Mythological occult metal act & Agonia Records recording act ABSU will return to the stage in 2025 for a series of concert performances to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the band’s acclaimed second album, “The Sun of Tiphareth.” Joining Proscriptor will be none other than Greek veterans ZEMIAL in completing the formidable line–up. The dates include:
February 6, 2025 – Sala Nazca – Madrid, Spain
February 7, 2025 – Sala Zulu – Valencia, Spain
February 8, 2025 – Sala Lennon's – Barcelona, Spain
February 15, 2025 – Eightball Club – Thessaloniki, Greece
February 16, 2025 – Kyttaro Club – Athens, Greece
February 22, 2025 – Rift of Hades – Quantic Club – Bucharest, Romania
March 22, 2025 – Hell’s Heroes VIII – White Oak Music Hall – Houston, TX – USA
April 10, 2025 – Traffic Live Club – Roma, Italy
April 11, 2025 – Alchemica Club – Bologna, Italy
April 12, 2025 – Hellbrigade Fest XI – Slaughter Club – Paderno Dugnano (MI), Italy
April 20 2025 – Dark Easter Metal Meeting – Munich, Germany
May 16, 2025 – Steelfest XIII – Hyvinkaa, Finland
June 4 - June 7, 2025 - Festival Mystic - Gdańsk, Poland
July 30 – August 2, 2025 – Beyond the Gates – Bergen, Norway
+ Tickets are available here.
August 7, 2025 – Brutal Assault – Jaromer, Czechia
August 8, 2025 – Alcatraz – Kortrijk, Belgium
September 7, 2025 – Candelbrum Metal Fext IV – Velaria de la Feria, Leon, Gto, Mexico
Osmose Productions is proud to announce the re–release of Absu's debut tour de force Barathrum: V.I.T.R.I.O.L. – 30th Anniversary Edition. Supplying the original DAT tape by Proscriptor himself, this ultimate edition of cult, early 90's mythological occult metal has been newly mastered for LP.
Proscriptor quotes in regards to the sound of the new master: "Now, the entire album is nothing more than pulverizing and bewitching, as our debut offering has never sounded ANY better!” The companion album features alternate instrumental mixes from the original recordings, as well as an unreleased rehearsal session from 1992.
This version will come in two formats: 1) A majestic, silver–mirrored gatefold jacket with two black LPs and 2) a Double CD version, and both will include extensive liner notes, inserts and posters.
SIDE A
1. An Involution of Thorns
2. Descent to Acheron (Evolving into the Progression of Woe)
3. An Equinox of Fathomless Disheartenment
4. The Thrice is Greatest to Ninnigal
SIDE B
1. Infinite and Profane Thrones
2. Fantasizing to the Third of the Pagan Vision (Quoth the Sky, Nevermore) Act II
3. An Evolution of Horns
LP II – COMPANION ALBUM
SIDE A – ALTERNATE 1993 INSTRUMENTAL MIXES
1. Descent to Acheron (Evolving into the Progression of Woe)
2. An Equinox of Fathomless Disheartenment
3. The Thrice is Greatest to Ninnigal
4. Infinite and Profane Thrones
5. Fantasizing to the Third of the Pagan Vision (Quoth the Sky, Nevermore) Act II
SIDE B – AUTUMN EQUINOX REHEARSAL SESSION: SEPTEMBER 21, 1992
1. Descent to Acheron (Evolving into the Progression of Woe)
2. An Equinox of Fathomless Disheartenment
3. The Thrice is Greatest to Ninnigal
4. Infinite and Profane Thrones
5. Fantasizing to the Third of the Pagan Vision (Quoth the Sky, Nevermore) Act II
01. An Involution of Thorns
02. Descent to Acheron (Evolving into the Progression of Woe)
03. An Equinox of Fathomless Disheartenment
04. The Thrice is Greatest to Ninnigal
05. Infinite and Profane Thrones
06. Fantasizing to the Third of the Pagan Vision (Quoth the Sky, Nevermore) Act II
07. An Evolution of Horns
CD II – COMPANION ALBUM
ALTERNATE 1993 INSTRUMENTAL MIXES
01. Descent to Acheron (Evolving into the Progression of Woe)
02. An Equinox of Fathomless Disheartenment
03. The Thrice is Greatest to Ninnigal
04. Infinite and Profane Thrones
05. Fantasizing to the Third of the Pagan Vision (Quoth the Sky, Nevermore) Act II
AUTUMN EQUINOX REHEARSAL SESSION: SEPTEMBER 21, 1992
06. Descent to Acheron (Evolving into the Progression of Woe)
07. An Equinox of Fathomless Disheartenment
08. The Thrice is Greatest to Ninnigal
09. Infinite and Profane Thrones
10. Fantasizing to the Third of the Pagan Vision (Quoth the Sky, Nevermore) Act II
Mythological occult metal act & Agonia Records recording act ABSU will return to the stage in 2025 for a series of concert performances to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the band’s acclaimed second album, “The Sun of Tiphareth.” Joining Proscriptor will be none other than Greek veterans ZEMIAL in completing the formidable new line–up. Hell’s Heroes VII Festival in Houston, Texas (March 20–22) will host the first major festival performance followed by additional (global) dates to be announced.
