Origin: Dallas, Texas, USA  
Genres: Black Metal
DISBANDED
Official Site
Last update/review: January 27, 2020

Absu

The self-proclaimed "mystical occult metal" band Absu hailed from Texas and maintained a steady following in the extreme metal underground for a number of years. They debuted in 1993 with Barathrum, but really hit their stride with their fourth album, 2001's Tara, arguably one of the finest non-Scandinavian black metal albums ever released, led by founder Proscriptor's hyperactive drumming and inventive lyrics. But the band went dark for several years following the release, only to return in 2009 and 2011 with Absu* and *Abzu, two-thirds of a planned trilogy that never came to pass. After the usual dealings with lineup changes and the like, Proscriptor finally pulled the plug on the band in early 2020, calling it a day.

Last Lineup

Proscriptor (Russ R. Givens)

drums/vocals (ex-Judas Iscariot, ex-Melechesh)

Ezezu

bass/vocals

Former Members/Guests

Shaftiel (Mike Kelly)

guitars/vocals

Equitant (Ray Heflin)

bass

Daviel Mysticia (Dave Ward)

guitars

Zawicizuz (Geoffrey Sawicky)

guitars/keyboards

Vis Crom (Melissa Moore)

guitars (Rumpelstiltskin Grinder, Sonja)

Aethyris MacKay (Shandy MacKay)

guitars/bass/keyboards

Black Massith (Brian Artwick)

keyboards


Discography



Barathrum: V.I.T.R.I.O.L.  
1993 Osmose
  1. An Involution of Thorns
  2. Descent to Acheron (Evolving Into the Progression of Woe)
  3. An Equinox of Fathomless Disheartenment
  4. The Thrice is Greatest to Ninnigal
  5. Infinite and Profane Thrones
  6. Fantasizing to the Third of the Pagan Vision (Qouth the Sky, Nevermore Act II)
  7. An Evolution of Horns
  • Proscriptor
  • Shaftiel
  • Equitant
  • Daviel Mysticia
  • Black Massith


The Sun Of Tiphareth  
1994 Osmose
  1. Apzu
  2. Feis Mor Tir Na N'og (Across the North Sea to Visnech)
  3. Cyntefyn's Fountain
  4. A Quest Into the 77th Novel
  5. Our Lust for Lunar Plains (Nox Luna Inlustris)
  6. The Coming of War
  7. The Sun of Tiphareth
  • Proscriptor
  • Shaftiel
  • Equitant


The Third Storm Of Cythraul  
1997 Osmose
  1. Prelusion to Cythraul incl. "...And Shineth Unto the Cold Cometh..."
  2. Highland Tyrant Attack
  3. A Magician's Lapis-lazuli
  4. Swords and Leather
  5. The Winter Zephyr (...Within Kingdoms of Mist)
  6. Morbid Scream
  7. Customs of Tasseomancy (Quoth the Sky, Nevermore)
  8. Intelligence Towards the Crown
  9. ...Of Celtic Fire, We Are Born incl. "Terminus (...In the Eyes of Ioldánach)"
  10. Akhera Goiti - Akhera Beiti (One Black Opalith for Tomorrow) (digipack bonus track)
  • Proscriptor
  • Shaftiel
  • Equitant


In The Eyes Of Ioldanach  EP
1998 Osmose
  1. V.I.T.R.I.O.L
  2. Hallstatt
  3. Manannán
  4. Never Blow Out The Eastern Candle
  • Proscriptor
  • Shaftiel
  • Equitant


Tara  
2001 Osmose
  1. Tara
  2. Pillars Of Mercy
  3. A Shield With An Iron Face
  4. Mannannan
  5. The Cognate House of Courtly Witches Lies West of County Meath
  6. She Cries The Quiet Lake
  7. Yrp Lluyddawe
  8. From Ancient Times (Starless Skies Burn To Ash)
  9. Four Crossed Wands
  10. Vorago
  11. Bron (Of The Waves)
  12. Stone Of Destiny (... For Magh Slecht And Ard Righ)
  13. Tara (Recapitulation)
  • Proscriptor
  • Shaftiel
  • Equitant


