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Proscriptor McGovern's Apsû - Sign With Agonia Records, New Album Coming


When drummer/vocalist Proscriptor (Russ R. Givens) dissolved Absu on January 27th 2020 (more about this here), his main intention was to splinter the 30-year old faction into a renewed songwriting concord. Proscriptor McGovern's Apsû is the new band emerging and will also feature continuing bassist/vocalist Ezezu and new guitarist Vaggreaz. The debut/self-titled album will be released via Agonia Records on a date that is to be announced in late 2020.

Proscriptor says of the resurgence: "I want people to know that I disbanded Absu to form Proscriptor McGovern's Apsû with underpinning intention, despite the inclusion of my name, as an armorial bearing to pay tribute to the former sanctuary. I do not consider myself the band's leader, but more of an administrator. I may be an oppressive commissioner, but Proscriptor McGovern's Apsû is an equal, collective unit."

Proscriptor continues regarding the album's lyrical approach: "This album is written for those who are curious and unwearied in their quest of arcane knowledge. I have (with vast exertion and detriment of time and space) collected knowledge deemed, in regard to my subject theories of 'mythological occult metal:' from Thelemic Magick and The Zos Vel Thanatos Formula to Fractal Ontology and (obviously) Near East Mythology."

The album is being chronicled at studios around the world with final mixing being handled in Dallas, Texas by J.T. Longoria and mastering by Karl Daniel Lidén in Sweden. The album also features guest appearances from Vorskaath ( Zemial), Ross Friedman ( Ross The Boss), Jeff Becerra ( Possessed), Rune Eriksen ( Aura Noir / VLTIMAS), Alex Colin-Tocquaine ( Agressor) and The Dark ( Agatus). To assemble the album's packaging with ten separate portrait illustrations, the band has re-commissioned the expertise of renowned Polish artist Zbigniew Bielak.

Final track listing for Proscriptor McGovern's Apsû:

I. Amenta: Accelerando: Azyn including Hierophantasmal Expounder
II. Esoterically Excoriating The Exoteric
III. Quasaric Pestilence
IV. Mirroracles
V. In-Betweeness Gateway Commuters
VI. Jupiter In Capricornus
VII. Dedicated To Thoth, But Azathoth Wasn't Listening (A Necroloquy)
VIII. Caliginous Whorl
IX. The Coagulating Respite
X. Prana: Therion: Akasha
XI. Tantrums Of Azag-Kkû
XII. Every Watchtower Within Is The Axis Of A Watchtower Without including Totemic Thresholds

Proscriptor McGovern's Apsû is:

Proscriptor McGovern - Drums/Percussion, Lyricism, Maestro Echoplex, Papago Flute, (Analogue & Digital) Synthesizers & Voices (1st Person Protagonist)
Vaggreaz - Electric Lead, Rhythm & Acoustic Guitar (2nd Person Inquisitor)
Ezezû - Electric Bass Guitar, Implements & Voices (3rd Person Omniscient)

Source: label.agoniarecords.com
Band profile: Absu
Posted: 18.07.2020 by nikarg


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Comments: 47   Visited by: 131 users
21.07.2020 - 06:02
tiny dog ghosts

Fuck these bigots
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21.07.2020 - 10:10
Enemy of Reality
Account deleted
Putting emotions aside, i don't see any transphobic direct attack on that screenshot. He basically says that Melissa is off the band for some reason that's not entirely clear ("your decision" = what decision??). That reason puts in jeopardy his legacy (whatever the hell that means lol), and Melissa will forever be his friend.
Then Melissa posts the print on Facebook and says it was because transphobia.
I don't know. Not going to judge anyone, but i don't see a direct relation between ending the band and transphobia in that screenshot.
Also, this thing with the "internet never forgets" is getting out of hand. People change, evolve, mature. You can't just grab a screenshot from the past and judge/cancel someone in the present. That person may have changed. I'm sure a lot of people here like or liked bands with extreme points of view. Either it's against christians, jews, blacks or gays. Even some of those bands most likely would love to erase that part from their past lives.
Try to be reasonable, because cancel culture is anyhing but that.
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21.07.2020 - 19:43
Auntie Sahar
Drone Empress
Written by Troy Killjoy on 20.07.2020 at 00:57

Written by Batlord666 on 20.07.2020 at 00:11

That is bizarre and just wrong in my eyes. If you're willing to shut someone out for being transexual, something which affects no one but themselves, you are not a decent human being.

This discussion begins somewhat of a slippery slope, but in essence, the sexuality in question must have affected at least one other person in the band -- a founding member no less. Maybe it created an uncomfortable dynamic or awkward atmosphere, I don't know the intimate details aside from a suspiciously tailored conversation, but I'm not about to ascribe values to a person based on one aspect of their personal beliefs.

