Catching Up With... Aethyris McKay

WEBMASTER: Hello Aethyris – thanks for taking the time to catch up with us. What have you been up to these days?


AM: Too much! My main focus has been work(promoting) over the last 10 months. I´m still adapting/learning the Norwegian lifestyle, playing in too many projects and chilling with my wife.


WM: Did you start at an early age performing a musical instrument?

AM: Yeah. My mom was always very supportive of my involvement in music, so it was a big part of what I did growing up. I started with cello in the 4th grade and then moved over to drums in my teenage years. Always poked around on guitar and would play live here and there with bands that were coming through as my mom did some promoting and a really good friend of hers was a local DJ at a rock station(back when those existed). So it became a novelty thing that they would arrange for me to play some 3 Lock Box or Lick It Up with whoever would let me ruin their set! But never really got too serious about guitar until my mid to late 20´s.


WM: What were your major influences?

AM: Everything seems to influence me in some way. We spent a lot of time at the lake in the early 80´s near a military base in a country town in central Texas, so whatever was big on the radio in those days, blaring from the home speakers hooked up to car stereos sitting on top of Camaros and whatnot. I really dug bands like Foreigner, Fleetwood Mac, Journey, AC/DC, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, etc…. But then there was the dads side of the family that had a whole other side of influence with Hank Williams Jr., David Allen Coe, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, etc….


WM: How did you get involved with members of ABSU?

AM: We all went to school together and played in bands that all had shared members and friendships at one time or another. I moved to the Dallas area (Plano) when I was 15 and hooked up with the Cooksey’s in Roller (aptly named by Proscriptor). Then came Infernal Oak which had members from Divine Eve. We all were located in the same rehearsal complex and when we weren’t rehearsing or touring, we were spending time in each others rooms killing brain cells.


WM: Any particular favorite memory while you were with the band?

AM: Not really anything that stands out as the favorite memory. All of it was fun, but I don´t think I enjoyed it quite as much as I should have looking back. I think my favorite part was honestly when it was just Proscriptor and I sitting in the rehearsal room creating new ideas by just going off at full volume for a few hours without much talk. Just jamming like eager teenagers and letting it happen.


WM: Did you continue any musical endeavors after you parted ways with ABSU?

AM: Yeah. Pantheon I. Did some touring and released a couple of tunes. Still working on the full length and should be finished with it sometime in the next couple of months. Really love what this band creates together. The musicianship is ridiculous. No weak links, so anything is possible when we get together. Also playing in Khonsu based out of Bergen. Love this project as well and look forward to seeing what we can do with the next release. Another project is Grotesque Hysterectomy which is just absolute chaos and fun. I did some session work with Dead Trooper and did a Euro tour as a session guitarist with Melechesh. I have a few other projects developing as we speak, so yeah, I´ve been busy since parting ways with Absu.


WM: Do you continue to follow the band?

AM: I saw them here in Oslo at Inferno festival last year. That was a little odd as the band I was playing in (Khonsu) was earlier on the same bill. I listened to the new release and must say what a piece of work. Very impressed with Vis Crom's playing and approach. And how Ezezu seems to be coming into his own inside the material. But no, I don’t follow them too closely.


WM: Thank you for your time to “catch up with us” and you can end this interview as you see fit including promoting your new material.

AM: Here are some links the various bands I am working with:


Pantheon I: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJSwVCjFLSo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwDTYztgOPk

Khonsu: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSFL-pVaxds

Grotesque Hysterectomy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQiiqJCXuUI

Catching Up With... Vincent Rossi

Here is the second of my recent interviews with past members/collaborators of ABSU.  This one is with frequent ABSU (and other projects) collaborator, Vincent Rossi.

WEBMASTER: What have you been up to these days?


VINCENT ROSSI: I stay extremely busy working as a telecommunications consultant, an audio engineer, musician and song writing. I enjoy reading, building instruments and spending as much time with my family as possible.


WM:  Did you start at an early age performing a musical instrument?

VR: I started playing guitar daily at age 13.


WM: What were your major influences?

VR: I had music in my life as long as I can remember with professional musicians in my family, especially my incredibly talented uncle, Russ Bono. My parents played a broad variety of music at home daily as well as my older brother who turned me on to my biggest influences, The Beatles. My first LP album was Yesterday & Today. The first album I ever purchased was Sabbath's Paranoid, still one of my all time favorites!!!

Guitar influences are many, however, most notable would be George Harrison, Michael Schenker, Uli Jon Roth, Frank Marino, Hughie Thomasson and Charlie Daniels.


WM: How did you get involved with Proscriptor and ABSU?

