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The long-expected new release of the mighty Texan band Absu is finally in our hands after a bit less than 3 years of silence from Mr. Proscriptor's act. And it's even better than expected.

After a nice intro on bagpipes -- the band members hold great importance to their alleged Scottish ascendence -- there comes 'Pillars of Mercy', which will make you scream with joy as you penetrate into the 52 minutes of this intense masterpiece of 'occult metal', as the band members like to name it, instead of just 'black metal'.

While the accurate, almost machinegun-like drumming will leave most of you wanna-be drummers panting with envy, the might and fury of Absu is unleashed through guitars in their usual fashion, plus all the vokills you've grown to love.

Except for a 2-minute ambient track in the middle of the album, named in the ancestral Gaelic language, Absu never drops the rythm for a minute and leaves you asking for even more and more metal, as the aptly-named bagpipe outro ('Recapitulation') reaches your ear and mind.

A wonderful release from the eternally-mighty Absu, out on Osmose. Hail!

Review by: shub

It's quite a nice cd, although i can't figure out if they used a drumcomputer or not...the bassdrums are too heavy, sometimes (i can know, i'm a drummer myself;-)

Review by: astathica

ABSU - TARA

What a great album! Absu's progressive thrash & black metal with great musicianship hits hard to your face. "Tara" is with fine outfit no doubt one of the best releases for the year 2001. Kick-ass drumming, extreme speedpicking, furious and raging vocalwork and incredible songwriting are a good combination, but I dislike the production (too rough and sharp) and I don't particularly like the instrumentals with the scottish flute.

Songs are truly astounding. Pieces like "Pillars of Mercy", "A Shield with an Iron Face", "She Cries the Quiet Lake" and "Stone of Destiny" are songs that shall not be missed by anyone into metal.

Indeed a groundbreaking and mindblasting album with VERY original sound and style.

9 out of 10

Review by: Punisher

i am compeld to review this just for the idiolgy in its self but music comes first. fast ass blasting metal wich centers around pagan history offers growls screams classic guitar and bagpippes with a vengence. to better understand this work you sould take a look at the sixty page booklet enclosed. the lyrics our poetic complex and grim. if you want blackmetal meets death metal you got it if you want tons of solos singing and submissive aditude its not your album.

Review by: bill

First of all, this album contains impressive drums and guitars. Proscriptor is one of the best drummers out there, he´s in Melechesh now (2003). The first half of this album takes you through great speed and intelligent riffs (Pillars, A shield, Manannan are great tracks). On the downside, the second half is a "more of same"-experience which makes this an average album overall.

Review by: xxdp

One of the best albums in my collection. Absu's Tara is something you don't want to miss if you are into extreme metal. The music is a mix of Black, Death, Trash and Speed Metal with cool Black Metal vocals by Sir Proscriptor McGovern, who also does the absu-lutely (Proscriptor always says like that :)) phenomenal drumming on this album (he is also the drummer of Melechesh). I have never heard drumming like that in my life before.
Definately worth buying!

Review by: Vegeir

One of the most Shocking sound experiences I had in my life, the music is great, but the best pat of this opus is the violent-almost-obscene drumming from Mr. Proscriptor, with the actual black metal scene fading every second, this is just a refreshing experience. You gotta hear this one

Review by: xibalba

omg.. this album is the best thing i have heard in ages!
things i love about this band and album:
for a start, the drumming is absolutely bonkers! (and amazingly technical)
the lyrics are very deep and meaningful (not just random "satan is kewl" lyrics),
they made up a new music genre "Mythological Occult Metal"
and last but not least it made me appreciate prog trash black metal even more!!!!!

Review by: madascheese

This album is great, the only problem is that they need a little more bass and broadening of their material

Review by: Zodis

excelent mix of Speed Metal and Black Metal. The guitars often go from super-speed thrashy riffs to little melodic parts and back and forth. The drumming is superfast and amazingly technical(Very enjoyable to listen to). the bagpipe intro and outro dont really fit the rest of the album, but it kinda makes this a unique listenning experience (While respecting the band's heritage). The vocals are the thin black Metal Rasp and they fit the music pretty well actually...My only complaint is that there is a lack of variety and some of the songs sound too similar... But overall it's a very unique release which anyone into Speed Metal and/or Black Metal can listen to.
8/10

Review by: lucifer6

This is the recent Absu album - one dedicated for their fans. As far as the whole album is concerned it is their best and a classic for the ages. It is far more epic than Absu's previous albums and takes you on a journey through the mysticism of Celtic folklore. Long live the spirit of the Druid - and the darkness that is Absu.

Review by: shanewick

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