Absu was an American
extreme metal band from
Dallas, Texas
Dallas () is the third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 million people. It is the largest city in and seat of Dallas County ...
.
[Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Absu Biography" ''Allmusic''. Macrovision Corporation.] Their demos and first album leaned towards
death metal, but evolved more towards a
black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, a shrieking vocal style, heavily distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, raw (lo-fi) recording, unconventional song structures, and an emp ...
and
thrash metal
Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and often fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, 2007, . ...
style which includes elements of
Celtic and
folk music
Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has b ...
(and later, elements of
jazz fusion,
progressive rock
Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog; sometimes conflated with art rock) is a broad genre of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom and United States through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early 1970s. In ...
and
psychedelic music) which the band calls "Mythological Occult Metal". Their lyrical themes are
esoteric
Western esotericism, also known as esotericism, esoterism, and sometimes the Western mystery tradition, is a term scholars use to categorise a wide range of loosely related ideas and movements that developed within Western society. These ideas ...
, including themes of
Celtic,
Sumerian and
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia ''Mesopotamíā''; ar, بِلَاد ٱلرَّافِدَيْن or ; syc, ܐܪܡ ܢܗܪ̈ܝܢ, or , ) is a historical region of Western Asia situated within the Tigris–Euphrates river system, in the northern part of the ...
n myths and legends,
alchemy
Alchemy (from Arabic: ''al-kīmiyā''; from Ancient Greek: χυμεία, ''khumeía'') is an ancient branch of natural philosophy, a philosophical and protoscientific tradition that was historically practiced in China, India, the Muslim world, ...
,
numerology,
magick, and
sorcery.
History
The band originally formed as Dolmen in 1989, and after briefly taking the name Azathoth, they became Absu in 1991.
[Ganderson, Adam (2009). "The Secret History of Absu: From East to Wild West"]
''Terrorizer's Secret History of Black Metal''
pp. 76–77. Dark Arts Ltd. . The original members were Equitant Ifernain (guitars, bass, lyrics) and Shaftiel (guitars, vocals).[ After recording two demos and releasing an EP, they were joined by Proscriptor McGovern (Russ R. Givens – drums, vocals, lyrics), David Athron Mystica (guitars), and Black Massith (keyboards, synth, sequencing). After releasing their first album, '' Barathrum: V.I.T.R.I.O.L.'', in 1993, Absu narrowed their line-up to a three piece when David Athron Mystica and Black Massith left. For live performances, they recruited the help of Mezzadurus (from the Philadelphia black/thrash band Bloodstorm) and recorded as a three piece with Shaftiel and Proscriptor sharing vocal duties and Proscriptor taking over keyboard and synth duties as well. The band stayed with this line-up for some time. With their second album, '' The Sun of Tiphareth'' (1995), the band explored Sumerian, Mesopotamian, and Celtic mythology.][ The band's third album, '' The Third Storm of Cythraul'' (1997), drew inspiration mainly from Celtic mythology, and continued their intellectual approach.][Huey, Steve. "Absu - ''The Third Storm of Cythraul''"(review). ''Allmusic''. Macrovision Corporation.] Over the next four years, Equitant and Proscriptor worked with the ambient group Equimanthorn and Absu's sole release was the EP '' In the Eyes of Ioldánach'' (1998).[
In 2001, Absu recruited a new second guitarist, Kashshapxu. The band released their fifth album that year, '' Tara'', which continued the Celtic theme of ''Cythraul'' and ''Ioldánach'', and featured bagpipes on the title track. The album is considered the band's masterpiece,][ and is described by McGovern as a concept album:
]"The album is presented in a chronicled assembly dividing it into two phases: 'Ioldánach's Pedagogy' and 'The Cythrául Klan's Scrutiny'. Certain goals and objectives were finally accomplished with 'Tara', through exploration of our ancestral attributes and channeling divisions of pure magic within our minds and souls".
This line-up was short-lived as soon after recording ''Tara'', Equitant left due to musical differences (however, he and Proscriptor still collaborate on other projects to this day). Shortly after that, Proscriptor severely injured his hand in an accident, which required surgery to repair his hand. After almost a year of healing and therapy, he was ready to play again, but Shaftiel no longer had any interest in Absu and Kashshapxu had also left the band due to musical differences. Proscriptor then put Absu on hold and decided to work on other projects. During this period he auditioned for Slayer, but Slayer eventually went with their original drummer, Dave Lombardo
David Lombardo (born February 16, 1965) is a Cuban-American drummer, best known as a co-founding member of American thrash metal band Slayer. He is currently playing drums with Testament, Fantômas, Suicidal Tendencies, Dead Cross, Mr. Bungl ...
