Ticket Information for December 2016 Tour

02nd Dec - Paris – Glazart (NO ABSU)

https://www.facebook.com/events/193025327774263

03rd Dec - Brescia - Circolo Colony

https://www.facebook.com/events/1103754113022348/

04th Dec - Zurich - Dynamo

https://www.facebook.com/events/997135473726145/

06th Dec - Kosice - Collosseum

https://www.facebook.com/events/1430882250258757

07th Dec - Lubljana - Kino Siska

https://www.facebook.com/events/1583898155247015/

08th Dec - Ostrava - Barrack Club

https://www.facebook.com/events/1775480896073285/

09th Dec - Wroclaw - Alibi

https://www.facebook.com/events/1335524839795524/

10th Dec - Berlin - Nuke Club

https://www.facebook.com/events/300922436934417/

11th Dec - Tilburg - Dudok

https://www.facebook.com/events/295670160825280/

12th Dec - Glasgow - Classic Grand

https://www.facebook.com/events/512751608929993/

13th Dec - London - Islington Academy

https://www.facebook.com/events/659933337503911/

14th Dec - Oberhausen – Helvete (NO BELPHEGOR)

https://www.facebook.com/events/176513822758506/

15th Dec - Ludwigsburg - Rockfabrik

https://www.facebook.com/events/613568028817799/

16th Dec - Ingolstadt - Eventhalle Westpark

https://www.facebook.com/events/868247346638839

17th Dec - Bruges - Entrepot

https://www.facebook.com/events/1597099313923550/

18th Dec - Hamburg - Logo

https://www.facebook.com/events/1618312791799954/

19th Dec - Flensburg - Roxy

https://www.facebook.com/events/170050773425362/

20th Dec - Erfurt - From Hell

https://www.facebook.com/events/649012488608966/

"The Third Storm of Cythraul" Re-Issue LP Available For Pre-Order Now

Click here.

ABSU (US) The Third Storm of Cythrául Offical Reissue Gatefold 2LP set (CRYPT41-1) These killer slabs of wax come housed in a 350 gram gatefold jacket featuring the original The Third Storm of Cythrául cover artwork by Kris Verwimp, and the original 1997 Osmose records gatefold jacket layout. LP one will feature the original 1995 sound recording mastered from the original DAT tape, and LP 2 featurea the 2013 remix of the album sounding as the band originally intended.

Limited to 500 copies, 175 on Black Vinyl, 175 on Red Vinyl and 150 on Electric Blue Vinyl.

Hollow Myths re-releasing Limited Edition Equimanthon and Equitant material

Available here and here. All items are official, limited and exclusive.

Equimanthorn - Entrance to the Ancient Flame

A five part ceremonial ritual of spiritual invocation. Droned incantation expressing anguish and hatred. Blasphemous Black Ambient Death. Mystical, Avant-Garde, Occult, Esoteric and Mythological. Nearly 2 hours of sonic malevolence. Made from the original 1992 master tapes.

All copies include a Silver Cassette, New artwork layout by Canrith Knox, Poster with never before seen photography by Equitant of Proscriptor, and wild harvested thorns. The first 12 copies will also come with a wood musk black candle for your journey.

Equitant - The Great Lands of Minas Ithil

Recorded on the night of August 13th, 1994 at Thy Moon Eternal Studios. Produced by Equitant and Black Mass Prayer.

Equitant Ifernain (King Agurak) - Synths, Lyrics, Effects, Voice

Black Mass Prayer - Synths, Effects

Shaftiel (lord of all Shadows) - Narrator, Effects, Voice

Made from the original master tape. Includes Poster and Insert with the tale of Agurak. The first 16 copies will come with an antique opalescent teardrop stickpin. The first 9 copies will also come with a red Ulbrik Mandrak Star stone.

Equitant / Equimanthorn Shirts

Look to The Black Mountain of the North. From the shadows of our first cassette release of Equitant - The Great Lands of Minas Ithil and in the dark light of the coming Equimanthorn - Entrance to the Ancient Flame very special cassette release, we make an offering for the first time...The limited and official Equitant & Equimanthorn shirts and long sleeves exclusively from Hollow Myths! Featuring the original artwork from '94, never before seen photography from '93 and logo drawing by Equitant.

