1. Greetings, Let’s skip the boring biographical questions and start with a “statement” from the LP cover of your new album “III”. What is the relation between “Violence & Variations” and the new Aosoth’s album?
Hails.
The variation in the intensity of the “relation” depicted through the lyrics & the change of atmosphere within the music, going from oppressive sounds to aggression up to loosing it fully. All are about violence & its different aspect and approach. Adding a musical aspect to it, like a “declinaison” of the same thema, thus the variations. Also the line that did strike me the most when having to scream it out. And this note is only written as a lay out detail on the lp cover (since usually those lps are never seen & a text print in varnish is barely noticed). Thanks for having paid attention.
2. Only an excerpts of lyrics were published in previous albums of Aosoth, this time they are published in their full form. Why? Also what can you tell us about their content? The Tracklist III-1-6 implies there is some kind of concept. Again does the aforementioned “statement” relates to the lyrical side of the album?
Indeed, one chapter & six scene (+ epilogue). Somehow a dialogue in between two individuals, one just expressing itself with a difficult breathing (for those who did read the lyrics, they would get why) And I do regret having them enclosed. I used to avoid enclosing them since I’ve never been too interested in discussing what is “obvious” for me and personal... “III” has been recorded in “one take” or so to say and I do consider this as some “happening” art wise. It’s exposed, a bit too much... Very different than the previous albums, which had more like “chorus” and normal lyrical structure. This time, it’s way different.
3. INRVI - the long time session member has finally became a stable part of the band. Did he contribute somehow to the new album? Despite Aosoth being a trio now only BsT and INRVI are portrayed in the layout. What was the reason?
Since he was the ONLY one who has been showing interest and being motivated, it made sense. Yes he did most of his bass part, yet 95% of the music is composed and performed by BST. The reason for the visual just involving them is done on purpose. My presence is like a minor instrument and somehow like “spoken” over what matters the most, the sinister oppressive tone of the music. The flesh details and voice over the album are already more than enough.
Also : have problems with having to see my own image on such format. Bored with the idea that it does convey to some thus erasing me more & more. Even in the promo pictures or visuals we have on our sites, we do limit a lot any pictures with me in it. If I could perform behind the drums or outside of stage : I would seriously do it. Just not possible in most case.
As I did say earlier in another interview I was doing, the version of III i get to listen the most is the premix without any vocals, this is my fave version & I just relive the concept in my head, without the nuissance of my vocals.
4. Drumming has always been an issue in Aosoth for me. I didn’t like the artificial sound of drums but I thought that BsT is drumming on electronic kit there. Sound of drums is good on the new album yet there are a few details which made me think. Let’s put it straight. Are drums on Aosoth’s records programmed or played by a real person?
Programmed by Bst. We could pay a drummer for the studio, but with all the costs in the end, am more than satisfied with the result. As you did see, we did perform live with Aosoth and had our fair amount of session members. So it’s not like we have “impossible” track to perform. “III” will be the most easier to perform, drum wise, out of the releases we had out, so if we have to go on stage (one gig is in the making for 2012, nothing else in between).
Also, even when we thought of saving to get a real drummer on that album, we had to face (as usual) many problems & had to deliver the album finished at a specific deadline. This made the work more convinient, and so much time saved... The more individual involved in one underground act, the harder it is to make it work. Especially when most of those are involved in various bands, it’s always quite a problem to handle all the individuals agenda. And no, we hardly never found anyone who was interested in being full time session, it ended all the time the same way... Thus the extensive band member list for live session in such a short period of time.
5. The atmosphere of “III” is truly hideous and malevolent. The promotional sheet from Agonia speaks about “increasing hatred within”. Well that’s just a promo-phrase but the vibe of the new album is truly something! What kind of events and experiences have influenced you to create such album?
As Bst did state in one interview, this reflects what we have been going through & just having to see around. No need for more, this album is really an introspection, it did mature within us & then got exposed to the light, the darkness within went out.