Well I'm not in your head, but this sounds like some weak apologism to me, Troy. The only reason I can think of as to why a band member coming out as transexual would ever even create an "uncomfortable dynamic" or "awkward atmosphere" is if one or more of the other members were generally intolerant toward transexuality in the first place. Which places the fault on them, not the individual coming out.

I suppose there is, of course, the possibility that Melissa was perhaps coming on to the other members in the band or being overly flamboyant about being trans, but that is not at all the impression I get from either the text or the recent interview she gave with Brooklyn Vegan. Her expulsion seems like much more of the typical macho male, right wing horseshit about "this music is supposed to be brutals and barbaric and there's no room for women or non heterosexuals" that has long plagued extreme metal circles for decades.
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I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

~ II. VII
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21.07.2020 - 21:13
Auntie Sahar
Drone Empress
Written by UnknownCheese on 19.07.2020 at 01:33

That text message he posted was so vague it could have been about putting pineapple on pizza. He's yet to produce any actual evidence that Proscriptor gave him the boots for being a tranny, of which there should be since he was apparently fired over Whatsapp.

Enough with this excuse giving and apologist nonsense, a person doesn't get kicked out of a band for putting pineapple on pizza. Melissa coming out as trans was seen as compromising the Absu ethos, and the other members responded in kind by ostracizing her and giving her the boot.

I don't need to see their argument or "understand the whole story" to believe her claims about that text or in the article I linked above. If you know anything about metal culture and are actually being honest with yourself about the amount of ultraconservative male stupidity prevalent in it, you'd know that, more likely than not, Melissa's explanation of the situation is completely accurate.
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I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

~ II. VII
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21.07.2020 - 22:47
nikarg

I personally don't see anyone trying to find excuses. What is being said is that even though Melissa claims she was fired via text message, the snapshots of the conversations show nothing like that and have obviously been edited. Everyone can see that. The link you posted is nothing more than a collection of her social media posts, so it would be a "he said/she said" thing but it looks like Proscriptor has chosen - and it is his right - to not say anything, at least publicly. Social media is not a court and we are not judge and jury. Still, we do have opinions so if you "don't need to see their argument" and you are already convinced you know what happened that's perfectly fine. It is also fine for the user UnknownCheese - and anyone else for that matter - to not be entirely convinced with the situation as it has been presented so far by Melissa.

All that said, I am inclined to believe her too despite the tailored texts. I think she was fired because she came out and Proscriptor decided to terminate the band because he saw he had no other option (he actually says so in the text). I think it is a total asshole move of him if this is what actually happened, but it won't influence how I see his music in any way. I don't need the members of bands I like to hear to have the same political, social or ethical views that I have. They are neither my family nor my friends so that I have to care about how they think and what they believe in, I just listen to their music. I haven't thrown away my Dissection, Burzum, Inquisition, etc. albums and don't intend to do so. If anyone wants to destroy their Absu CDs after all these revelations, please give them to me instead. I will pay for postage.

By the way her new band is not bad at all. A bit like Haunt, but more interesting (they need another vocalist though, her vocals suck ass just like Haunt's, but her guitar rips).
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21.07.2020 - 23:48
UnknownCheese

If you're going to start accusing someone of being any kind of "phobe" or "ist", you better be able to prove it. Not that the tender hearted need any proof these days. You just point a finger and people go rabid. She's provided absolutely nothing but a single obviously edited, and extremely vague text message.

And her later post about Proscriptor telling her she's the greatest guitarist in the world or whatever the fuck is so Reddit level "and everyone clapped" it's borderline comedy. He apparently thought she was so good he hired Rune Eriksen to play all the leads on Abzu.
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22.07.2020 - 06:21
Troy Killjoy
perfunctionist
Written by Auntie Sahar on 21.07.2020 at 19:43

Well I'm not in your head, but this sounds like some weak apologism to me, Troy. The only reason I can think of as to why a band member coming out as transexual would ever even create an "uncomfortable dynamic" or "awkward atmosphere" is if one or more of the other members were generally intolerant toward transexuality in the first place. Which places the fault on them, not the individual coming out.

I suppose there is, of course, the possibility that Melissa was perhaps coming on to the other members in the band or being overly flamboyant about being trans, but that is not at all the impression I get from either the text or the recent interview she gave with Brooklyn Vegan. Her expulsion seems like much more of the typical macho male, right wing horseshit about "this music is supposed to be brutals and barbaric and there's no room for women or non heterosexuals" that has long plagued extreme metal circles for decades.

I'm not trying to apologize for anyone's behavior or opinions, I'm only saying I'm not someone who vilifies others on the basis of one thing specifically, especially when I don't know anyone personally involved or the actual details of what took place. I'm really only interested in the upcoming album and all this internal drama is a secondary consideration for me at most. This is just another social justice case where all of the facts haven't been presented, and so we give in to our preconceived notions of who's right and who's guilty -- yourself included, admitting you don't even need to see an argument to change your beliefs.