Equimanthorn's "A Fifth Conjuration" CD Re-Release Available This Halloween

Released by Zazen Sounds.

November 2016 South American Tour Dates

November 17, 2016 - Absoluto Rock - Asuncion, Paraguay

November 18, 2018 - Asbury Music Club - Buenos Aires, Argentina

November 19, 2016 - Centro de Eventos San Diego - Santiago, Chile

November 20, 2016 - Club Kamaleon Aldunate - Temuco, Chile

November 22, 2016 - Jaguar Records Bar - Bogota, Columbia

November 25, 2016 - Teatro da Boca Rica, Fortaleza, CE Brasil

November 26, 2016 - Visions of Rock, Recife, PE Brasil

November 27, 2016 - [São Paulo Em chamas Fest] - Arena Metal, Sao Paulo, SP Brasil

Gummo Soundtrack (featuring ABSU) Re-Issued on Vinyl

More information here.

Movie director Harmony Korine was highly enthralled with the music of ABSU and wanted the band to present the first piece of music for his overly disturbed tour de force, “Gummo.” The first scene in the movie contains Super 8 mm news footage of a vehement tornado destroying the town of Xenia, Ohio in 1974. The movie’s plot is simply about this town that never financially or psychologically recovered from the destructive twister. So, ABSU was approached to create a song around this tornado, which was unusual as ABSU had never lyrically written anything contemporary before. Instead, they took the simple way out and wrote the song “The Gold Torques Of Ulaid;” an Irish epic concerning the barbarian Ross The Red. The movie’s musical director, Randall Poster, enigmatically refused to feature this song in the movie and left it only for the soundtrack.

In 2002, Toyota’s advertising department was highly fascinated with “The Gold Torques Of Ulaid” and looked for it to be used in a commercial exclusively in Europe. However, due to publishing ties lasting with London Records, the song was dropped immediately.

This song later appeared on the "Mythological Occult Metal" complilation (2005) as well as a split 7" with Demonical.

December 2016 European Tour Dates

* NOTE: ABSU will play Fovea Caffe in Foggia, Italy on December 2, 2016 as part of Metal Circus IV.

Also, ABSU will play Traffic Club in Rome, Italy on December 1, 2016

Return of the Ancients and Temples of Offal Cassette Editions Available Now

From Diabolicurst Productions.

100th Post: Review of "Infinite and Profane Thrones" Official Live Bootleg from 1992

I feel quite privileged that I was given the opportunity to review this album from Equitant. He warned me over and over that this was awful sounding and nothing more than a relic from the end of the first era of Absu. Meaning that this is before Shaftiel and Equitant adopted their pseudonyms and just prior to Proscriptor McGovern, Daviel Athron Mysticia and Black Massith joining the band.

There seems to be a legendary / aura of mystery on this album since it was so limited when originally released and fans have asked for represses, especially now that "Return of the Ancients" and "Temples of Offal" have been made available again in many formats. So why not this one?

To start off, this is not a demo, but an "official" live bootleg, containing six live songs, very poorly recorded. While the drums and vocals are fairly audible, the guitars and bass are nothing more than background noise. They are slightly more audible when there are no vocals but it still sounds awful (although, I've heard worse from Immortal and Emperor bootlegs that were more readily available back in the late 90s). They perform tracks from the Temples of Offal EP and we get early versions of "Descent to Acheron" (which sounds somewhat close to the finished product on Barathrum: V.I.T.R.I.O.L. minus keyboards and female vocals) and "Infinite and Profane Thrones" (which sounds nothing like the finished product on Barathrum: V.I.T.R.I.O.L.). This might be the only interesting factor to this live bootleg as we hear two songs in their infancy before they became what they are now.

In addition to these live tracks, we also have three tacked on tracks - unmixed versions of the tracks from "The Temples of Offal" EP. In this case, they sound rougher, obviously, and missing some of their added effects but more or less the same as the EP.

