BraveWords.com has received the following:

ABSU performed their first live show in nearly eight years on Friday, March 20th. The special appearance, part of the annual South-By-Southwest Music Festival, received glowing reviews from the Austin Chronicle: “Absu left to a ringing chant of their name, thus making it clear that this 18-year pillar of metal still reigns supreme in the land of the dark.” The show featured selections from the band’s recently released, self-titled new album. In its first month, the record has sold out three pressings as fans have rushed to buy the album currently enjoying its third week at the number 2 position on the CMJ college/hard rock charts.

Drummer/vocalist Proscriptor says, “the feedback from our eponymous-titled album has been overwhelmingly positive and a reaction I was not expecting. This is just the beginning of our insidious magic(k) and mystery.”

Absu announced their upcoming US tour prior to Christmas and are now preparing for the nationwide trek. The tour, set to kick off June 6th in San Marcos, California and wrap up June 29th in the band’s hometown of Dallas, Texas was originally noted to feature support from labelmates GLORIOR BELLI, AVERSE SEFIRA and SOTHIS. The lineup has had a recent change with Philadelphia-based RUMPELSTILTSKIN GRINDER replacing Averse Sefira. Guitarist Matt Moore comments, "Rumplestiltskin Grinder is excited to steal all hope from the holy along with Absu, Glorior Belli and Sothis as part of the ultimate black-thrash campaign for North American annihilation."

France’s Glorior Belli make their first trip to North America in support of Absu. The band’s new album, Meet Us At The Southern Sign, will be released on June 6th and will be available for sale during the tour. Infestvvs says, “it is obviously a great honor for Glorior Belli to be part of the tour and support the return of Absu. One question however remains; will you rise and prove yourself strong enough to bear the forbidden flame with us or will you get burned by the fires of illumination?” The band is now completing a special advance video that will premiere via their official MySpace page in the coming weeks.

Sothis released their debut, De Oppresso Liber, on September 2nd. Mixed by Andy LaRocque (King Diamond), the record has enjoyed growing and consistent sales since release. This will be the band’s first national tour. Band leader Dross says, “we are really looking forward to conquering stages on the upcoming tour and are proud to share a stage with such strong bands. As of this weekend, we have completed the video for the title track of our recently released CD, De Oppresso Liber, so you should be hearing news of where it will debut very soon.”

Confirmed dates are as follows:

June

6 - Jumping Turtle - San Marcos, CA
7 - House of Blues - W. Hollywood, CA
8 - Thee Parkside - San Francisco, CA
9 - Hawthorne Theatre - Portland, OR
10 - El Corazon - Seattle, WA
12 - The Underground - Calgary, AB
13 - The Exchange - Regina, SK
14 - Royal Albert Arms - Winnipeg, MT
15 - Station 4 - St. Paul, MN
16 - The Pearl Room - Mokena, IL
17 - Peabody’s - Cleveland, OH
18 - Wreck Room - Toronto, ON
19 - Petit Campus - Montreal, QC
20 - Penny Arcade - Rochester, NY
21 - BB Kings Blues Club - New York, NY
22 - Jaxx - W. Springfield, VA
23 - Volume 11 - Raleigh, NC
24 - The Muse - Nashville, TN
25 - The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
26 - The Garage - St. Petersburg, FL
27 - Culture Room - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
29 - Firewater - Dallas, TX