The criticism you have of the metal community is valid but that doesn't mean we get to make assumptions based on some common generalities and call it justice.
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"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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22.07.2020 - 12:02
Dinruth

Written by SatanicBlood on 20.07.2020 at 22:44

Written by Dinruth on 19.07.2020 at 22:14

Written by SatanicBlood on 18.07.2020 at 23:31

Wagner was a Nazi sympathizer

That is utter bullshit. Wagner died in 1883 and Nazis weren't around until the 1920s

Hitlers Nazis, yes. National socialism? Long before that. Nazi is shorthand for NS.

Sorry, but that is also wrong.. nationalism is an old concept, but national socialism arose from a desire of an ideology opposing marxism and that was invented by the Nazis... noone else was called a national socialist before that
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22.07.2020 - 12:04
Dinruth

Written by Maco on 19.07.2020 at 23:22

Written by Dinruth on 19.07.2020 at 22:14

That is utter bullshit. Wagner died in 1883 and Nazis weren't around until the 1920s




He's probably talking about Wagner Lamounier from Sarcofago.


In that case, I apologize for my comment 😁
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22.07.2020 - 12:10
Dinruth

Written by SatanicBlood on 20.07.2020 at 22:44

Written by Dinruth on 19.07.2020 at 22:14

Written by SatanicBlood on 18.07.2020 at 23:31

Wagner was a Nazi sympathizer

That is utter bullshit. Wagner died in 1883 and Nazis weren't around until the 1920s

Hitlers Nazis, yes. National socialism? Long before that. Nazi is shorthand for NS.


That Wagner was antisemitic is widely recognized, but beside the historical impossibiity of him being a nazi, just being antisemitic does not make you a nazi (not that I want to excuse or downplay antisemitism)
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22.07.2020 - 17:23
SatanicBlood

Written by Dinruth on 22.07.2020 at 12:02

Written by SatanicBlood on 20.07.2020 at 22:44

Written by Dinruth on 19.07.2020 at 22:14

Written by SatanicBlood on 18.07.2020 at 23:31

Wagner was a Nazi sympathizer

That is utter bullshit. Wagner died in 1883 and Nazis weren't around until the 1920s

Hitlers Nazis, yes. National socialism? Long before that. Nazi is shorthand for NS.

Sorry, but that is also wrong.. nationalism is an old concept, but national socialism arose from a desire of an ideology opposing marxism and that was invented by the Nazis... noone else was called a national socialist before that

You are just picking apart semantics as opposed to focusing on pragmatics here.
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22.07.2020 - 22:43
IBlackened

Written by Dinruth on 22.07.2020 at 12:04

Written by Maco on 19.07.2020 at 23:22

He's probably talking about Wagner Lamounier from Sarcofago.


In that case, I apologize for my comment 😁

I don't think that's true. Wagner Lamounier sang live with Mystifier some years ago.
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Their old stuff is better.
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22.07.2020 - 23:23
Maco
Pvt Funderground
Written by IBlackened on 22.07.2020 at 22:43

I don't think that's true. Wagner Lamounier sang live with Mystifier some years ago.

Oh you know how was the older brazilian scene. They used to play a lot with the nazi imagery.
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Crackhead Megadeth reigns supreme.
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22.07.2020 - 23:47
nikarg

Yeah, all this is very interesting but let's get back to the topic please. Which is actually the new album by Proscriptor McGovern's Apsû, in case we have forgotten.
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23.07.2020 - 01:04
IBlackened

Written by Maco on 22.07.2020 at 23:23

Oh you know how was the older brazilian scene. They used to play a lot with the nazi imagery.

Sure. I don't know if they were really nazi sympathizers or doing that just for shock value, but he doesn't seem to be a nazi nowadays sharing a stage with black dudes, but who knows?

Sorry nikarg, it's my last off-topic comment.
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Their old stuff is better.
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23.07.2020 - 18:35
Dinruth

Written by SatanicBlood on 22.07.2020 at 17:23

Written by Dinruth on 22.07.2020 at 12:02

Sorry, but that is also wrong.. nationalism is an old concept, but national socialism arose from a desire of an ideology opposing marxism and that was invented by the Nazis... noone else was called a national socialist before that

You are just picking apart semantics as opposed to focusing on pragmatics here.

That has nothing to do with linguistics, simply with historical accuracy .. and I also apologize for goibg off topic and cease to do so from here on
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24.07.2020 - 07:46
Boxcar Willy
yr a kook
Whats the over under on this being any good?
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14:22 - Marcel Hubregtse
I do your mum

DESTROY DRUM TRIGGERS
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