. In 2005, Proscriptor and Equitant put together a collection of rare, live and unreleased Absu recordings and released it under the title '' Mythological Occult Metal: 1991–2001'' based on the suggestion of a fan.
With Absu still on hold, Proscriptor continued to work on other projects including Equimanthorn (with Equitant and members of The Soil Bleeds Black
''The'' () is a grammatical Article (grammar), article in English language, English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite ...
; dark ambient music), Proscriptor (his own project of neo-folk
Neofolk, also known as apocalyptic folk, is a form of experimental music blending elements of folk and industrial music, which emerged in punk rock circles in the 1980s. Neofolk may either be solely acoustic or combine acoustic folk instrument ...
/classic rock
Classic rock is a US radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock (AOR) format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format comprises rock music ranging generally from the mid-1960s through the mid 1990s, prima ...
fused music), and Starchaser Network (with Equitant and Victorious; electronic
Electronic may refer to:
*Electronics, the science of how to control electric energy in semiconductor
* ''Electronics'' (magazine), a defunct American trade journal
*Electronic storage, the storage of data using an electronic device
*Electronic co ...
art/rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
band). Additionally, he was the drummer/vocalist for Melechesh for six years (1999–2005, although he still contributes lyrics and vocals) and has done session work with Judas Iscariot
Judas Iscariot (; grc-x-biblical, Ἰούδας Ἰσκαριώτης; syc, ܝܗܘܕܐ ܣܟܪܝܘܛܐ; died AD) was a disciple and one of the original Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. According to all four canonical gospels, Judas betraye ...
, Thornspawn, and Magnus Thorsen. Proscriptor also has his own record label, Tarot Productions.
In May 2007, Prosciptor finally announced the addition of Vastator Terrarum and Aethyris MacKay to the band. In early 2008, Absu announced they had signed with Candlelight Records for future recordings, but that they would release a 7-inch EP through Relapse Records. That EP was ''Speed N' Spikes'', a limited series featuring their first new material in seven years. In March 2008, Vastator Terrarum left and was replaced by Zawicizuz (formerly of the bands Infernal Oak, Rape Pillage Burn, and Bleed the Son). In October 2008, the band added ex- Panzram member Ezezu on bass and vocals, after completing the recording of their self-titled album, released on February 16 (Europe) and February 24 (USA), 2009, on Candlelight Records.
In September 2009, Zawicizuz left Absu and was replaced by Melissa Moore and immediately embarked on a European tour with Pantheon I, Razor of Occam and Zoroaster
Zoroaster,; fa, زرتشت, Zartosht, label= Modern Persian; ku, زەردەشت, Zerdeşt also known as Zarathustra,, . Also known as Zarathushtra Spitama, or Ashu Zarathushtra is regarded as the spiritual founder of Zoroastrianism. He is ...
.
In November 2010, Absu announced that they would be doing a six-date U.S. tour with Immortal
Immortality is the ability to live forever, or eternal life.
Immortal or Immortality may also refer to:
Film
* ''The Immortals'' (1995 film), an American crime film
* ''Immortality'', an alternate title for the 1998 British film ''The Wisdom of ...
in February 2011 as a three piece as Aethyris MacKay has left to join Pantheon I. After this tour, Absu entered the studio to record their next album, titled ''Abzu
The Abzu or Apsu ( Sumerian: ; Akkadian: ), also called (Cuneiform:, ; Sumerian: ; Akkadian: — ='water' ='deep', recorded in Greek as ), is the name for fresh water from underground aquifers which was given a religious fertilising qual ...
'' (released in October 2011), followed up with a tour.
In 2012, they released a single through Adult Swim
Adult Swim (AS; stylized as dult swim'' and often abbreviated as s'') is an American adult-oriented night-time cable television channel that shares channel space with the basic cable network Cartoon Network and is programmed by its in-house ...
(Williams Street Records
Williams Street Records LLC is an American independent record company founded by Jason DeMarco, based in Atlanta, Georgia. It is a joint venture of Cartoon Network's Williams Street Productions and Warner Music Group ( Warner Bros. Discovery's ...
