History
While formed as a mythical death metal band by Gary and Danny, the band turned to the tutelage of Emperor (the Texas dude, not the band although who knows?) McGovern who veered the band into a mystical direction complete with his personal quest to satisfy a Highlander addiction and discover a Scottish heritage. Side project Equimanthorn's membership is restricted to magical minds with a Scottish, Irish or German background. Strange given the member's Native Indian heritage! Armed with manager Roberta Evans working the phones full time at IBM, Absu unleashes vitriol upon mankind in 1993 first through Gothic Records and subsequently by Osmose Production. The bands first official release, however; was 1991's Temple Of Offal. The band has played Europe and garnered a cult following even amidst uncertain existence and massive line up trauma. USA has been treated to one tour in 1995 alongside Incantation and Enslaved. As of late more sleek and newer bands have overshadowed the band’s fortunes. However, Tara is licensed by Olympic Records for the USA. 2002 saw McGovern unsuccessfully audition for Slayer and the departure of Equitant.
In 2005 Osmose Productions announced the release of Mythological Occult Metal: 1991-2001, a double CD and LP anthology of Absu which was due out in September. The collection of songs, compiled by Equitant and re-mastered by Proscriptor, featured rare or unreleased tracks recorded by the band. The group reappeared in 2007 with a new line-up. The band was comprised of Proscriptor McGovern - percussion, mellotron, vocals, Vastator Terrarum - guitars, bass guitar, analogue synthesizers & backing voices, Aethyris MacKay - guitars, bass guitar, analogue synthesizers & backing voices. A self-titled album is expected through Osmose Productions in June of 2008. Candlelight however signed Absu in late 2007. The band was expected to enter the studio in February to begin recording of a new album. Guitarist Vastator ended up leaving Absu in March of 2008 and was swiftly replaced by a Zawicizuz. The band would record its Candlelight Records debut which was now expected in October.
Reviews
ABSU - TARA - OSMOSE/OLYMPIC
It is no secret to my readers that Absu and the Metallian Towers have had a rocky relationship. The band's genealogically-inclined metal shenanigans and mythologically-pretentious yapping has always been deemed strictly for Jester Fridays. Interviews invoking this Scottish bloodline and that Necronomicon sex goddess are ridiculous when the act is on a Dwell Records tribute CD or when the drummer is auditioning for Slayer. There is more, but in the interest of focusing on the current album we will move on. Tara is actually the best album the band has ever released. It probably is not something that will make an appearance again in the main halls of the towers, yet sound and presentation-wise Absu has improved upon its past 'efforts.' The album is the continuation and conclusion of the saga presented by the band over the course of three albums and, in order to help the listener/reader, the band has provided a rich explanation and reference page within the expansive booklet of the album. Musically, the articulate sound helps bring Proscriptor's drumming to the front and it is indeed an impressive whirlwind. The bagpipes and most of the guest vocals are partly pathetic and partly pompous, but the instruments compensate by casting a good mixture of Slayer, eighties speed metal and more modern riffs. Tara is clearly Absu's best album and shows the band on the right track. Although having now lost Equitant (again) the band's future sound is clearly open to examination. Now were the band to ditch the bagpipes and, er, bag the pretensions to the throne of the Highlands, Absu may become good enough for repeat listens an album or two down the line.
ABSU - MYTHOLOGICAL OCCULT METAL 1991 - 2001 - OSMOSE/THE END
As much as one has to appreciate the presence of a "mythological occult metal" act in the sub-third world dump that is Texas, it is an unescapable fact that the band's imagery and concession to sword and sorcery is probably a cover for the severe lack of listenable songs or ability to pen a single memorable tune. Absu's later work, like the album Tara, had me slowly coming around and hoping that the band can eventually become something of a serious contender on the metal scene, but the release of what is essentially a jumble of discarded tracks and recordings previously deemed unfit for public consumption, even by the band, is at best an attempt to make some unearned money by the band, label or both off the back of a deluded public. Who wants to hear a lousy rehearsal track from 1993 with the muffled sound to go with it? And the music industry constantly cries foul and fails to hold up a mirror when the population shuns its product!
This compilation of rarities and oddities features a couple of rehearsal tracks, live songs, rare 7" items and the usual 'fill-er-up' motley crew of cover versions. Why issue rare and limited edition material when everyone knows the songs will appear sooner or later elsewhere? Why turn around and place tracks originally deemed sub-par on a CD a couple of years later? Why would anyone want to pay to listen to a band pay tribute to its influences when the originators' work is out there?
Mythological Occult Metal 1991 - 2001 is the audio world's equivalent of the straight-to-video release. The few hoodwinked fans who buy this will soon be visiting the used record store no doubt; in the meanwhile, a word to the wise: the usual array of publicist-pleasing web and magazine outlets will assign this their standard-issue eight and nine out of ten marks. Don't be fooled. They don't have to pay for their music. You do. - Ali "The Metallian"
Interviews
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