Genre: Blackened Thrash Metal
Country: U.S.A.
Label: Agonia Records
Year: 2021
Proscriptor McGovern’s Apsû is actually the natural continuity of the legendary US Black metal outfit of Absu. Let me remind you some facts almost a dozen years ago when after a hiatus of five years, the band returned in 2007 and released a self-titled album in 2009, which was actually the first part of a new trilogy based on magic and occultism. As most of you old fans remember well Absu’s releases go by conceptual cycles: the first two albums are based on Sumerian mythology, while The Third Storm of Cythraul, In the Eyes of Ioldanach, and Tara form a trilogy about old Celtic mythology. Anyway the band was dissolved by Proscriptor on January 27th, 2020 after a series of legal disputes over the rights to the band name. He then formed Proscriptor McGovern’s Apsû. Which is not a cool moniker to be honest, but who cares about that when the music is as great as it is in “Proscriptor McGovern’s Apsû”.
Besides drummer/vocalist Proscriptor McGovern (aka Russ R. Givens) Proscriptor McGovern’s Apsû are: bassist Ezezu (Absu: 2008-2020), new guitarist Vaggreaz (Possessed, Gruesome) and keyboardist Vorskaath (Zemial, Agatus).
To make a long story short the album is a fine example of aggressive blackened thrash metal which lyrics that are based on mythological topics. The album mostly resembles the last outing of Absu from 2011 titled ‘Abzu’, fusing teutonic thrash, black, death and classic heavy metal, along with Proscriptor’s love of ‘60s psychedelic and ‘70s progressive rock and even jazz fusion along with the high-pitched screams and the fantastic breaks.
The production is almost perfect (not clean, but analog and organic; McGovern produced and co–engineered the album) managing to leave space for the eerie atmospheric layers and all the different instruments that Proscriptor uses to breathe: acoustic guitars, flutes, keyboards and mellotron along with bass, drums and electric guitars.
Highlights: ”Amenta: Accelerando: Azyn Including Hierophantasmal Expounder”, ”Caliginous Whorl” , “Every Watchtower Within Is The Axis Of A Watchtower Without Including Totemic Thresholds” and “Dedicated To Thoth, But Azathoth Wasn’t Listening A Necroloquy”. A very high recommendation.