AOSOTH (Eng.)
– Hello, thanks for agreeing doing this interview. What are you currently up to?
*** Hails, right now, lost in a weird summer and awaiting the end of it…
– «III» was released a few months ago; how has been its feedback and the fans’ reaction?
*** We can even say that the album is “old news” now since a recording is already forgotten and outdated in a short time notice. The album got very good reviews from the press (zine, webzine & metal mags), didn’t get much personal feedback, but from what I got to read here and there on our pages, seems like the album was a surprise to most and the most complete we had to offer. Sales wise, it’s way under the two previous albums, but download wise, seems higher ! People tend to say that’s what matters so….
– Now that I guess you have had the chance of listening carefully to it; have you found anything you could have done better or anything you would like to change?
*** indeed, being the vocalist for the band, my main issue would be related to my own work. Thus I am putting out on my label (spikekult, which released gbk, demoncy, watain, averse sefira, secrets of the moon, urgrund, antaeus… releases in the past) a vinyl version which will be just instrumental, limited to 100 copies, so somehow a collector with an alternative cover, of course with such limited print run it’s quite impossible to obtain a normal lp cover, but will try to have something worth it lay out, simple but effective + of course handnumbered. The mastering for the instrumental version is being done as we speak and did already find the place where we will get this item printed, by the end of summer 011, early fall it should be out. Will update on our webpages anyway… Didn’t ask the others about what they would change, I guess some elements or details here and there, but not even sure. In Aosoth we are not really the type of band that gets to see each other and discuss. “III” is somehow a closed chapter for us, or we’re experiencing this closure. Your interview should be among the last ones we’ll have to do related to this album.
– When you started with AOSOTH; what were the aims you setted with the band, both in a personal and musical level?
*** Aosoth started as an antaeus side project when our drummer would not show up, musicians would skip position and the early reh’ were mostly spontaneous tracks, very basic and more mid tempo. All lyrics were chants of the Order of the Nine Angles which I had with me at the time as printed books. There were no particular aims, it did allow us to work on something more simple and less oppressive than the rage from Antaeus. But since that day, many things did change, including the line up, we’ve had over 10 different band members in the past years. The core of the band today is Bst (all music) & me as vocalist. For future recording of Aosoth, the band is now more or less only belonging to Bst and I will just put vocals on it, might not even write the lyrics nor take care of anything anymore. Just a “session” somehow.
– You were also in ANTAEUS so, with which of these two bands do you feel/felt more comfortable with?
*** Two different aspect of the black metal genre. Cannot compare. Did start
Antaeus in 94, Aosoth did arise in 2002, so the impact of time damaging the motivation and the fact that I’m getting tired of having to struggle and battle with each formation I’m in… well if I had to compare, Aosoth didn’t suffer as much from bullshit and rumors and backstabbing as Antaeus did in its days. Also performing live with Aosoth has always been way less complicated and fullfilling (outside of the eternal drummer issue and how it could ruin a tour…) In both formation, i ended up performing as an “exhibit” somehow, a kind of art happening where I would let it all out and reveal personal views/experiences. All through explicit or not images and words, those do make senses to me, it might not to others – but the point was to feel as one with the sound or get the music enhanced with another instrument : my vocals.
Now I cannot stand listening to any older recording of mine for instance, yet performing live with aosoth on some gigs (the last one with angantyr & urgehal for instance) or antaeus at the deathkult open air (with archgoat, necros christos, hell militia, essenz, dead congregation & other killer bands !)
: both were really interesting experiences.
And at the same time, once I do get to see the videos or see pictures, my mood gets bitter and I really do feel like I simply dont belong to being a vocalist nor being on stage anymore.
In the end, it’s not a question of comfort, more of finding which one was easier to cope with and had the less problems related to it.
– And what provides/provided you one band that the other can’t?
*** None of them did provide me anything but problems and frustration in the end.
– In my humble opinion, each AOSOTH’s release is better than the
previous one, and with «III» production is really impressive, there’s also a great songwriting and excelent songs. Do you think this is the best effort of your career? Could you say you have now reached de difinitive dregree of maturity in songwriting terms?
*** Would agree that “III” is the strongest release of Aosoth, there are still tracks from earlier release that would remain interesting to relisten to, like “cries out from heaven” the version performed live (differs a bit from the structure from the album).
Had expected our new opus to be quite a change & mostly had in mind that many would just not show any interest in the band anylonger since it got a more slow oppressive approach and not really being composed of songs with the usual “chorus” lines or so… An audio experience in its whole and not a gathering of tracks.
Music wise, Bst does explore more technics in his other bands, while Aosoth did show the more introspective oppressive aspect of his writting skills.
Yet, am quite sure that as a performer and songwritter, he feels more at ease with the composition from the order of appolyon. Not being denigrating anything related to Aosoth of course !