VR: Shaftiel and Equitant mugged me as I was leaving the liquor store for a pint of Mad Dog 20/20 and that's a true story!!! Proscriptor came to my rescue with a 24 pack of Old Milwaukee and half a hotdog purchased from Ramone Gonzales before he went on world tour with Erykah Badu.


WM: What were your initial impressions of the music they created?

VR: Loud, fast and magikal, but with GREAT tone!!!


WM: Any particular favorite memory while you worked with ABSU and Proscriptor?

VR: Absu and I spent a lot of time together both working and socializing, I have too many favorite memories to mention just one. I cherish all of the moments we shared together, they're my younger brothers for life! One of my fondest memories with Proscriptor was videoing his audition with Slayer's Kerry King. After an all-nite session of drink induced debauchery, he still kicked Kerry's ass and that's a fact! I have it preserved eternally on video.


WM: Are you working on any musical projects right now?

VR: Aside from performing live in a couple of bands and in an acoustic duo, I continue to write music and songs for a variety of projects on a regular basis.


WM: Do you follow ABSU at all these days? What do you think of their evolution over the years?

VR: I still follow Absu, I'm fascinated by the evolution of the band and enjoy the different phases that have transpired, however, I no longer offer any creative input to the band as it's no longer convenient logistically and let's face it, Proscriptor McGovern is one of the most creative persons I know!!!


WM: Should the time be right, would you consider working with Proscriptor or ABSU again in the future?

VR: Out of respect for Absu, I would would work with all members, former and current on their solo projects.


WM: Thank you for your time to catch up with us! You can end this interview as you see fit.

VR: Thanks Pete for this honor, and thanks to my mythologikal brethren for all the great times, memories and musik!!

Short Interview with Proscriptor

From The Age of Metal.

Here.

Catching Up With... Zawicizuz

I recently conducted a few interviews with some past members and collaborators.  Here is the of those interviews with Zawicizuz, guitarist with ABSU from 2007-2009.

WEBMASTER: Hello Zawicizuz – thanks for taking the time to catch up with us. What have you been up to these days?

ZAWICIZUZ: Cheers Pete! Thanks for having me. Currently I'm busy promoting & performing with my new project The Black Moriah.  Shortly after my time in Absu I began this project and we've just self-released our debut album, "Casket Prospects"

WM: Did you start at an early age performing a musical instrument?

Z: My earliest memory of performance would be at a 2nd grade talent show. A bunch of us lip synced Mötley Crew's version of Smoking in the Boys Room. There were too many of us in the group so I had to hide side stage until the harmonica solo and I ran out onto the stage in my parachute pants and face paint to play a mean air-harmonica solo.

WM: What were your major influences?

Z:  Musically I try to keep an extremely wide view. I like to think my collection spans centuries rather than decades or from fad to fad. Classical music has played a large role in my musical life starting at a very young age. As for metal I would tend to lean on the old school; Slayer, Bathory, Motörhead, Kreator, Mayhem, Sodom, ect.

WM: How did you get involved with members of ABSU?

Z:  I grew up with in the Southern Abyssic Communion. My band at the time, Infernal Oak, had collaborated with Absu many times. I actually drove the van for Absu's '95 North American tour. When Proscriptor approached me about joining for the "Absu" album I jumped at the opportunity!

WM: Any particular favorite memory while you were with the band?

Z:  The opportunity to perform with Absu, along with so many other giants like Sodom, Aura Noir, Melechesh, Abscess, Raven Cult... the list goes on and on--was amazing in itself. One memorable show was in Philadelphia. The crowd was into the set and going wild, but in between every song the crowd went into a "Cowboys Suck!" chant! I had to bite my lip to hold back the laughter. Got to give it to those rabid fans, even if I hate all their teams!!!

WM:  Did you continue any musical endeavors after you parted ways with ABSU?

Z:  Absolutely! My aforementioned band The Black Moriah is gaining steam and we are looking to spread our plague further every day!

WM:  Do you still follow the band?

Z:  Yes, as a matter of fact we are playing with Absu May 4th, on the last day of their US tour.

WM:  Thank you for your time to “catch up with us” and you can end this interview as you see fit including promoting your new material.

Z:  Thank you for reaching out!  I invite all Absu fans to visit www.theblackmoriah.com to hear what I'm brewing up!!  Here's an empty glass and a shotgun blast to all!!! Keep it Metal!

Summer 2013 European Tour

June 21, 2013 - Clisson, France @ Hellfest

June 25, 2013 - London, UK @ Electrowerkz

June 26, 2013 - Oberhausen, Germany @ Helvete

June 29, 2013 - Dessel, Belgium @ Graspop Fest