ABSU Parts Ways With Guitarist, Prepares To Record New Album

Texas-based, mythological occult metal band ABSU will join the mighty IMMORTAL on their return to the U.S. for six shows early next year. The dates, announced earlier this week, will mark the first live performances for ABSU since the Scion Rock Fest in March of this year; the band completing two headline tours in 2009 to support the release of their sixth studio album, titled "Absu".

Drummer/vocalist Proscriptor notes, "We feel extremely privileged to have been invited to participate on IMMORTAL's 'All Shall Fall' U.S. tour in February 2011. Even though it is only a six-date tour, it's a colossal one for ABSU to be performing with our former labelmates of many years. We had the opportunity to share the stage with Immortal over eight years ago and this will be a very good experience for us."

These upcoming performances will mark the first time that ABSU will appear live as a trio. Proscriptor comments, "I am here to announce that guitarist Aethyris McKay has decided to quit ABSU and has recently relocated to Oslo , Norway to join PANTHEON I. Working with Aethyris for the past three years has been a prosperous experience and I have the utmost respect for him as my comrade and a superlative musician. He assisted me in resurrecting the band from its hiatus stage and I truly thank him for helping me recast the spell of 'mythological occult metal.'"

IMMORTAL with ABSU U.S. tour:

Feb. 19 - Gramercy Theater – New York, NY
Feb. 20 - Sonar – Baltimore, MD
Feb. 21 - Mr. Small's Theatre – Pittsburgh, PA
Feb. 22 - Bottom Lounge – Chicago, IL
Feb. 24 - The Summit Theatre – Denver, CO
Feb. 26 - Backstage Live – San Antonio, TX

After completion of the dates with IMMORTAL, ABSU will enter the studio to begin recording its new album, titled "Abzu". The recording will be the second of a three-part series. Proscriptor reveals, "This recording will feature our signature sound in maniacal fashion. Now, we're appending dirtier elements of psychedelia and fusion characteristics. Lyrically, it will descend deeper into Enki's lower world as well the Enochian Magic(k) System. I can tell you this album will definitely not be a "natural progression" from previous releases, but a feat of metaphysical conquest and murkiness."

Projected track listing of "Abzu" (in no particular order) is:

01. Circles Of The Oath
02. A Song For Ea
03. Skrying In The Spirit Vision
04. The Waters – The Denizens
05. Warren Of Imhullu
06. Earth Ripper
07. Ontologically, It Became Time & Space
08. Vita Janua Mortis