Proscriptor remarks: “2025 will memorialize 30 years of ABSU’s sophomore invocation ‘The Sun of Tiphareth,’ an album that represents the metaphysical association between phenomenon and noumenon – illusory versus tangible. Within its augmented sense of arcane determination, this album furthered the mythological occult metal approach. Of chaos, the Deep will respond.”
He continues: “My alliance with Vorskaath (ex–Agatus/ex–Varathron) dates back to 1991, as we have been traversing parallel paths ever since – culminating in my joining ZEMIAL on stage in 2019 and Vorskaath joining PROSCRIPTOR MCGOVERN’S APSÛ as keyboardist for the sole album under that name. Therefore, it made utter sense to unite ZEMIAL’s power trio with this reincarnation of ABSU. Ultimately, it is a great honor to feature Vorskaath and company, in joining me, to convey these Tipharethian rites on stage.”
Vorskaath recently said about the upcoming collaboration:
“’The Sun of Tiphareth’ represents my personal favorite album by ABSU, and through my close contact with Proscriptor, Shaftiel and Equitant, I was able to witness its inceptive creation: from the rehearsal stages until the album’s official release. I look forward to present an accurately thunderous rendition of this black/thrash colossus.”
To coincide with the performances, a deluxe 30th anniversary edition release is scheduled next year via Osmose Productions.
Photo Acknowledgments:
Michał Kaczkowski
Tsvetelin Krastev
Stefan Raduta
Houston-based metal festival Hell’s Heroes flies under the radar a little bit, but they’ve got the killer lineups to compete with some of the bigger festivals. Hell’s Heroes will be back in 2025 for its seventh incarnation, and they just announced the first wave of the lineup on their Instagram on Wednesday. Amongst the big revelations is that Max and Iggor Cavalera’s band Cavalera (f.k.a. Cavalera Conspiracy) will be performing the Sepultura album Schizophrenia in its entirety. Cavalera recently released a re-recorded version of that album back in June.
Some of the other big names include Crimson Glory, S.A. Slayer, Hellripper, Absu performing their 1995 album The Sun of Tiphareth, and Onslaught performing their 1985 debut album Power from Hell. That’s one hell of a lineup, pun naturally intended.
The festival’s organizer, Christian Larson, had this to say:
“We are extremely excited with how Hell’s Heroes 2025 is already coming together! We have some outlandishly cool, special sets in the works for the fans with much more to be announced! We are unveiling the lineup for HHVII in waves this year, so stay tuned to see what other surprises next year holds in store.”
If these bands are just the first wave and there’s more big surprises in store, this has the potential to be the biggest and best year of Hell’s Heroes so far. Check out the full list of bands announced in the first wave below:
Crimson Glory
Cavalera performing Sepultura’s Schizophrenia
Coroner
S.A. Slayer
Absu (feat. Zemial) performing The Sun Of Tiphareth
Sadus
Onslaught performing Power From Hell
Hellripper
Crypt Sermon
Zemial
Sabïre
Hour Of 13
The Night Eternal
Hell’s Heroes VII will take place March 20-22 at the White Oak Music Hall in Houston, Texas. Three day passes are available here.
PROSCRIPTOR MCGOVERN’S APSÛ Premieres Lyric/Visualizer Video For “Every Watchtower Within Is The Axis Of A Watchtower Without” (Abridged Single Version)
“Mythological occult metal” act Proscriptor McGovern’s Apsû premieres a lyric/visualizer video for the third single taken from their debut/self-titled album, which is out now on Agonia Records. The song and video “symbolize a Fourth–Dimensional Universe in two dimensions as a square surrounded by 30 concentric circles,” as commented by the band's founder, Proscriptor. Watch the video and learn more about its symbolism below.