) titled "Hall of the Masters" and later a video was produced for the song, their first official promotional video
In video production, a promotional video is marketing or advertising:
Arts, media and entertainment
* Promotional recording, an audio or video recording distributed to publicize a recording
* Trailer (promotion), a commercial advertisement for a ...
in 14 years (the previous being "Mannannan" in 1998). This song was later released on a 7-inch EP, titled ''Telepaths Within Nin-Edin''. The band was working on the recording/post production for their next album, titled "Apsu" and it is unclear if the album will ever be released.
In 2017, Melissa Moore was fired from the band after coming out as transgender.
On January 27, 2020, Absu announced on their Facebook page that they will dissolve Absu after three decades of existence. The decision is, as mentioned in the farewell message.
"After meager deliberation and zero remorse, I have decided to dissolve Absu after three decades of existence. Collectively and universally speaking, this decision is finite due to insoluble circumstances, which has led to this ultimate result. No amount of time, exertion, formula or fashion can alter my verdict."
In July 2020, it was announced Proscriptor McGovern had disbanded Absu to form a new version of the band called Proscriptor McGovern's Apsû.
Discography
Albums
*'' Barathrum: V.I.T.R.I.O.L.'' (1993)
*'' The Sun of Tiphareth'' (1995)
*'' The Third Storm of Cythraul'' (1997)
*'' Tara'' (2001)
*'' Absu'' (2009)
*''Abzu
The Abzu or Apsu ( Sumerian: ; Akkadian: ), also called (Cuneiform:, ; Sumerian: ; Akkadian: — ='water' ='deep', recorded in Greek as ), is the name for fresh water from underground aquifers which was given a religious fertilising qual ...
'' (2011)
EPs
*''The Temples of Offal'' (7-inch EP, 1992)
*''...And Shineth Unto the Cold Cometh...'' (7-inch EP, 1995)
*''In the Eyes of Ioldánach'' (EP, 1998)
*''L'Attaque du Tyran: Toulouse, Le 28 Avril 1997'' (7-inch EP, 2007)
*''Split with Demonical'' (7-inch EP, 2007)
*''Speed n' Spikes No. 2'' (split 7-inch EP with Rumpelstiltskin Grinder, 2008)
*''Split with Infernal Stronghold'' (split 7-inch Flexi EP, 2011)
*''Telepaths Within Nin-Edin'' (7-inch EP, 2015)
Demos
*''Return of the Ancients'' (1991)
*''Immortal Sorcery'' (1991)
*''Infinite and Profane Thrones'' (1992)
*''Promo Tape 1993'' (1993)
Additional releases
*''In the Visions of Ioldánach'' (video, 2000)
*'' Mythological Occult Metal: 1991–2001'' (compilation album, 2005)
*"Hall of the Masters" (Internet single/video released through Adult Swim's 2012 Single Series)
*''Origin: War and Magick (Compilation of pre-Absu recordings, 2014)
Members
;Final lineup
*Proscriptor McGovern (Russley Randell Givens) – lead vocals, drums, percussion, mellotron, lyrics, arrangements (1992–2020)
*Ezezu (Paul Williamson) – bass, backing vocals (2008–2020)
;Former
*Shaftiel (Mike Kelly) – guitars, vocals (1990–2003)
*Equitant Ifernain (Ray Heflin) – guitars, bass (1990–2002)
*Gary Lindholm – guitars (1990–1992)
*Daniel Benbow – drums (1990–1992)
*Daviel Athron Mystica (Dave Ward) – guitars (1992–1993)
*Black Massith (Brian Artwick) – keyboards, synth, sequencing (1992–1993)
*Aethyris McKay (Shandy Mckay) – guitars, synthesizers (2007–2010)
*Zawicizuz (Geoffrey Sawicky) – guitars, keyboards and backing vocals (2007–2009)
*Vastator Terrarum – guitars, backing vocals (2007)
*Vis Crom (Melissa Moore) – guitars (2009–2018)
;Session/live
*Mezzadurus (Chris Gamble) – vocals, bass (1995–2002)
*Kashshapxu (Rad Davis) – guitars (2001–2003)
Timeline
References
External links
Official Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Absu
American black metal musical groups
American thrash metal musical groups
Heavy metal musical groups from Texas
Musical groups from Dallas
Musical groups established in 1989
1989 establishments in Texas
American musical trios