Proscriptor McGovern's Apsu - Proscriptor McGovern's Apsu (Silver Edition) (LP)

When drummer / vocalist Proscriptor McGovern (Russ R. Givens) dissolved ABSU on January 27th 2020, his main intention was to splinter the 30-year old faction into a renewed songwriting concord. PROSCRIPTOR MCGOVERN'S APSÛ is the obvious by-product of that chemical breakdown, which constitutes a new incarnation and direct continuation of ABSU's legacy. Securing the ranks, alongside McGovern, are continuing bassist / vocalist Ezezu (ABSU: 2008-2020), new guitar virtuoso Vaggreaz (POSSESSED, GRUESOME) and keyboardist Vorskaath (ZEMIAL, AGATUS). Since ABSU's last, unreleased album was to be penned as "Apsû," McGovern fused the title with his name to form the group. With this much anticipated, self-titled album, McGovern's objective was to append the signature sound of "mythological occult metal," but to convolute it with bouts of psychedelia, fusion and vintage electronics.
When asked about the album's final outcome, McGovern stated the following: "Having the opportunity to assemble these band members, in the development of this album, was a remarkable honour and I strongly feel this album captures the band's true, yet frenzied potential." McGovern, who also produced and co-engineered the album, added: "I specifically appointed these three to augment and heighten the overall sound portrait of these recordings, hoping that our emphasis on 'mythological occult metal,' coupled with progressive and psychedelic elements, clutches the listener's momentum. Most importantly, I highly commend Agonia Records for migrating our musical and arcane foresight onto the next level."
Written for those who are curious and unwearied in their quest of arcane knowledge, the album was chronicled at studios around the world with final mixing handled in Dallas, Texas by both McGovern and J.T. Longoria (ABSU, KING DIAMOND, SOLITUDE AETERNUS) and mastering by Swedish Grammy nominee Karl Daniel Lidén in Sweden. The album also features guest appearances from Ross Friedman (ROSS THE BOSS, ex-MANOWAR), Rune Eriksen (AURA NOIR, VLTIMAS, ex-MAYHEM), Alex Colin-Tocquaine (AGRESSOR) and The Dark (AGATUS). To assemble the album's packaging with eight separate portrait illustrations, the band has re-commissioned the expertise of renowned Polish artist Zbigniew Bielak (DARKTHRONE, PORTAL, WATAIN).