PROSCRIPTOR MCGOVERN’S APSÛ - Every Watchtower Within Is The Axis Of A Watchtower Without (Video)
“The 30 concentric circles are known as the 30 Æthyrs or Aires,” Proscriptor continues. “The Watchtower Ritual (Liber Chanokh) consists of two ‘Adeptus Minor’ parts, which features an opening within and a closing without. The opening begins with three sacramental sections:
A) Invoking The Watchtowers (four quadrangle vibrations)
B) Rending The Veils (centralized self-placement of the multiverse)
C) Forming The Vortex (Crossing The Abyss)
Rending the veils places the ceremonialist to a South altar, which becomes the traversing process. Therefore, an anti–clockwise widdershin dissipates the vortex and the ritual’s temple is finally closed – classified as a totemic threshold. This lyrical machine, of the aforementioned topic, is so subtle that the most highly sensitized mind antennae cannot pick up its grossest vibrations. The spirit of magick remains inviolate, but the act of separating the self from any past shadow (and of fusing its essence with future semblance) is the act requiring noble skill – for it must be willfully achieved.”
Touted as one of the most important bands in the history of American Black Metal, Absu was dissolved by drummer/vocalist Proscriptor McGovern (Russ R. Givens) on January 27th, 2020, after 30 years of existence. Since the band’s last, unreleased album was to be penned as “Apsû,” McGovern fused the title with his name to form this new group, Proscriptor McGovern’s Apsû. Securing the ranks, alongside McGovern, are continuing bassist Ezezu (Absu: 2008-2020), new guitar virtuoso Vaggreaz (Possessed, Gruesome) and keyboardist Vorskaath (Zemial, Agatus).
The self-titled debut album was chronicled at studios around the world with final mixing handled in Dallas, Texas by both McGovern and J.T. Longoria (Absu, King Diamond, Solitude Aeternus) and mastering by Swedish Grammy nominee Karl Daniel Lidén in Sweden. The album also features guest appearances from Ross Friedman (Ross The Boss, ex-Manowar), Rune Eriksen (Aura Noir, Vltimas, ex-Mayhem), Alex Colin-Tocquaine (Agressor) and The Dark (Agatus). In assembling the album’s packaging, the band re-commissioned the expertise of renowned Polish artist Zbigniew Bielak (Darkthrone, Portal, Watain).
Track listing for “Proscriptor McGovern’s Apsû” is:
I. Amenta: Accelerando: Azyn including Hierophantasmal Expounder
II. Esoterically Excoriating The Exoteric
III. Quasaric Pestilence
IV. Mirroracles
V. In-Betweeness Gateway Commuters
VI. Jupiter In Capricornus
VII. Dedicated To Thoth, But Azathoth Wasn’t Listening (A Necroloquy)
VIII. Caliginous Whorl
IX. The Coagulating Respite
X. Prana: Therion: Akasha
XI. Tantrums Of Azag-Kkû
XII. Every Watchtower Within Is The Axis Of A Watchtower Without including Totemic Thresholds
PROSCRIPTOR MCGOVERN’S APSÛ is:
Proscriptor McGovern – Drums/Percussion, Lyricism, Maestro Echoplex, Papago Flute, Digital Synthesizers & Voices (Protagonist/Dramatic Monologue Versus Omniscient/Interior Monologue)
Vorskaath – (Analogue & Digital) Synthesizers, Classical/Acoustic Guitar, Mellotron & Signal Generator
Vaggreaz – Electric Lead, Rhythm, Acoustic & Bass Guitar
Ezezû – Electric Bass Guitar & Implements
Photo credit: Scott Kincade & M. Zvyagina
PROSCRIPTOR MCGOVERN’S APSÛ - Proscriptor McGovern’s Apsû (Official Album Stream)
Following the recent announcement of Proscriptor McGovern’s Apsû’s self-titled debut album, which is set for release on November 26th via Agonia Records, the Texas-based “mythological occult metal” act now unveils the album’s first single, “Caliginous Whorl.”
