ABSU [ Black metal | USA | Interview on June 12, 2001]

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ABSU [Date of interview: June 12, 2001]
Mythological occult amberican black metal "ABSU", cult band from States, was borned in 1989. Come to touch with the Proscriptor of ABSU!

First at all , please introduce yourselves to Thailand,
Proscriptor of ABSU: Greetings to all: you are the immortal souls of the blackened earth and you are the ancient metal warriors of Thailand! Let me introduce myself - I am Proscriptor of ABSU in charge of all percussives, vocal abilities, analog synthesizers, and poetic ways. I must say that I do not get that many opportunities to reply to an interview from the Eastern lands of Thailand, so this is quite extraordinary for me. I hail you all!

Can you brief about the history of Absu? What the scene looked like when you first got together in the late'80's?
Proscriptor of ABSU: The band first originated in 1989 under the first moniker, which was called DOLMEN. This name can be defined as "an ancient, still-standing monument" and later the name was altered to AZATHOTH. After a couple of months later and for the complete adoration of The Necronomicon and Sumerian mythology/magick, we finally selected the name ABSU. The Apsu/Abzu is the "primum mobile," the netherworld ocean that lies beneath the Earth, the allied forces of Mummu Tiamatu, the blackened earth, and also the abyss. Its name has various meanings and we felt at that time it would appropriately fit the music that we were creating back then and to this very day. Well, the so-called "scene" back then was quite different to the one that stands today and actually, it was rather glorious in those days. I remember back in 1989, some of my favorite releases and inspirations were the following albums:

Incubus - "Serpent Temptation", Sepultura - "Bestial Devastation" and "Morbid Visions", Sacrifice - "Tormet In Fire", Voivod - All, English Dogs - "Where Legend Began", Kreator - ALL, Destruction - ALL, Sodom - ALL, Necronomicon - "Necronomicon", Bulldozer - "The Day of Wrath", Minotaur - "The Power of Darkness", Darkness - "Death Squad", Dark Angel - "Darkness Descends", Slayer - All up to "South of Heaven", Morbid Angel - "Abominations of Desolation", Blood Feast - "Kill for Pleasure", Razor - "Violent Restitution", Deathrow - "Satan's Gift"/"Riders of Doom" & "Raging Steel", Des Exult - All, Pentagram (Chile) - All

Plus, I must admit that there were numerous cult-bands from Texas that were also an immense persuasion upon ABSU's sound as well, such as Necrovore, Rotting Corpse, Morbid Scream, Merciless Onslaught, Havoc, Talon, Sedition, Helstar, Dead Horse, Watchtower, and Syranax.

Where does the name 'Absu' come from?
Proscriptor of ABSU: Please refer to the last question (question #2) for this particular answer. It is derived from Sumerian and Mesopotamian mythology and from the "book of dead names," which is the Necronomicon.

Please tell me about your band name...in the first originated in 1989 you used 'Dolmen'. After that, you changed to 'Necronomicon' and the last, 'Absu'. Why you often change your band name? What do you think of your band name?
Proscriptor of ABSU: No, our band name alteration runs in this sequenced order: DOLMEN, AZATHOTH, and ABSU. I think we chose the name because for our love and admiration for this style of occult tradition. We were and still are encouraged by the teachings of Crowley's magick, the "R'Lyeh Texts," and our faith in Sumer legends. We have never used the name Necronomicon.

How are you describing your music?
Proscriptor of ABSU: I can sum up ABSU's music in three words: mythological occult metal.

I ever read your interview; you always said your band play Mythological and Magickal speed rock death...why don't you define your music to Black metal style?
Proscriptor of ABSU: ABSU are not like any other band from planet Earth and our sound and essence comes from the occult and mythology. Of course, we have black metal elements in our music, but we are not worshipping wooded areas in Norway. Our interests lie inside the Earth, not on top of it.

What bands are you main influences starting out? I know one band that you like and that's your influence in 'Sodom' - Sodom played gig in Thailand. What do you think about the style of Sodom's music in new albu? Have they changed such as a line drum thrash metal's style to hardcore's style in the Code Red album? Do you think that's for commercial?
Proscriptor of ABSU: You can also refer to question #2 for this answer as well. Well, I think Sodom's "Code Red" was a very good album, but I know what you are saying in reference to the somewhat "punk" influence in their music. I find it to have more of a Motorhead inspiration in the music, but nothing can top their release of "Persecution Mania." With songs such as "Electrocution" and "Christ Passion," this album cannot be conquered. A magnum opus it is and shall always be.