6. It is quite common for Aosoth to have guest-musicians. On debut album Master and Amduscias helped out with a lyrics. On “Ashes of Angels” you had some backing vocals from Arkdeamon and INRVI. What about “III”? Did you invite someone to contribute with something?
No, this time the album was very personal. For the ambiant work, Bst did work with Hostis, this is somehow the only outsider that did contribute for this album. Also for the live introduction we used on our live ritual with Urgehal just after our tour with Shining/Watain.
Maybe we will again have some close individuals to join us in case we do record the songs we talked about within our band. Just like a bound with some specific musicians we do respect or belongs to the “family” ...
7. Have you ever heard of “the third album syndrome”? Meaning that the bands record their third and the best album and then they either split-up or their next releases suck. “III” is definitely your best work yet, do you think you will be able to surpass it with a possible follow-up? Interestingly this happened with Antaeus which has been put on hold after the third and best album Blood Libels…
Indeed that’s true, well there is also the “first album” which is the most straight forward & the early fans are always sticking to that one, the second album is often considered as showing the future direction & depending on the “third”... In the case of Antaeus, “blood libels” has been the epitome of the band, we did talk with seth about recording an album that would be more violent and straight forward, closer to the “cyfaws” era song structure but nothing did happen since 2007. But we did reach what we aimed for with “blood libels” and Antaeus had a different scheme if we do compare what Aosoth has been releasing. Antaeus did remain like a very fast satanic audio violence band; Aosoth went from black with thrash alike elements on the first, to more death metal sounding tracks for “ashes of angels” and then “III” ended up in being VERY different from the rest. Not a radical turn like Ulver or the new morbid angel for instance, it still makes sense there.
Now, am still too much in “III” and focusing on the Antaeus recent reunion and the “rites of darkness” coming up for us in december in texas. Really cannot think of what will be next and how it will be done, the tour did drain me fully, the album got all I had in me. All is out there now. All is just fucking out there. I am not handling me anymore for now, the whole essence is expressed and given away.
8. The first self-titled album was released through Total Holocaust records, the second and the third through Agonia rec. Is the next full-length release going to be released by a new label? I was always wondering why Aosoth aren’t signed to an elite label like Norma Evangelium Diaboli for example.
NED was not interested in signing Aosoth, as simple as that. See even Mutiilation for instance, got signed on EAL and not NED. Also it was a good thing not to be always mixed up with Antaeus, also proving that it’s not because I was heavily linked with Norma Evangelium Diaboli that it gave us instant access to sign up with them.
Total Holocaust & Ajna offensive (for the vinyl version) did a really REALLY good job for Aosoth and I have to thank them again for having given us those opportunities. This was not easy to get that first album out, nowadays with the scene situation, labels willing to sign a band and sticking to their words : quite impossible.
Agonia came afterwards and have been also doing a very impressive job and I can tell the evolution in past year, they really are improving all aspects of the label. Yes there were problems in the past & so on, but as far as we are concerned : our conditions are really good with Agonia; also being in regular contact and somehow treated as a priority band there is quite a change. Through the years, we’ve had our fair amount of experiences with labels or having to hear about other bands and how things would go for them, trust us : I would recommand Agonia now.
About a future album, as mentionned above, there is nothing that is in the making for now and the near future, but most likely yes, if something has to be released, it would be on this polish label again.
9. After a tour with Hell Militia you posted a very bitter blog implying that Aosoth will cease their live performances. Anyway something made you to change your mind and you went on tour with Shining and Watain. What was it that you changed your mind and how did you enjoy the tour?
Indeed a very bitter blog written by someone who didnt have time to digest anything and was mostly pissed at the “usual” conditions we could get. When we got the offer from the Watain kamp to join them on tour, at first we had to fix a few details but we ended up on being able to join. I knew the Watain guys for years, we’ve been close and worked on musical field as well (did release a split ep of watain, wrote one lyrics for them, erik did do the aosoth logo...) About Shining, didn”t know neither the music nor the individual at all, only had a trade back when Antaeus had cyfaws out.... Niklas was like 16 max at the time I think. Ended up that the guy was a really special individual and interesting in its own particular way. All went fine, 17 days with them and was really not worn out at all in the end, while on the hell militia tour, after 7 days I was about to loose it nervously with the zero sleep and hours spent on the road with problems.
