Absu - Absu (2009)

Back in the mix after an eight year hiatus with a self titled album long in the works, Texas based Absu returns with a revamped lineup, and eight years certainly makes a difference. During the eight years away, drummer and main force behind the band, Proscriptor, shattered his wrist, assisted on two fantastic albums with Melechesh and even had a go at playing with Slayer.

Usually with overwrought and haughty subject matter, Absu nevertheless delivers with a devastating album this time around. Taking a backseat to the riffs, the drums are less overbearing than on previous Absu albums and instead serve to accentuate the music, which is a much welcome divergence. The album opens with the energetic track "Between The Absu Of Eridu & Erech" which has some great atmospheric riffs. One of the better tracks on the album, "Amy" follows soon after and opens with a fantastic riff that will have just about anyone nodding their head. The longest track on the album, with an appropriately long title, "...Of The Dead Who Never Rest In Their Tombs Are The Attendance Of Familiar Spirits..." conjures up occult visions of ancestors long past and evokes some of the feeling of later Sigh albums with a few interesting synthesizer accompaniments.

There are some weaker tracks, such as "Girras Temple", that retread the older Absu sound and fail to impress, but overall the album is a strong whole. The production on this album is good for the Absu sound, with everything coming across clearly, but nothing to really remark upon, we are also, thankfully, spared some of the weirder Proscriptor vocals from albums past. If you were already a fan of Absu, this is certainly something you will enjoy, and even if you weren't there might be something here for you worth listening to.

Verdict: Win [7/10] (Stars fall fast and the Earth turns black)

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