AbSynthe

AbSynthe is a Goth Industrial/Metal band quickly becoming known for a unique blend of heavy metal guitar riffs, tribal percussion, and electronic-industrial synth accompanied by outlandish performances and crowd participation. As stated by frontman Crimson Al-Khemia (vocals, guitars, programming), AbSynthe has set itself away from many other bands in attempting to blend "a little bit of everything we all love about music." The name not only rings a bell as a name of a band, but also the infam...

AbSynthe is a Goth Industrial/Metal band quickly becoming known for a unique blend of heavy metal guitar riffs, tribal percussion, and electronic-industrial synth accompanied by outlandish performances and crowd participation. As stated by frontman Crimson Al-Khemia (vocals, guitars, programming), AbSynthe has set itself away from many other bands in attempting to blend "a little bit of everything we all love about music." The name not only rings a bell as a name of a band, but also the infamous wormwood-laced liquor known for inspiring many artists from the late nineteenth century to present day. However, the band has given their version of the meaning of "AbSynthe":AbSyntheAb (Latin) meaning: “of, from”Synthe (short form of “synthesis”) meaning:1. the combination of diverse elements to form a whole2.the dialectic combination of thesis and antithesis into a higher stage of truthAround early 2000, Crimson Al-Khemia (at the age of 17) contemplated on pursuing a possible career in music and performance arts. Over the course of three years, Crimson attempted to blend together different elements of styles of music and performance, trying out various musicians. As stated in a short interview on his old website, Crimson "wanted to rejuvenate the art scene by tying together everything from written, visual, texture, sound, and expression. Everything to shock and numb the senses during times when we could use it most." Finally in April 2003, AbSynthe hit the club scene in Rhode Island as a three-piece band (with Marissa Pavlow on bass and Kerri Prosser on rhythm guitars) and a drum machine. Around then, Crimson met Half Head and Sage Delirium (who at the time were in the band Ex-Nihilo). Half Head regularly jammed with the band at practices and some performances, along with Jarrod (of Hating 4AM), until he joined full-time in February 2004 after the break-up of Ex-Nihilo. By the end of August 2004, Sage joined the band as the first live drummer, but rigged with a v-drum kit. At that time, Kerri left the band to finish high school and pursue art in college. Mike E (also formerly of Ex-Nihilo) became the new guitarist and was handed over much of the lead guitar parts. The band continued to have great success performing regularly with Bile, Nocturne, and More.Machine.Than.Man off Martin Atkins' label Underground Inc. Their crowd-participation, catchy songs, and wild on-stage demonstrations began to gather much attention in the New England area. They began to hold annual events such as Winter Wonderhell, Industrial Creepshow, Monster Mash, and the Demon Machine Show (commemorating their first performance with Bile on the Demon Machine Tour 2003). Winter Wonderhell, held around Christmas, features AbSynthe throwing out wrapped gifts to the crowd and creating parodies to popular holiday songs. Monster Mash holds annual costume contests amongst all the fans that come, with the winner getting many prizes.In the summer of 2005, AbSynthe went on the Strategies for Tragedy Tour with Florida's Human Factors Lab and Lunatic Candy Kreep, concluding with a NYC performance at the premiere party for the film The Devil's Rejects. In September, the band achieved enough recognition to be invited to play with 49 other bands at the first annual GothStock, held in Hartford, CT along with The Genitorturers, Cruxshadows, Combichrist, Belle Morte, Carfax Abbey, Ego Likeness, Still Life Decay, Sister Kill Cycle, Mankind Is Obsolete, and many others. Immediately after GothStock, AbSynthe returned to the studio, this time to release a full-length album entitled DEMONstration. After a quick gig with Trashlight Vision, a band fronted by ex-Dope and current Murderdoll guitarist Acey Slade, AbSynthe finally released Marissa on mutual grounds and finished mixing down the album. They have recently picked up their newest bassist, Gorlock. DEMONstration was released February 26th, 2006, with their first single "Mannequin Maker" already creating a buzz in the music community. AbSynthe's 2006 schedule went on to feature performances with Slick Idiot (ex-KMFDM), Powerman 5000, Mankind Is Obsolete, and many others. Some were featured during their summer east-coast “EAST SIDE DEMON RIDE TOUR” that went from Miami, FL to Manchester, NH.AbSynthe is planning on re-recording Worship And Revulsion and have hinted at plans to possibly record another full-length album by the end of 2007. 2007 has been successful for AbSynthe’s debut in to the J-rock (Japanese rock) scene in the U.S., landing them performances with BLOOD and Candy Spooky Theater on their separate U.S. tours. The reaction to j-rock fans overwhelmed the band that they’ve become the number one act to support all bands touring from Japan through Tainted Reality Promotions. In March of 2007, famed metal video-jockey Mistress Juliya (Uranium, Slave to the Metal, Maxim Mag) traveled out to Taunton to be the host of their debut at Club Aurora, headlining with supporting New York metal band SinAriA. After a show series of shows with Deadstar Assembly and Suicide City this past April, AbSynthe hosted another INDUSTRIAL CREEP SHOW featuring Project.44, Apocalypse Theater, and Vulgaris. While playing out shows throughout New England into early 2008, AbSynthe parted ways with bassist Gorlock due to injuries, but remain friends. The helm of bass would be taken up by long-time friend and guitarist of Corpse Thriller, Alice Injection. Alice debuted with AbSynthe in a movie theater playing before a packed house as part of a half concert-half theatrical performance entitled “The Rocky Horror AbSynthe Show”, featuring the RKO players performing the various roles of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. The event went over exceptional and more plans between AbSynthe and the RKO players are to be made. The last few years DEMONstrated AbSynthe’s popularity with the branching out of various projects and new bands in what is called the “AbSynthe Family”, featuring such acts as: Corpse Thriller, The Wurm of the Wood, Elektra Red, Heidi Whore, Toxik Shock Syndrome, Hating 4AM, Animatronik, and others soon to be announced.