Overall, there is nothing really great here - maybe the fact you hear the early versions of two songs that ended up on the first album but that's it. There is nothing here worth owning as you get much more from "Return of the Ancients" and "Temples of Offal." And, obviously, quite a bit more going forward from there. This is nothing more than a very weak finale of the very early first era of ABSU.

Written for metal-archives.com

Addendum: There will be no re-pressings or re-issues for this release.

ABSU's demos to be re-released in cassette format

Diabolicurst Productions will release "Return of the Ancients" and "The Temples of Offal" in a special double cassette edition for the asian markets in September.

The Vault is open again!

New ABSU T-Shirts available now. Click here.

Pre-Order for "The Sun of Tiphareth" DLP Available Now

Pre-Order Link (click on the color edition you wish to pre-order)

ABSU (US) The Sun of Tiphareth Official reissue 2LP (CRYPT34-1)

Texas occult metal legends once again join forces with the Crypt to unleash their sophomore masterpiece "The Sun of Tiphareth". Originally released as a 3 LP box set back in 2013 that sold out almost immediately, we are proud to offer this gem as an affordable standard alternative. Expect the usual Crypt standards for this classic gem of almost two hours of Mythological, Mystical Occult Metal.

ABSU started in 1989 in Plano, Texas. Starting as death metal, they evolved more towards a mix of black metal and thrash metal by their second album and beyond and also incorporating various elements of celtic, folk, jazz fusion, progressive rock and psychedelia into their overall sound. Lyrical themes vary from myths and legends, weaponry, sorcery, alchemy, cosmology and beyond.

These killer slabs of wax come housed in a 350 gram gatefold jacket featuring the original The sun of Tiphateth cover artwork by Kris Verwimp, and the original 1995 Osmose records gatefold jacket layout. LP one will feature the original 1995 sound recording mastered from the original DAT tape and LP 2 will feature the 2013 remix of the album sounding as the band originally intended.

Limited to 500 copies, this 2LP set will be limited to 175 on black vinyl, 175 on aqua vinyl and 150 on transparent orange vinyl.

REVIEW: ABSU's Kansas City Performance

by Pete Tucker, ABSU Webmaster.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I apologize that this blog has not been very active lately. I know we are all patiently waiting for the arrival of 'Apsu' which is due later this year. In the meantime, I hope to spice this up with some additional information, reviews and other items of note regarding ABSU. In the meantime, here is a review of the show they performed in my home town on April 16th, 2016.

In February 2016, I received an email from Proscriptor that contained tour dates. I hadn't spoken with him much in the past few months due to other issues ongoing but this was very exciting to see. I wasn't aware they were planning anything since I knew they were working on their next album but perhaps they decided they wanted to get out and the timing was right. The itinerary showed they would be playing many shows with very few days off. It seemed crazy but if anyone could pull this off, I figured they could. The day before our show, they played Denver, Colorado. I was so excited for our show, I had not been paying much attention to the weather. A fast moving low pressure system had developed and dropped south in to Arizona and moved NE quickly, developing a freak winter storm over Denver that evening. After performing the band was almost snowed in as their van skidded off the highway due to heavy snow and later found out they were on a highway that had just closed. Luckily, a tow truck was able to pull them out but not after a very long delay. This delay forced the band to take additional time getting to Kansas City and did not arrive until almost 11:15pm in Kansas City. They asked for my help to unload their equipment and with some help from my friends and family (Kelli, Matt, Mike & Chrissy), they were able to get set up fast to play. It was shortly after midnight they began their set.

I have to tell you folks, this being my third time seeing the band, they are a hyper-precision machine when they perform live. For a band that plays extreme metal, its incredibly difficult to stay on time, especially the style they do. And they missed no marks, especially after what they experienced the night before - I can only imagine they were more than tired. I don't know how Proscriptor does it, but the drumming/vocal combination is something he is so masterful at, it's a thing any one fan of this type of music (or drumming in general) must see live to experience - and he does it better than anyone I have ever seen. Ezezu is one of the fastest yet complex bassists I've ever seen live. He seemed to be playing 17 notes at once at 100 mph somehow, all while wearing gloves - and singing as well! Vis Crom has a solid handle of all the sounds this band creates and he honestly sounds like two guitar players up there. His speed and timing is top notch and I see why they decided to continue with just him as the sole guitarist after Aethyris McKay left. When it was time for Grzesiek to take the stage for the second half of the performance, I assumed that maybe he wouldn't quite catch every single beat, maybe miss a few crashes here and there. I was wrong. This guy studied every note, every bit of timing and every bit of precision with Proscriptor and he has it nailed down. This next part is going to be controversial but I honestly mean it: Proscriptor as a vocalist is unreal. The man has the charisma and stage presence that I haven't seen since Freddie Mercury. I don't say that with any shame or because I know these guys and consider them brothers. He has a gift and you have to see it to understand. I can only describe it as metaphorically and literally, he is spell-casting as he performs and he weaves an unbelievable alchemical concoction in the musical and visual sense.

