Search - Absu :: Tara

Supreme occult metal

J. Holmes | yokohama, japan | 08/12/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"this texas thrash band has already carved themselves a unique and rewarding musical past but this album is the pinnacle in their true metal assault. how great is this band? well...first of all, the drummer sings while playing these insanely fast and completely intricate drum parts. the bass and guitars are buzzsawing along with him and the band as a whole sound like a raging beast fuled by mystic fire wine and out for blood! but amidst all the chaos and noise, there is a overwhelming intelligence that seeps through every aspect. the lyrics and written essays in the booklet are amazing and go into thorough detail in celtic occult history that will leave you educated while you headbang. crazy good album."

Excellent stuff

Wheelchair Assassin | The Great Concavity | 02/16/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Tara" is, simply put, one of the finest pieces of sonic chaos these ears have had the privilege of hearing. Commonly labelled "black thrash," Absu's sound essentially combines the dark atmosphere and over-the-top image of black metal with the precision and accessibility of thrash. And on this album, the combination works extremely well. With musicianship to spare and razor-sharp songwriting skills, Absu create music that's epic, unrelenting, and at times even catchy. The whole album has a very ominous feel, and the band's thrash attack should get heads banging in no time. Proscriptor has the black-metal nails-on-a-chalkboard voice down perfectly, and his drumming adds a level of technicality that's not often seen in this style of music. Shaftiel launches one volley of fearsome riffs after another, and the subterranean bass rumbles along quite effectively in the background. Almost every song on "Tara" takes off at breakneck speed, but at the same time Absu are clearly methodical about what they do. Despite their blazing speed, these songs are loaded with intricate arrangements and interesting structures. "Pilars of Mercy," "A Shield With an Iron Face," and "Vorago," among others, are some of the fastest songs ever recorded, and the frequent tempo changes keep them from ever getting boring. The bagpipe intro and outro, the atmospheric interlude "Yrp Lluyddawe," and the acoustic guitar track "Bron (Of the Waves)" are nice touches as well, giving "Tara" some much-needed variety. 4.5 stars."

A worthy album for any metal fan

diabolicalloki | Southern Vinnland | 08/23/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Until the release of Tara, I had not had a chance to experience the music of Absu. After listening I have concluded that I was missing out on one of the most talented metal groups in the world. Tara is thirteen tracks of brilliant thrash with a decided black metal influence. The best feature of Tara is the superb musical arrangement that gives each song a sweeping epic feel. At approximately fifty minutes, this album is lengthy for a metal release, but when it finishes playing you wish it was even longer.
The guitars on the album have a great sound, incorporating some very innovative riffs. The vocalist/drummer, an eccentric figure known as Proscriptor, is truly an incredible musician and writer of lyrics. The lyrics themselves are an interesting departure from the often cliched extreme metal theme, focusing on Celtic mythology and Hermetic magick. The sleeve booklet even has a glossary of terms in the back for those not versed on this subject.
Listeners should expect a lengthy album containing great guitar riffs, hyperfast drumming, and clever arrangement."