You read about Sumer, Mesopotamian mythology, why do you like about this myth that's the inspiration for your band?
Proscriptor of ABSU: Not only The Necronomicon, but also Sumerian and Mesopotamian mythology gazes backwards into an abyss of time, to the remnant of a potent and perilous magical inheritance emanating from a past pre-human in its unfathomable antiquity. This is what fascinates me the most, I believe.

Can you explain about your lyrical content?
Proscriptor of ABSU: With ABSU, we have already reached all goals with this band thus far, which we like to call the three "M's:" magic(k), mythology, and mysticism. We have reached the goal of being a band like none other on planet Earth and I think it definitely shows with our music, minds, and ancestral attributions. As far as lyrical inspirations, I would have to say I am mainly influenced by motifs of the "Necronomicon," Sumerian/Mesopotamian mythology, Celtic mythology and legends, knighthood,

ceremonial magick, gnosticism, alchemical sciences, numerology, Tarot, The Golden Dawn, weaponry, Thoth, Qabbalistic magick, and especially our ancestral roots ranging anywhere between the 9th to 16th century from Scotland and Ireland. It is fundamentally what ABSU is based upon, lyrically, and mainly the occult, let alone.

O.K. about 'Tara' album. How did you introduce it to those who haven't heard it yet?
Proscriptor of ABSU: Tara, which can be defined as "the imperial hill in County Meath, Ireland where High Kings and tyrants once reigned in Celtic mythology," is the third and final development of a trilogy for ABSU. Metaphysically and conceptually continuing from The Third Storm of Cythraul and In The Eyes of Ioldanach, it was our intent to recover three "stones of destiny:" Tara (highest Primum Mobile), Cythraul (median Primum Mobile), and Vitriol (lowest/internal Primum Mobile). After psychologically visiting such realms, we have successfully completed our battle and alchemical schemes to reach three thrones on top of this hill. Tara is not only an album of "mythological occult metal," but also an exhibition of Pagan antiquity. Our determination was to balance the juxtaposition between tyranny, puissance, Gnosticism, and magic(k), as the album is presented in a chronicled assembly dividing this exhibition into these two phases:

"Ioldanach's Pedagogy" - Ioldanach, the All-craftsman of every deity in Celtic legends, was also known as the "god of wisdom." His thoughts and teachings are what made us triumphantly courageous throughout this first phase of the album, implementing weaponry skills and frenzy-like war tactics.

"The Cythraul Klan's Scrutiny" - Ioldanach's thoughts and teachings are also what made us victorious throughout this second phase as well. However, it was our responsibility to interpret our own battle and alchemical schemes in this second phase. We feel there was a constant exchange of souls taking place between three various realms: Tara, Cythraul, and Vitriol. Death in these realms conveys our inner selves and spirits to the apex of Tara, as well to the chasm of our glorious underworld: the Cythraul - the Apzu.

The 13 songs on this album are stories, tales that have metaphysically taken us to the top of the vast hill. I know this maybe a bit confusing, but what more can I possibly say?

In the most of all your album, you usually added track like a progressive, atmospheric music such as in the new album have 'Bron (of the Waves)' like a music that play near the beach. And the last track ' Tara (Recapitulation)'...that's really cool - I wanna know about your idea in that songs or how are that songs come about?
Proscriptor of ABSU: In some way or the other, I feel the concepts behind most of our albums need and deserve an instrumental track on them and this is the reason why they are included in our albums. I am a true enthusiast for atmospheric sensations when it comes to music and I include these types of arrangements because that is the way they are conceptually written.

If someone talks about 'Black metal', many metalheads always think about the bands from Norway, Sweden. I mean that's most bands from Europe. And Absu, your band comes from USA. Can you tell me the different about Black metal sound's style between your band [in USA] and European metal's style? Please show me your opinion.
Proscriptor of ABSU: Some things I can tell you about what makes the Cythraul Klan of ABSU different from other black metal bands contain the following formulas:

a) We are not a vampiric band and there's no snow/woods in our territory.
b) We each come from different musical backgrounds, so most of us study various kinds of musical styles.
c) We are part of own 'O.T.O' kult (Southern Abyssic Communion Chapter) here in Dallas: It's the magic(k) creating the energy in our minds.
d) We do not socialize with the human race that often: The less social we can be creates better songwriting amongst ourselves.
e) We make sure that each album does not sound like any of our previous releases; I think these are sufficient reasons why we are unconventional from other bands across this globe, if that makes any sense. So in other words, these are the difference between ASBU and all other bands in my eyes.