This is a new era for the band and if they decide to continue as a four piece with Grzesiek on drums and Proscriptor on vocals only, I honestly would not complain at all. This is ABSU at their second peak (the first being 1998-2001 Tara era) and the band has never sounded sharper, clearer and stronger. If this is what the future holds, I can only imagine what kind of beast 'Apsu' will be when it eventually comes out.

Dark Symphonies to re-release "Barathrum: V.I.T.R.I.O.L" CD

DARK SYMPHONIES is honored to reissue ABSU's debut masterpiece Barathrum: V.I.T.R.I.O.L. This ultimate CD edition of cult, 90's Mystical occult metal has been newly mastered for CD from the original DAT Tape recently supplied by Proscriptor specifically for this release. Quotes Proscriptor in regards to the sound of the the new master: "I just scrutinized the album in its entirety and it is nothing more than pulverizing! Barathrum: V.I.T.R.I.O.L has never sounded ANY better".

Rather than cluttering this reissue with non essential bonus tracks, we decided to keep the album as a standalone as to not interrupt the flow and the power of the music.

This CD will feature a massive booklet with the original Gothic Records cover illustration by Tim Phillips, as well as the original Osmose Productions band photo cover. To retain the classic feel of the original 1993 release, the booklet is designed in the spirit of the original CD / LP layouts with attention to detail even down to the original typeface! Also, included is a CD sized version of the 16 page booklet from the original 3 LP box set, featuring many exclusive band photos and extensive liner notes by Proscriptor.

Finally, we are including a fold-out mini poster featuring both album covers.

CD limited to 1000 copies worldwide! Stay away from BOOTLEGS! Support the band and official releases!!

Venue Change for Current Tour

March 28, 2016 tour date has switched to The Hop Shop in Harlingen, TX.

ABSU Announce City/Venue Updates for Upcoming US Tour

ABSU today announce updated details on their upcoming tour, titled Merelogical Nihilism Connexus Tour: 2016. The 42-city tour will see the band perform a brand new set with music spanning their 25-year recording career. It is the first full, American tour by the Texas-based mythological occult trio since 2013 in preparation for the release of their new album, Apsu.

To review city and venue updates, please see below:

March 18, 2016: Charlotte, NC – Amos’ Southend (with Abbath & High On Fire/Exclusive Vocal-Only Performance By Proscriptor)
https://www.facebook.com/events/1651938005068863/

April 5, 2016: Santa Cruz, CA – The Blue Lagoon
https://m.facebook.com/events/1505768566396318?ref=content_filter

April 12, 2016: Missoula, MT – TBA (Venue Announced Soon)

April 25, 2016: Burlington, VT – Foundation
https://www.facebook.com/events/1518153518481303/
http://absuinvt.brownpapertickets.com/

April 30, 2016: Raleigh, NC – The Pour House Music Hall
https://www.facebook.com/events/975092992558558/

All Tour Dates:
http://absu.bandzoogle.com/live-rituals

2016 Tour Dates Announcement / Update on "Apsu"

ABSU today announce details on their upcoming tour, titled Merelogical Nihilism Connexus Tour: 2016. The 42-city tour will see the band perform a brand new set with music spanning their 25-year recording career. It is the first full, American tour by the Texas-based mythological occult trio since 2013 and will preceed the release of the band's new album, Apsu.

