Interview with Absu

Interview with Proscriptor

Can you enlighten us on how you came up with the name ‘Absu’ and what it was that inspired you to begin your metal journey?

Absu is the Abyss - a limitless space / bottomless chasm, the fresh underground water of Ea and the Seven Sage’s home and a mythical place producing secrets. It is the heartbeat of Sumerian and Mesopotamian lore and the vitriolistic nous. Actually, I did not formulate the name of the band - Equitant did. I am carrying the legend forward, so there you have it.

How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard you before? And how do you think your closest relatives might describe your music?

Absu’s music is like King Crimson, Slayer, Kreator and Soft Machine meeting in a dark alley conjuring spirits for their midnight prowl. My closest relatives describe Absu’s music as “occult rock" which they are superlatively accurate in description.

What would be your most memorable gig to date and why?

I have to say Mexico City in 1997 because the majority of the audience was singing along, which was drowning out everybody’s monitor mix on stage. It was “Absu-lutely” zealous to say the very least!

Which would be your most favoured song to play and which do you think your fans prefer?

I would have to say Stone of Destiny from 2001’s Tara.

Which one of your music videos do you like the most and why?

Manannán.

Can you please detail what it is you tend to base your lyrics on? And perhaps quote your most favoured?

I lyrically concoct mythology and paranormal / metaphysical related topics inside of the music. The cadences and accentuations when writing Absu’s music express my esoteric lyrical content and ideologies. This is the way I perceive it:

Absu’s music is a formation of chaos magic(k) because I believe it can change both subjective experiences and objective realities, though some forms of chaos magic(k) disputes that magic(k) occurs through clairvoyant means. Subconsciously speaking, I am not one with today’s world when writing the lyrics for Absu.

Beginning at the age of twelve, I started delving into hallucinogenic / mind-altering substances, which lead myself into Ordo Templi Orientis, (O.T.O.) Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Thelemic Magic(k), Enochian Magic(k), Tasseomancy and Necromancy. After discovering the Cthulhu Mythos and the Book of Eibon, this too led to my fascination with Sumerian and Mesopotamian mythology. After the release of Absu’s debut album, Barathrum: V.I.T.R.I.O.L, I then became beguiled by the tracing of our ancestral attributions, (mainly Scot / Irish) which formulated the lyrical conceptions of Celtic lore; heavily engrossed on all albums up to Tara. As far as useful texts, there are too many to mention, but all of the Typhonian Trilogies by Kenneth Grant have always been a favorite inspiration of mine. I would have to say that my berst lyrical conceptions were captured on the album Tara.