As you can guess, the idea to be performing live with individuals I respect on both personal & musical level, it’s a one time in your life opportunity. Plus Watain were performing “my fists are Him” often on the tour, so that was a plus, do think this song is really a Killer old track of them.
Tour, when it comes to aosoth, I wish we had dan on the drums... in the end, belgium, liverpool, montpellier (south of france) were REALLY good gigs. Rest... mixed feelings... especially the Paris area, I just HATE to have a lame gig in my own area. Well having to perform badly with a band is always an issue, we dont play live much, so if people are attending, I do consider we have to be at our best, and that was not always the case.
10. By the way it seemed that gig in Prague was particularly bad for you. Well, audience wasn’t numerous and the sound sucked but interestingly quite a lot of people who were there consider Aosoth’s performance to be unforgettable (meaning it was great of course). What do you think about that particular date now in retrospective?
Not a “bad” gig, somehow our thoughts were “we should have been there on Saturday & skip one of the german gig”. Conditions were exhausting on that tour and I just wished it would have been a day before, audience was WAYYY better than the gig on Friday where they all did seem more dead and in a venue that was not really fitting (too big & no one inside). Conditions in Praha were really good and the promoter did a really good job. Also would recall the local food we did try and that was a must. Just too bad I didnt get to know anyone or so there, meeting Andrey from ukraine who did film us was a good memory as well, a die hard guy ! Would also recall on how sick our bass player was that day; the trip back was straight from prague to paris for us, a very very very long trip back. Especially with that snow... the gig on itself : we had a fairly good sound & dan was an amazing drummer. Was difficult to exchange with the soundguy though, seems that in europe a soundguy speaking english is a RARE thing. Now that we did the tour with Watain, we’ve experienced the worst gigs ever of Aosoth I think... Good thing the last one in the eastern france was really intense (with the latest drummer).
11. Anyway as far as I know you are looking for a second guitar player so that means you might hit the road again I guess. I think that second guitar player is necessary if you want to play the new songs but do you think that it is possible to present the malignant aura of the new songs exactly as on the album?
On the road, not likely, but performing at least one gig in our local area : yes. We’re massively working on it. We will have our own sound engineer there, do think we will manage to prepare the “lights” we want. For once we will make sure to have the whole atmosphere in which WE do get confident ourselves, thus it will have the right impact & most likely will retransfer the malignant aura. Not all tracks could be performed, but on a personal level, I would like to have in the set list, the first, second, third & especially the fifth scene. Then would have to readapt some details to make it collide. Like the first part of the gig being focused on earlier recording & then ending with the chapter III. Also with a second guitar player, I really hope to perform “path of twisted light” live.
12. Lately Antaeus’ album are being reissued on tapes and vinyl. Two reunion gigs will also take place this year in Germany and USA. Do you think that those few years of silence and uncertainty raised the interest in the band?
Raising the interest, I do not think so, but there has been somehow a respect of the band one year after the release of “blood libels” (when we were already over as a live band). The repress of Osmose were just of 500 copies, not a massive “thing” either, many bands do get repress, guess it’s more surprising to see it from us since those albums didnt sell out fast when they came out. About the tape version, it had been my desire since long, I’d also like to have “de principii evangelikum” also on tape version, but so far, was not possible... (since the release belongs to osmose prod).
The communion with the audience at Deathkult was fucking intense though, wouldnt have expected this, hails to all those who did attend, they made this event impossible to forget.
13. Deathkult Open Air and Rites of Darkness III. Do you already have the full line up ready? Could you announce who is going to play in the band alongside the core members? And what do you expect from those gigs?
