Proscriptor) I strongly believe that ABSU does not necessarily feel "distant" from other black/death kults within the USA, but we are distinguished from others, for sure. When we execute our euphony in front of a live audience, we have never had any difficulties with other bands ABSU has performed with from North America. As a matter of fact and over the past couple of years, I have literally seen the evolution of bands increase with this materialistic statehood. This is, overall, a rather positive sign because the bands/kults from the USA are just as distinguished as ABSU is, in most aspects. Thy fists are raised up high in damnable for such acts (contemporary) as SADISTIC INTENT, SCEPTER, USURPER, DECEMBER WOLVES, CERNUNNOS' WOODS, THE SOIL BLEEDS BLACK, VITAL REMAINS, THY INFERNAL, AKHKHARU, AKRABU, CRIMSON MOON, CRIMSON RELIC, INFERNAL OAK, SERPENT ECLIPSE, & ROLLER. That's all dammit.

ATL) Your label, Osmose, is from France. Does that make Absu in good contact with the European scene? What touring have you done there, and has Absu done much U.S. touring?

Proscriptor) ABSU has selected the organization of Osmose Productions due to their status and the fashion of how their enterprise is operated. Of course, we have received a better response in Europe being affiliated with a European label. However, I don't exactly know if it has actually made is in better contact with the temporals from the European plains. ABSU has only experienced two tour excursions in Europe: the first tour was in 1995 with IMPALED NAZARENE & SADISTIK EXEKUTION; the second tour was in 1997 with ENSLAVED & INFERNO. I must admit that both journeys were a grand success and hopefully we will head back in February/March '98 with AURA NOIR & DESASTER. We have also toured North America twice as well: the first tour was in 1995 with ENSLAVED & INCANTATION; the second tour was in 1997 with ARGENTUM & PANTEON in Mexico as well.

ATL) What's new from Absu? Are you recording soon, or doing any tours soon?

Proscriptor) At the present moment, we have just released the hymn "The Gold Torques Of Ulaid' for the "Gummo" Movie Soundtrack on London Records and we have also released the cover of "Transylvania" for an IRON MAIDEN tribute on Dwell Records. We are preparing to record a new MCD for Osmose fugitively titled "In The Eyes Of Ioldanach" in December/January. Afterwards, we shall begin a European and North American tour excursion in support of the MCD. Afterwards, we will begin compositions and arrangements for our fourth opus. Presently, I am also recording/producing an innovative MCD for PROSCRIPTOR, following up to my debut solo album titled "The Serpentine Has Risen." It shall be released on Cruel Moon International (...a Cold Meat Industry subsidiary) and a "portion" of my organization called Dark Age Productions. You'll see.

ATL) It's obvious that Europe has the advantage over the U.S. in the music scene - but I would say that Absu has more had exposure and has an advantage over new U.S. black metal bands. What is in store for the U.S. over the next few years? Do you feel that there will be any kind of explosion of black metal, like there was in the '90s of death metal?

Proscriptor) By fair means, I feel that Europe does not have this so-called "advantage" you're referring to over the United States. The amount of well-renowned bands verses the feeble acts is generally universal in my fucking book! For example, I think the band from Hell, Inferno, is immaculately excellent, as a lot of people in Europe think they are a deliberate Kreator/ Destruction rip-off. Oh really? Oh fucking really? Is that so? Inferno's intention is to rip-off (I hate using that kind of terminology, sometimes) that particular style...no, better yet...they are paying homeage to '80's thrash, Deustch style. Basically, you have your good verses bad, worldwide; this is based characteristically on biased opinions. As far as "what's in store for the '90's?" This is something I really don't think about too often. If there was this so-called "BM" explosion to manifest in the United States, take a sudden look back behind your left shoulder, and you can probably see that it as already occurred! I am not being pessimistic about these two acts, but the mortal-teens who are indulged by Marilyn Manson are also indulged by Cradle Of Filth. Then, the "domino effect" of these people thriving on Black Metal leads from one trend to another. Why should you or anybody else care what my perception of musicology is biased on? I am not trying to be negative my friend, it's just that we have been established since 1989, and we have seen a lot of progressions/regressions within this genre of dark, extreme metal. You must understand where my point of view lies.

ATL) Lyric wise, Absu uses some foreign tongue. What is the history behind your heritage? Has living in Texas held back your magical greatness?

Proscriptor) Equitant and Shaftiel derive from an Irish descent, as I originate from a Scottish descent. We're not claiming that we're 100% full-blooded Celtic immortals (well...), yet we are American. Personally, I derive from mostly from a Scottish descent (Western Highland District = 67%), then Native American Indian (Cherokee = 23%), and Black Dutch (Germanic Dutch = 10%). ABSU has always taken great pride and dignity in our ancestral roots, yet bloodlust. However, this is the priority reason why we do not think we are literally mortal at times. Celtic people and Pagans always believed that when your life expires, your mind and spirit transports to a part of the Earth, like Cernunnos and Slaine did, for example. Other than that, I take great pride in studying and ritualizing with the Secret Seal Of Solomon, Egyptian Kabbalah, Celtic/ Allaxitonian Divination, Ceremonial Magick, Tarot, Gnosticism, Tasseomancy, and Mesopotamian/Sumerian/Assyrian Mythology.