Vocalist/drummer Proscriptor shares, “Since the release of out latest recording, Abzu, the response was extremely vehement and now is the perfect moment to prepare the nation for our new offering, Apsu, which will be released later this year via Candlelight Records. We will be performing a few songs that have never been audibly displayed, in a live atmosphere, as well as one new song that will be featured on the impending opus.”

Proscriptor also adds, “The entire rhythm section for Apsu has been completed and upon our return, I will complete the drafting of the lyrical content, track the vocal lines and finalize the mixing/mastering process. Guest appearances for Apsu feature Rune Erikson/Blasphemer (Aura Noir) and Ross The Boss (ex-Manowar) both contributing solos.

Apsu, which is the Sumerian-Akkadian spelling of the band moniker is the third and final installment of a trilogy spawning from the last two recordings: Absu and Abzu. The band’s eighth studio album was recorded at three different facilities: GAB Recordings, (Irving, Texas) Nightsky Studios, (Waldorf, Maryland) Alchemy Music (Richardson, Texas) and will be mixed once again by J.T. Longoria at Nomad Recording Studio. (King Diamond/Solitude Aeternus)

Acclaimed Polish artist Zbigniew Bielak has not only illustrated separate covers for the CD and LP formats, but has formulated eight individual art pieces, which will aesthetically pertain to the album’s lyrical components.

Proscriptor commented, "Lyrically, this will definitely be my most scientific album to date. It not only descends deep into the hardships of spirits such as Qingu and Irra, but the Enochian Magic(k) System and the cause/effect of Hermetic Praxis.”

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 fan base. 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.

Confirmed dates for ABSU are:

March 17, 2016: Richmond, VA – Strange Matter
March 18, 2016: Charlotte, NC – Amos’ Southend (with Abbath & High On Fire)
March 19, 2016: Charleston, SC – The Tin Roof
March 20, 2016: Jacksonville, FL – Burro Bar
March 22, 2016: Tampa, FL – Brass Mug
March 23, 2016: Gainesville, FL – The Atlantic
March 24, 2016: Atlanta, GA – The Basement
March 25, 2016: New Orleans, LA – Siberia
March 26, 2016: Houston, TX – Walter’s
March 27, 2016: San Antonio, TX – The Korova
March 28, 2016: Corpus Christi, TX – Boozerz
March 29, 2016: Austin, TX – The Sidewinder
March 30, 2016: Arlington, TX – Diamond Jim’s Saloon
March31, 2016: El Paso, TX – The Sandbox
April 1, 2016: Scottsdale, AZ – The Rogue
April 2, 2016: San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick
April 3, 2016: Los Angeles, CA – Complex
April 5, 2016: Bakersfield, CA – Babylon
April 6, 2016: Oakland, CA – Metro Operahouse
April 7, 201616: Sacramento, CA – Starlite Lounge
April 8, 2016: Portland, OR – Ash Street Saloon (Northwestern Black Circle Fest)
April9, 201616: Victoria, BC – Upstairs Cabaret
April10, 2016: Vancouver, BC – Astoria Pub
April 11, 2016: Seattle, WA – The Highline
April 12, 2016: Missoula, MT – The V
April 13, 2016: Boise, ID – The Shredder
April 14, 2016: Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Bar
April 15, 2016: Denver, CO – Hi-Dive
April 16, 2016: Kansas City, MO – The Riot Room
April 17, 2016: St. Louis, MO – Fubar
April 18, 2016: Omaha, NE – Lookout Lounge
April 19, 2016: Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock
April 20, 2016: Milwaukee, WI – Frank’s Power Plant
April 21, 2016: Columbus, OH – The Summit
April 22, 2016: Pittsburgh, PA – The Smiling Moose
April 23, 2016: Rochester, NY – Bug Jar
April 25, 2016: Burlington, VT – T.B.A
April 26, 2016: Portland, ME – Space Gallery
April 27, 2016: Somerville, MA – ONCE Lounge
April 28, 2016: Brooklyn, NY – Saint Vitus
April 29, 2016: Philadelphia, PA – Kung Fu Necktie
April 30, 2016: Raleigh, NC – The Maywood

ABSU currently features guitarist Vis Crom and bassist/vocalist Ezezu with vocalist/drummer Proscriptor.