Mythological Occult Metal 1991-2001  COMPILATION
2005 Osmose
  1. The Gold Torques of Uláid
  2. Never Blow Out The Eastern Candle
  3. Stone Of Destiny
  4. Immortal Sorcery
  5. Sumerian Sands (The Silence)
  6. Disembodied
  7. ... And Shineth Unto The Cold Cometh ... including Prelusion To Cythrául
  8. Akhera Goiti – Akhera Beiti (One Black Opalith For Tomorrow)
  9. Reliquiae Celticae
  10. The Great Battle Moving From Ideal To Actual
  11. Old Tombs At Hochdorf
  12. Deathcrush including Silvester Angfang
  13. Swing Of The Axe
  14. Transylvania
  15. Bestial Invasion (Live)
  16. The Winter Zephyr (…Within Kingdoms of Mist) (Live)
  17. Highland Tyrant Attack (Live)
  18. The Thrice Is Greatest To Ninnigal (Live)
  19. The Coming Of War (Live)
  20. Book Of Splendour (Live)
  21. Tasseomancy (Live)


Absu  
2009 Candlelight
  1. Between the Absu of Eridu & Erech
  2. Night Fire Canonization
  3. Amy
  4. Nunbarshegunu
  5. 13 Globes
  6. ...of the Dead Who Never Rest in Their Tombs Are the Attendance of Familiar Spirits Including: A.) Diversified Signs Inscribed/B.) Our Earth of Black/C.) Voor
  7. Magic(k) Square Cipher
  8. In the Name of Auebothiabathabaithobeuee
  9. Girra's Temple
  10. Those of the Void Will Re-Enter
  11. Sceptre Command
  12. Ye Uttuku Spells
  13. Twix Yesterday, the Day & the Morrow
  • Proscriptor
  • Zawicizuz
  • Aethyris MacKay
  • Ezezu
2009 Readers' Album #44



Abzu  
2011 Candlelight
  1. Earth Ripper
  2. Circles of the Oath
  3. Abraxas Connexus
  4. Skrying in the Spirit Vision
  5. Ontologically, It Became Time & Space
  6. A Song for Ea including:
  7. a. E-A
  8. b. A Myriad of Portals
  9. c. Third Tablet
  10. d. Warren of Imhullu
  11. e. The Waters - The Denizens
  12. f. E-A (Reprise)
  • Proscriptor
  • Vis Crom
  • Ezezu
2011 Readers' Album #85



Origin: War And Magick  COMPILATION
2014
  1. Debauchery
  2. Icons of Gods
  3. Ruminations (...of Nature)
  4. The Magus
  5. Ruminations
  6. Reflections of the Dark (Carbonized cover)
  7. The Magus
  8. Dataquest
  9. Hexacles (Outro)
  10. Conjuration (Intro)
  11. The Ritual Night
  12. Dolmen (Living in Fear)
  13. On the Eve of War
  14. The Battle
  15. Denigration
  16. Infernal Attack
  17. The Summoning (Outro)
  18. Black Magic (Slayer cover)


Return To ... Return Of The Ancients  COMPILATION
2020 Dark Symphonies
  1. Dawn of Invocation
  2. Immortal Sorcery
  3. Eternal Rest
  4. Dawn of Invocation
  5. Immortal Sorcery
  6. Eternal Rest
  7. Immortal Sorcery
  8. Eternal Rest
  9. Dawn of Invocation
  10. Immortal Sorcery
  11. Eternal Rest
  12. Dawn of Invocation
  13. Immortal Sorcery
  14. Eternal Rest
  15. Dawn of Invocation
  16. Immortal Sorcery
  17. Eternal Rest
  18. Dawn of Invocation
  19. Immortal Sorcery
  20. Sumerian Sands (The Silence)
  21. Disembodied
  22. The Old Ones
  23. Abhorred Xul
  24. Immortal Sorcery
  25. Immortal Sorcery
  26. Immortal Sorcery
  27. Immortal Sorcery
  28. Sea of Glasya



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