Proscriptor McGovern’s Apsû constitutes a new incarnation and direct continuation of Absu’s legacy. Touted as one of the most important bands in the history of American Black Metal, Absu was dissolved by drummer/vocalist Proscriptor McGovern (Russ R. Givens) on January 27th, 2020, after 30 years of existence. Since the band’s last, unreleased album was to be penned as “Apsû,” McGovern fused the title with his name to form this new group, Proscriptor McGovern’s Apsû. Securing the ranks, alongside McGovern, are continuing bassist Ezezu (Absu: 2008-2020), new guitar virtuoso Vaggreaz (Possessed, Gruesome) and keyboardist Vorskaath (Zemial, Agatus). With this much anticipated, self-titled album, McGovern’s objective was to append the signature sound of “mythological occult metal,” but to convolute it with bouts of psychedelia, fusion and vintage electronics.
When asked about the album’s final outcome, McGovern stated the following: “Having the opportunity to assemble these band members, in the development of this album, was a remarkable honour and I strongly feel this album captures the band’s true, yet frenzied potential.” McGovern, who also produced and co–engineered the album, added: “I specifically appointed these three to augment and heighten the overall sound portrait of these recordings, hoping that our emphasis on ‘mythological occult metal,’ coupled with progressive and psychedelic elements, clutches the listener’s momentum. Most importantly, I highly commend Agonia Records for migrating our musical and arcane foresight onto the next level.”
The album was chronicled at studios around the world with final mixing handled in Dallas, Texas by both McGovern and J.T. Longoria (Absu, King Diamond, Solitude Aeternus) and mastering by Swedish Grammy nominee Karl Daniel Lidén in Sweden. The album also features guest appearances from Ross Friedman (Ross The Boss, ex-Manowar), Rune Eriksen (Aura Noir, Vltimas, ex-Mayhem), Alex Colin-Tocquaine (Agressor) and The Dark (Agatus).
In assembling the album’s packaging, the band re-commissioned the expertise of renowned Polish artist Zbigniew Bielak (Darkthrone, Portal, Watain). Not only did he administer the front cover, but also was assigned to create eight separate “plate illustrations” tailored around the lyrical conceptions. Regarding Bielak’s work, McGovern stated: “With incredible rapidity, he was able to resuscitate the artistic pulse after I presented the album’s subject speculations and lyrical themes. Some plate illustrations are affiliated with multiple songs; others integrated to only one song, yet Zbigniew perfectly surmounted each piece reflecting my oblique and ‘in–betweeness’ motifs.”
McGovern continues regarding the album’s lyrical approach: “This album was written for those who are curious and unwearied in their quest of arcane knowledge. I have (with vast exertion and detriment of time and space) collected knowledge deemed, in regard to my subject theories of ‘mythological occult metal:’ from Thelemic Magick and The Zos Vel Thanatos Formula to Fractal Ontology and (obviously) Near East Mythology.”
Track listing for “Proscriptor McGovern’s Apsû” is:
I. Amenta: Accelerando: Azyn including Hierophantasmal Expounder
II. Esoterically Excoriating The Exoteric
III. Quasaric Pestilence
IV. Mirroracles
V. In-Betweeness Gateway Commuters
VI. Jupiter In Capricornus
VII. Dedicated To Thoth, But Azathoth Wasn’t Listening (A Necroloquy)
VIII. Caliginous Whorl
IX. The Coagulating Respite
X. Prana: Therion: Akasha
XI. Tantrums Of Azag-Kkû
XII. Every Watchtower Within Is The Axis Of A Watchtower Without including Totemic Thresholds
Formats:
- Jewelcase CD
- Digi Slipcase CD
- Clam–Shell Box CD (Limited To 1000 Numbered Copies With Pin & Front Cover Flag)
- Black LP
- Swamp Green LP
- Gold LP
- Mercurial Silver LP
- Ultra Clear LP
- Picture LP
- Mephitic Vapour Splatter LP
- Cassette
- Digital
Clothing:
- T-shirt 1 – Quasaric Pestilence (White On Black)
- T-shirt 2 – Tantrums Of Azag-Kkû (Black On Gray)
- T-shirt 3 – Logo With Sleeve Prints (Red On Black)
- Black HSW Zipper
PROSCRIPTOR MCGOVERN’S APSÛ is:
Proscriptor McGovern – Drums/Percussion, Lyricism, Maestro Echoplex, Papago Flute, Digital Synthesizers & Voices (Protagonist/Dramatic Monologue Versus Omniscient/Interior Monologue)
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