrush" instead also decided to include the infamous intro "Silvester Anfang" as well.
As noted, the rest of the songs noted above remain unreleased due to the fact that they were never completed and/or were only rehearsal tracks. There are no plans to ever release them. In its place, the band recorded the "In The Eyes of Ioldanach" EP and released that in 1998.
Here are some additional informational bits from various interviews way back in the day.
From Chronicles of Chaos in 1997:
CoC: Well, I'm bummed to hear that Thrashstorms won't be coming out, because those are cool choices for songs to cover.
Proscriptor: We've been playing them since well before Absu was formed. There were bands before Absu like Karrion and Karnage - both spelled with a 'K'... wonder why. Like Kreator. We've been playing the songs since '88; it's in our blood, which is why we planned the mini-CD. But, on the other hand, I told Herve the plan, but I never set any release date - then he puts it in a newsletter for Osmose. Then I look in a Relapse catalog, and they claim that they're carrying the Thrashstorms mini-CD. It's never even initially been pressed. So I called up Relapse and fucked with them: 'Yeah, I'll take forty copies.' These people fucking kill me.
In 1996, ABSU began to rehearse several cover songs, intending to release an EP called the "Thrashstorms". Some of the songs were recorded and later released elsewhere but the rest of the tracks remained incomplete. Proscriptor had told Osmose Records on what they had planned to do and Osmose put it int heir newsletter. With the annoucement, Relapse Records famously put in their catalog before even knowing if the EP had been pressed.
The following bands were going to be covered on the EP:
I. ABSU - Thrashstorms +
II. NECROVORE – Divus de Mortuus (Divus de Mortuus) 1987
III. SACRIFICE – Necronomicon (Torment In Fire) 1986
IV. KREATOR – Flag Of Hate (Endless Pain/Flag Of Hate) 1985/1986
V. DESTRUCTION – Bestial Invasion (Infernal Overkill) 1985 *
VI. VOIVOD – Ravenous Medicine (Killing Technology) 1987 **
VII. POSSESSED – Swing Of The Axe – (Demo 1985/The Eyes Of Horror) 1985/1987 ***
VIII. MANOWAR – Wheels Of Fire (Kings Of Metal) 1988
IX. BULLDOZER – Insurrection Of The Living Damned (The Day Of Wrath) 1985
X. IRON MAIDEN - Transylvania (Iron Maiden) 1980 ****
XI. MAYHEM - Carnage (Deathcrush) 1987 *****
TRACK NOTES:
+ "Thrashstorms" was an original track by the band, later reworked into "Hallstatt". The band did eventually record "Thrashstorms" in 2007 for the "Speed N' Spikes Vol. II &" EP.
* "Bestial Invasion" (Destruction) in rehearsal format was featured on Mythological Occult Metal: 1991-2001 album.
** "Ravenous Medicine" (Voivod) was originally going to be featured on a Voivod Tribute album to be released by Relapse Records, but fell through. The track remains unreleased.
*** "Swing of the Axe" (Possessed) was featured on three different releases: 1. Mythological Occult Metal: 1991-2001 (Osmose Productions/The End) 2005; 2. Seven Gates Of Horror: A Tribute To Possessed (Karmageddon Media/Candlelight Records USA) 2004 and 3. V/A: Thrashing Holocaust (Necropolis Records) 1999
**** "Transylvania" (Iron Maiden) was featured on 1. A Call To Irons - A Tribute To Iron Maiden (Dwell Ministries) 1998 and 2. Mythological Occult Metal: 1991-2001 (Osmose Productions/The End) 2005
***** Originally, the band wanted to cover "Carnage" for this EP. They later were given the opportunity to cover a Mayhem song for the "Originators of Northern Darkness" tribute album but Behemoth had already selected it. The band chose "Deathcrush" instead also decided to include the infamous intro "Silvester Anfang" as well.
As noted, the rest of the songs noted above remain unreleased due to the fact that they were never completed and/or were only rehearsal tracks. There are no plans to ever release them. In its place, the band recorded the "In The Eyes of Ioldanach" EP and released that in 1998.
Here are some additional informational bits from various interviews way back in the day.
From Chronicles of Chaos in 1997:
CoC: Well, I'm bummed to hear that Thrashstorms won't be coming out, because those are cool choices for songs to cover.
Proscriptor: We've been playing them since well before Absu was formed. There were bands before Absu like Karrion and Karnage - both spelled with a 'K'... wonder why. Like Kreator. We've been playing the songs since '88; it's in our blood, which is why we planned the mini-CD. But, on the other hand, I told Herve the plan, but I never set any release date - then he puts it in a newsletter for Osmose. Then I look in a Relapse catalog, and they claim that they're carrying the Thrashstorms mini-CD. It's never even initially been pressed. So I called up Relapse and fucked with them: 'Yeah, I'll take forty copies.' These people fucking kill me.
From Mourning The Ancient in 1999:
MTA: What's the deal with 'Thrashstorms?' There was some confusion about its release date between Osmose and Relapse?
Proscriptor: We never released it because too many bands are covering too much thrash material, as well as contributing to tribute albums. It's over: however, if there was ever to be an ABSU box set to be unleashed 10-15 years from now, I would highly consider putting the "Thrashstorms" mini-disque on it. Relapse made an immense mistake by printing it in their catalog when it was initially never released.
Monday, December 30, 2013
"Tara" 4 LP Box Set Available For Pre-Order Now
PRE-ORDER HERE
ABSU (US) Tara + Pre-Production Demo / Original Mix 4-LP Box Set
Via Dark Symphonies/The Crypt: Texas occult metal legends once again join forces with the Crypt to unleash their fourth masterpiece Tara. A wealth of unreleased bonus material is included for this 4-LP compendium. Expect the usual Crypt standards for this classic gem of mystical occult metal.
This ultimate edition contains well over two hours of “mythological occult metal” on 4 x 180 gram heavy vinyl LPs, strictly limited to a one time only pressing of 666 hand-numbered copies - 222 of which will be black vinyl. These killer slabs of wax come housed in 2 x 350 gram semi-gloss gatefold jackets featuring the original Osmose cover and layout, as well as the original unused Tara cover artwork, a photo montage of the step by step progression of all the artwork used for Tara, a double-sided insert and new, extensive liner notes by both Proscriptor and artist Kris Verwimp. Each gatefold will contain a huge poster of each respective original Kris Verwimp cover artwork.
LP 1 and 2 will feature the original 2001 sound recording carefully mastered for vinyl. LP 3 will feature an unreleased pre-production demo from 2000 and LP 4 will feature the original unreleased mix of the album also from 2000.
Both gatefolds come housed in an amazing, heavy gauge case wrapped, hand numbered box with the original Kris Verwimp cover illustration as well as 3 x 4" square stickers featuring the 3 phases of Tara artwork. We apologize for the steep price tag, but unfortunately due to the deluxe packaging including the box, 2 full color posters, stickers, insert and other bonus,’ we were forced to raise it slightly more than usual. Rest assured that this monster box set is well worth every penny.
Monday, December 23, 2013
Monday, November 25, 2013
Monday, November 18, 2013
ABSU to return to Australia in March 2014
ABSU will return to Australia with Portal and Denoucement Pyre in March of 2014. Dates are as follows:
3/19/2014 - Adelaide @ Enigma Bar
3/20/2014 - Perth @ Amplifier Bar
3/21/2014 - Melbourne @ Hifi Bar
3/22/2014 - Sydney @ The Factory
3/23/2014 - Brisbane @ The Crowbar
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