Local Black Metal Legends reveal new track ahead of SXSW

Plano, TX Occult Metal Band ABSU is playing a much anticipated show at this year's SXSW, though I have to admit that the venue, Spiro's, can be a real drag. Often (and rather unimaginatively) compared to Slayer, ABSU formed twenty years ago, and are one of the main points in my argument that Plano has long been fertile ground for extreme music, something that makes perfect sense if you have ever spent a little time there. Somewhat fittingly, ABSU was famously featured on the soundtrack to one of the most notorious statements on small-town plight ever, Harmony Korine's Gummo. Plano has also produced similar and/or related acts such as Divine Eve, Infernal Oak, and Rape, Pillage and Burn.

It's worth noting that original ABSU bassist and founding member, Equitant, left the group to make electro/dance music and has found success in the genre under that name. In fact, his newest release is "Live at the Loft." No, not that Loft, the one in Bogota, Colombia. There's a download available here.

After the Austin show, ABSU will continue touring with dates in Dripping Springs, and Baltimore, and then onto Germany and Austria, playing Pößneck, Friedersdorf, and Spital Am Semmering.

ABSU's preview track, "Girra's Temple," is the lone song sample on their Myspace page. The new self-titled album will be available February 24 on Candlelight Records.