What do you think about Black metal's behaviors such as burn the Churches, Kill the Christian?
Proscriptor of ABSU: All I can say is that I wish them the best of luck and success.

First time, your band has five members. From the 2nd album 'The sun of Tiphareth', your band has 3 pieces. What do you think about this and do you think that's the problem when you play live concert of gigs or something like that?
Proscriptor of ABSU: We trimmed our line-up from a quintet down to a trio because first of all, it was too social and materialistic for our songwriting method. Ever since we have decreased our line-up, our songwriting has become better and better per album that we have released.

Do you contact with other metal bands in Texas? Like an Averse Sefira, What do you think about metal bands in your local scene?
Proscriptor of ABSU: Yes, I am in contact with Averse Sefira and they are very good comrades of mine, to say the very least. Also, other prominent bands to be on the lookout for from our Lone Star State of Texas are Infernal Oak, Thornspawn, Of The Fallen, Solitude Aeternus, Ghoultown, Roller, Heaven's Devils, and RPB.

About your artwork, I'm really like your artwork so much that's fantastic. What do you think about 'Equitant' for all the greatest artwork?
Proscriptor of ABSU: Equitant is a superb artist and when it comes to him illustrating logos, he is quite excellent at doing this. But when it comes to our album cover illustrations, our Belgian artist Mr. Kris Verwimp executes those brilliantly. He is an excellent artist and knows exactly how to read my mind when it comes to the theory I am searching for with his art.

How about your side project 'Proscriptor' such as album 'The Serpentine Has Risen', 'The Venus Bellona'? Have new album of your side project?
Proscriptor of ABSU: Here is a press release, which was recently written about my second offering, "The Serpentine Has Risen:"

Former Dark Age Productions co-owner and Cold Meat Industries/Cruel Moon International artist, Proscriptor McGovern, has signed a CD deal with Dragon Flight Recordings and a limited LP deal with The Fossil Dungeon. The album, The Serpentine Has Risen, is scheduled for release in February 2002, which will be a massively promoted project for both labels.

In early 1998, Proscriptor's second offering was originally to be released on Sweden's Cold Meat/Cruel Moon Int'l, but they refused the album due to musical differences within the label. Two years later, Greece's In Vision Musick decided that The Serpentine Has Risen deserved another chance for worldwide recognition, but it vanished instantly as the label went insolvent and failed. So, the album was finally released in minimal packaging on CD format - the last release ever on Dark Age Productions.

Proscriptor is perhaps best known for his percussive/vocal work in the extreme metal outfits, Absu and Melechesh, which both have accomplished discographies. Both Dark Age Productions and Cold Meat Industries released the debut album of Proscriptor, The Venus Bellona, in 1996. He hopes to foresee future endeavors with these two unique labels and formulate "innovation beyond the imagination of music(k)."

Proscriptor describes his sound as being "a concoction between progressive, dark wave music(k) and oscillation frequency experiments combined together." These are the musical elements that tells the story concerning his past immortality in medieval Scotland and his rising transcendence for magic(k).

And remember: "�lightlessness of sound, which is sometimes motionless, is essential in occultic and atmospheric music(k)."

What's the 'Absu''s plan to do in the future? Touring Soon? Where and wiith who?
Proscriptor of ABSU: We will be currently writing and arranging the hymns for our next, self-titled album, which will be called "Absu" and are currently negotiating some touring plans for early next year. This is all I can possibly say for the moment. Plus, I am slowly working on the next Melechesh album as well, which should start production in the early autumn months of 2002.

Well, those are all at the end of interview and wanna say something to Metal Thai readers...go ahead...
Proscriptor of ABSU: I just wanted to say thank for conducting this interview with me and I hope to meet all immortal metal warriors of Thailand very soon. Your country rules and I truly hope to see you all soon. Ave immortals!!!