Absu
Spiro’s Amphitheater, Friday, March 20
It was hard not to focus on guitarist Aethyris McKay as the house music leading into Absu’s set came to a close. He stood stoically, hardly moving a muscle, with his arms wrapped around his jet-black axe as he awaited the chaos bound to ensue. The Dallas four gave no introduction more than Proscriptor McGovern’s devilish growls emanating from deep behind the bellows of a drum set that would soon set fire to all of Spiro’s Amphitheater. A mad-dash drum roll and it’s on. Bassist/cryptic-howler Ezezu – eyes caverned from death-black make-up and hair halfway down his back – ripped the torch, hands racing up and down his five-string with reckless abandon as throngs of allegiants threw fists and horns in the air. “Swords and Leather” sliced; 2001’s “Four Crossed Wands (Spell 181)” slammed but never with any indication that Absu’s three standing horsemen get off on the fury. They rip unwavering, heads down. Longest-tenured member McGovern is the theatric; he howls and beckons, searing gothic through his headless microphone – the rock of the madness. Their set ended abruptly, likely one song earlier than the black-clad troupe had intended, but they’d made their mark. Absu left to a ringing chant of their name, thus making it clear that this 18-year pillar of thrash metal still reigns supreme in the land of the dark.
This article appears in March 20 • 2009.