Note: If you’re answering these questions after Deathkult, could you please write some impressions from the festival?
Full line up was : blastum (session drums) (also in ritualization, was also in aosoth in the past), Bst (session guitar), InrVI (session bass) and the core of the band Seth (guitars) & myself. Didn’t know what to expect, at first was a bit skeptical to see a small scene in such a big field (5 meters wide), it was somehow just a bit bigger than the venue in Prague for instance, we couldn’t fit all together at the front & had to skip places.
Yet, the team who did organise, the bands there, the audience : all was Killer. And trust me, I hate fest with too many “metallers” & the clichés stuff around it. There, I felt like home. A too warm home though, massive sun & performing in openair is still puzzling me. A venue would have been better but hey, that was their first and am sure things will evolve in the future.
Highlights were : Essenz (killer lps btw), Thorybos (violent stuff, never heard them before & was really into it), Truppensturm (dedicated crowd), Chaos invocation would have been better in darkness but they did deliver a devoted set, Hell militia was as usual : killer & doing the GG Allin cover with impurath & james read is a great souvenir, Dead congregation : among my fave of the genre, Necros Christos : still a BIG fan of the early work, Archgoat : old school finnish bm & perfect to end the fest. Due to alcohol or other things, didnt get to see the others bands much... especially on Friday after 10 hours drive. No clue about how many people did attend, I’d say maybe 600 paying so around 700 in total.
14. After you play those two gigs do you intend to put Antaeus to ice again or you may start working on a new opus?
As said earlier, it’s quite impossible to predict anything within the Antaeus kamp, we’re so not stable and tend to be a bit too tensed or pissed off. Even if the deathkult was a killer fest, there is nothing “clearly” planned. Yet I am interested myself, all is in the hands of Seth now... it will depend on his will to compose music or not.
15. So what about the future plans of Aosoth? Any planned releases, merch, gigs? Anything important that hasn’t been mentioned?
Auditionning a second guitar player for live situation, maybe another drummer (as always)... working on stage elements and light for that one specific gig we will do. Merch wise : nothing so far, there should have been one tshirt but we didnt fix any design, something is in the making though but need to get back to the artist. About future recording : we’ve been talking about releases being done just for ep releases, mostly covers or tracks we could give an Aosoth interpretation of.
16. You’re a notable figure of underground metal music. It would be a long list of bands and things you have taken part in. Even though it seems that metal music drowns in shit deeper and deeper with every year there are still bands, labels and people who make it worth it. What things keep you personally attracted to this genre? It is not only about nostalgia I guess…
Indeed, nostalgia kept me going on a decade ago. Nowadays, I would say that this scene is where I belong. As simple as that, I did not change myself to fit it, I’m even not too good with the cliché of the genre or have never been willing to adapt to the demands of outsiders and the usual complains about my past work. Antaeus was “too grind”, “too death metal”, “suspected of being christian in desguise” (which was so pathetic to hear/read...) and the list can go on. We had death threats, gigs cancelled, boycott, fights, issues and we did never change our direction.
The only difference reside in the amount of demos/vinyls I do get, I used to really order a lot, nowadays I guess my musical taste is more selective.
Mostly getting acts recommanded by likeminded individuals whose taste I can trust. Or just witnessing new acts live, like Necroblood (french) & Thorybos (germans) see, with them I had a blast & didnt them prior to those live experiences.
As long as I do still feel connected & have this interest, it all makes sense. Am still a “fan” of those bands and ready to drive long hours just a gig that is not happening in France. I even prefer attending those specific gig (no fest though) than performing. Having my distance with the worst of the scene (the drama, the bullshit with labels, the competition & the rise of morons who have no clue about the music “business” & do expect to make a living or anything...)
Anyway, hails to my comrades, Fuck off to the enemies.
17. That is all from me, thank you for the time you dedicated to questions. Last but not least thank you for the incredible new album. The last words are yours. Hails!
Hails to you for this very extensive and interesting interview. For sure the most indepth we had to do. AMSG.