RELEASES
	Return Of The Ancients - 1991 - Demo       Immortal Sorcery – 1991 - Demo
	The Temples Of Offal - 1992 - EP
	Infinite And Profane Thrones - 1992 - Demo
	Barathrum V.I.T.R.I.O.L. - 1993 - Gothic / Osmose Line-Up: Proscriptor, Shaftiel, Equitant, Athron, Black Massith Engineer: Danny Brown Cover Artist: Tim Phillips / James Bland Recording Format: 1” Analog Unrevealed Facts: - Athron was initially supposed to sing on this album, but was replaced by Proscriptor before the recording of the vocal tracks. - The drums were tracked in an actual storage shed. - When Osmose Productions licensed the album from Gothic Records, Osmose could not obtain the cover illustration (“Queen of Disques”) in time for the release date, as they were forced to use a b/w band photograph for the cover instead.
	The Sun of Tiphareth - 1995 - Osmose Line-Up: Proscriptor, Shaftiel, Equitant Engineer: Danny Brown Cover Artist: Kris Verwimp Recording Format: 2” Analog Unrevealed Facts: - The original cover was not illustrated by Kris Verwimp, but by a local artist in Dallas, Texas. The cover was drawn with solely charcoal and black ink and Osmose refused to utilize it due to its feeble b/w appearance. Kris replicated it using his own style and technique. - The album was recorded in a total of four studios. - The instrumental song on the album Our Lust For Lunar Plains (Nox Luna Inlustris) was an idea Proscriptor accidentally recorded on a synthesizer. Instantly approved by Shaftiel as a filler piece for the album, he recorded the acoustic guitar track over the melody line. The subtitle of the song would become the name of Proscriptor’s publishing company.
	... And Shineth Unto The Cold Cometh... - 1995 - 7" limited to 500 copies
	The Third Storm Of Cythraul - 1997 - Osmose Line-Up: Proscriptor, Shaftiel, Equitant Engineer: Alex Gerst Cover Artist: Kris Verwimp Recording Format: 2” Analog Unrevealed Facts: - The Absu logo was not supposed to be on the cover. (or let alone any Absu cover) - The last album to ever feature Shaftiel’s vocals. - To date, the band’s least favorite album.
	In the Eyes of Ioldanach - 1998 - Osmose - MCD Line-Up: Proscriptor, Shaftiel, Equitant Engineer: Kol Marshall Cover Artist: Kris Verwimp Recording Format: Tascam DA-88/38 Digital Recorder Unrevealed Facts: - Originally, this marks the beginning songwriting stages for Tara, but the band wanted a quick release and decided that a mini album would be the best solution; little did they know this would be the worst business decision in the band’s history. - The song Manannán would spawn the decision to shoot a video for the song. The video was well-received and aired on independent video shows worldwide. - The song Never Blow Out The Eastern Candle highlights riffs from Dolmen: a band which featured Shaftiel and Equitant in the late 80s.     In The Visions Of Ioldanach - 1999 - VHS
	Tara - 2001 - Osmose / Olympic Line-Up: Proscriptor, Shaftiel, Equitant Engineer: Kol Marshall Cover Artist: Kris Verwimp Recording Format: Tascam DA-88/38 Digital Recorder Unrevealed Facts: - Artist Kris Verwimp embarked on a special trip to Ireland to excavate soil and leaf tissue samples, which would be mixed in the actual paint for the cover. - The same exact analog synthesizers which were used on the song A Shield With An Iron Face were also used Blondie’s Parallel Lines album. (The song “Heart of Glass” in particular) - One of the guest vocalists on the album, Masthema Mazziqim, is actually King Diamond.
	Mythological Occult Metal: 1991-2001 - 2005 - Double CD
	L`Attaque Du Tyran:  Toulouse, Le 28 Avril ’97 - 2007 - Live Demo
	Split With Demonical - 2007 - 7" limited to 666 Copies
	Speed `N Spikes, Vol. II - 2008 - Part 2 of 5 of a Relapse Records series
	Absu - 2008 - Candlelight Line-Up: Proscriptor, Aethyris, Zawicizuz Engineer:  Absu / Sterling Winfield Cover Artist: Kris Verwimp / Michael Riddick Recording Format: Pro Tools HD
	Abzu - 2011 - Candlelight Line-Up: Proscriptor, Vis Crom, Ezezu, Rune Eriksen (All Guitar Solos) Engineer: Absu / J.T. Longoria Cover Artist: Zbigniew Bielak Recording Format: Pro Tools HD, LE and 2” Analog Unrevealed Facts: - The entire album was written with internet file sharing and cellular telephone systems.

Every band tells me metal has no money in it, so what do you all do besides playing in the band in order to earn your living?

Every band tells you “metal has no money in it” because they develop it in that fashion. Absu is my full-time career, as well as my label and post-production mastering suite at Tarot Productions.

What kind of instruments are you using? And how did any endorsements come about?

I am currently utilizing a Tama Artstar kit with Pearl Demon pedals, Evans heads, Sabian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks and Sennheiser wireless microphone units. I have a few endorsements, such as Soultone, Silver Fox and Ahead, but prefer the bigger brands due to better quality and durability.

Let’s pretend you were creating a tour survival guide. What would be your top three tips for surviving a long tour with the band?

I would have to say drugs, Qabbalah and a hefty heaping of 70s progressive rock.

What have been some of your more interesting mystical experiences?

Auditioning for Slayer maybe? There have been numerous ones, but that’s the first one that comes to mind. I have had many out-of-the-body experiences, so that would count as well.

LINKS:

Absu Facebook

Absu Reverbnation

Absu Sound Cloud

Absu Band Camp

Absu Website

Proscriptor Website

Heavens Devils

Equimanthorn Website

Star Chaser Network

Tarot Productions

Buy Absu at Candlelight Records

‘Interview with Absu' by Déa di Morté © 24 November 2011
Hails! to Proscriptor for agreeing to participate and taking the time to complete this interview
All pictures courtesy of Absu