Absu "Tara (France, Osmose Productions, OPCD 098/OPCD098)"

Tara is the fourth album by black metal band Absu. It was released on May 23, 2001, by Osmose Productions. Early promotional material for the album stated that Mike Scaccia of Rigor Mortis/Ministry fame would contribute to the album but that did not occur. In addition, King Diamond did contribute vocals to the album but could not be credited due to contractual restrictions. He is credited as Masthema Mazziqim, a pseudonym used by the singer of Dolmen, a band that eventually became Absu.

Track listing

All music composed by Shaftiel, except "Tara" and "Tara (Recapitulation)" by Sir Don Shannon.

Phase One: "Ioldanach's Pedagogy"

1. "Tara" – 1:57
2. "Pillars of Mercy" – 4:22
3. "A Shield with an Iron Face" – 3:22
4. "Manannán" – 6:39
5. "The Cognate House of Courtly Witches Lies West of County Meath" – 4:19
6. "She Cries the Quiet Lake" – 4:11
7. "Yrp Lluyddawc" – 1:52

Phase Two: "The Cythraul Klan's Scrutiny"

1. "From Ancient Times (Starless Skies Burn to Ash)" – 3:54
2. "Four Crossed Wands (Spell 181)" – 4:47
3. "Vorago (Spell 182)" – 5:46
4. "Bron (Of the Waves)" – 1:32
5. "Stone of Destiny (...For Magh Slecht and Ard Righ)" – 7:47
6. "Tara (Recapitulation)" – 1:46

The album is separated in two chapters.

Phase One: Ioldánach's Pedagogy: Tracks 1-7.

Phase Two: The Cythraul Klan's Scrutiny: Tracks 8-13.

"Manannán" is a re-recorded version of the song of same name which originally appeared on the mini-album "In the Eyes of Ioldánach" (1998).

Warning - Osmose Productions CD presses may contain a copy-protection method which renders the CD completely unreadable in PCs and certain modern Hi-Fi systems. This isn't indicated anywhere on the packaging.

Recording information:

Produced by Absu.

Recorded between September-December 2000 at Nomad Recording Studios, Carrollton, Texas.