1.The new album is finally here!What has been the intial response so far?
*** Hails, yes new album is now available, we’re still awaiting the LP vinyl version. There has been no feedback so far since it really just got pressed and not even shipped or so. Promos have been sent and we did not get any news nor any opinions. Considering the fact we are not in touch with any individuals from around our area or bands with whom we would have a link, no one has heard it so far.
2.You also recently have released a split lp as well.Were these leftovers from the full length or were they constructed specificaly for this release.Were you guys have a huge creative spurt that led to consecutive releases?
*** I am not aware of a split lp. If you meant split ep, those were recorded some months after the first album, just like other tracks were also recorded, intended to be out as split eps & never did see the “light of the day”. A split with Sargeist was to be done WAY before the first album and it has never been released in the end. Blame the labels screwing us over the past years.
For the split just out on Art of Propaganda, the result is very good & first 111 copies comes in graysplatter.
3.You recently signed with agonia records for 2 albums.What was the reasoning behind this decision and why not sign with a label more in line with the ideaology of the band?How has the relationship gone with them up to this point?
*** What is a “label” more in line with the ideology of the band. Tell me, I am curious to read about it, because I’m just a bit too new to this scene, I guess that just having around 15/20 years in this scene REALLY doesnt seem to get me to understand what has just been asked.
And in case you would refer to labels like Norma Evangelium Diaboli or any label in the genre, they have no interest in the music that Aosoth is providing.
The deal with Agonia was signed so at least we could have had our album out, but of course, there will be most likely no further release in the future, do not worry.
Our contact so far with the label are going fine, we did provide the artwork, the master recording and they are doing their part.
4.How much will the band be doing from their end in supporting thiese new releases,such as touring etc?Any chance of a us appearence?
*** Again a weird question I must say...
No there is no chance of any event in the USA, nor even an European tour. You do realise that Aosoth is signed on an underground label and is mostly a band with no “selling points” nor any interests from anyone to be able to set up a tour or anything. Just like this one time event with Antaeus in the USA was a total failure, there is no reason to even think once that Aosoth would ever go there. We dont even have a license for the album over there so if the album gets to sell 200/250 copies over there, this would be already SO surprising.
We might try to do gigs in our homeland but then again, I just doubt it will happen. We will do answer to fanzine interviews in case any come along. Time shall tell, I havent seen much bands from the Agonia’s kamp being on tour. Emptiness, Necroblaspheme, Azarath, Malfeitor... they mostly perform at best in their own countries & yet Azarath is VERY big, having the Behemoth aspect added to their music.
5.When i first heard the self titled album,i was blown away by it's diversity.It is still in heavy rotation here.What was the primary focus in the compostion of "ASHES OF ANGELS"
*** Which was a problem to me, the diversity and the too numerous thrash metal sounding elements, considering how much I always hated thrash & speed metal. Yet some tracks somehow made sense in the end. But to be honest, I am not the right individual to be asked such questions considering how intense is my self criticism on any fields.
“Ashes of Angels” has a different approach in the end, only one track has a very fast tempo – Antaeus like, while the rest is more dissonnant.
6.What is the meaning behind the title of the album?
*** This album has lyrics more similar to what I would have done in Antaeus, thus something hidden & personal in most of them.
7.How involved are you in the actual songwriting process?
*** Bst handles all the music & I do take care of all the rest. Thus songwriting process is mostly his and none of the session live members is even involved. Otherwise it would really take like 3 to 4 years to conclude one album. Aosoth is very structured : to each its place.
8.I know you are deeply religious.How important is the message in aosoth.What do you want listeners to take away from your albums?Do your lyrics directly influence the writing of the actual songs?
*** Lyrics being mostly composed aside and just “arranged” depending on the first working tracks structure I get to have. On this album though, due to some problems that did interfer a month before the recording, most lyrics had to be redone in a rush. Yet I am satisfied with the final result & this work is mostly accomplished for me, and then exposed to listeners.
I will not do the mistake I did with the two last Antaeus albums – including the lyrics in the booklet. Might sound like a paradox but I do not feel like discussing anymore the lyrical content and what might be revealed within the words. As I pointed out before, they all mostly expose some of my life at one point or another.
They do belong to some ritual path of expression to allow me to find some “inner communion” by expressing the within.
9.What would you say is the primary difference lyrically between the 2 albums?
*** You can clearly tell that the first has more “dynamism” while the second really expose more of the sinister side and the twisted genuine within.
10.There is an obvious difference between aosoth and your former band.Is there a huge difference lyrically between the 2?And how do you seperate between the 2 bands?
*** The first recording of Aosoth were obviously more based on doctrines part of the ONA while the latest album has more of an Antaeus approach when it comes to the writing of the lyrics. As you might know Antaeus is on hold since the “blood libels” issues. It has been some years now.
11.Did you guys have a direct line of focus as to how you wanted this album to sound.When you first started off did you already know the direction the band was heading in?
*** we did record two songs in between those two albums & one track, not yet released, “Angels falling down” was THE obvious direct line of focus we wanted to go through for this new album. We did discuss details like how this album didnt have to be the kind of music that would fit live (unlike the first album which was obviously done to be performed live). Since we will not perform much, we could do some experiences – music that couldnt really be recreated live (judging the equipment you mostly have in venues where aosoth would play, mostly shithole with 10 to 25 people attending)
12.I know you probably get this alot but what is the current status of ANATAEUS?
*** Antaeus... the band is on hold & we are again a “duo”, the core of the band is Set (guitars) & myself. We havent meet in the last two years. Not even for the recording of the split ep with Katharsis that came out last year on Norma Evangelium Diaboli.
13.What is your opinion of the black metal scene today,and how do feel about the rise of all the "religious black metal cults"
*** The rise? More like the fall you mean
there was like a “trend” two years ago or three years ago about it and it all did fade away since as far as I can see. All I get to see is mostly like “traditionnal” black metal sounding bands having “an imagery” or the suicidal black metal scene that never stopped being somehow huge. NSBM is a bit down lately, but gigs are less & less attended, unless you are a band from Sweden or Norway – there is nothing to do in Europe on that field.
14.How much a part if any are you involved in the french scene.Any bands worthy of attention?
*** I have no time to waste. NED & Deathspell Omega, VI & some others like ritualization are worth of the attention.
15.Thank you again for your time.Anything left you would like to say or share.
Thanks again for the oppurtunity.I would love to do a review for the new album,but it will have to wait till i can get together the funds to purchase it.Thanks again for your time.
*** 616
MkM
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