About our bass player, he’s still the most motivated of us three. Younger I guess thus not being as bitter as us on other fields.
– And how’s the recording process like in AOSOTH?
*** Depends, usually Bst used to write ALL on his own & would present me a full premixed album and then I would have to do vocals. We have no “steady” live line up, so there is no writting nor composition as a band in a reh’ room, which is a good thing, otherwise nothing would ever come out I guess. All my experiences in band did prove me that having to deal with numerous people in the composition never ends up good… With “III” it took more time, would get one track a month, then nothing for a while, then another & we did discuss about the thematic I had lyrics wise, how it would evolve and keeping the chronological song composition, up to the final III-6 which is tormented and sick…
Our bass player did finish up the recording after all vocals were done,
somehow, once it did start, all went rather fast + we had the obligation to provide the recording and artwork prior to joining the european watain/shining tour. But there was no rush either, we had more issues with the artwork for instance…
– «III» is your second album with Agonia Records; are you satisfied with their work?
*** Yes, and did notice a very big change in between the “ashes of angels” promotion and the newer one, we get weekly reports and feedback, at least we have to see what is going on and so far, reviews wise, really 80% of them were very positive, got me surprised.
Sales wise, if we combine nowadays music business situation and the fact that aosoth is an unknown french band… no wonder we barely reach 500 copies sold for a cd. So having Agonia to still support us while we are REALLY not a band that can be of any benefit for them : yes that’s a sign of respect from their side. Good thing is that we do not have to provide shirt motives anylonger, only details in the contract I would have liked to be changed… Getting an artist to provide some art is just too expensive and sadly those being interested in working with us for free are just not at all in the same vein as the genre we try to keep.
Bst is most likely to sign again for Agonia, it might even been done already. Cannot tell much more, am not related to the forthcoming Aosoth release on that level.
– What are your all-time main Metal influences?
*** No clue, do not have an “all time” main metal influence I guess.
What I would listen when was a teenager is not what I do listen to now being 35. Some classics are still played, like old slayer, early bathory… but never was too much into heavy/speed/thrash in general, just a few bands. In the newer act, I do listen to Essenz, dead congregation, katharsis, funeral mist, pseudogod, dso… not that it matters much I guess. Used to be surrounded by music a lot, now it often happens that not a song would be heard for weeks. Am easily responding to such stimuli as musical ones, thus to keep calm, I do enjoy the silence.
Otherwise, yes to brighter death now, genocide organ, early der blutharsch. Those were on my playlist each day on that tour we did recently.
– And beside Black Metal or even Metal in general, do you listen to any other genres?
*** As mentionned above, I’ve never been a “metal fan”, nor do I like “metal brotherhood” nor “metal gathering”. Even when first had to listen to iron maiden as a kid, always thought something was missing, having my first death metal underground demo and getting to be introduced to the world of fanzine and tape trading in 89 really changed my vision.
My collection is mostly composed of demos from that time and split ep.
Had to sell most of my cds and vinyls at some point, but good thing : I do not regret it still…
Nowadays : mostly harsh noise or power electronic, industrial if there is any “audio” around, but that is not often. (genocide organ, brighter death now, whitehouse…)
Gig wise : witnessing AmenRa performing live is always an amazing experience.
So was the Karjalan Sissit gig in Paris, band from the vocalist of “the black”. Really fucked up.
– A few time ago you toured with WATAIN and SHINING, how did it
go? I remember your show in Barcelona and the terrible venue’s sound unfortunately…
**** Mmmm well. To make it short, both of the swedish band had their sound engineer and a soundcheck, a proper soundcheck. We never had that luxury, nor even getting the local guy to show much interest in helping us set up things. Aosoth did their best with what they had and that was very irritating for us. We were lucky in liverpool, reading & montpellier… For instance in belgium & germany, simply no sound guy at first, they had to find someone in last minute (and for belgium, it was REALLY in last minute, the guy did show up while we were to go on stage, since it was the end of the tour and was bored of having to perform with shitty sound, was ready to cancel).
Apart from that, was great to witness Watain each night and see again those guys since we’ve been in touch for many years. Also was my first time performing in Spain for instance, surprisingly good turn out considering it was on a week time.
Was a weird feeling though, in the end, being on tour makes you feel even
more lonely than being reclusive at home… I havent been a guy “going out” for some times now, and on this tour, each time we would end up at the bar, witnessing the other bands and awaiting to reload the equipment… and it was really having to experience a distant world… really so different from the tour Antaeus did in 2002 for instance. Would recall that gigs was also a good opportunity to meet up with individuals with whom I was in touch for decades or so… this time, well… But Aosoth being unknown and us having to perform in difficult condition, guess that did explain the no interest or so.
Another very good souvenir from the tour, was the very last day in Holland where Set Teitan came with us to perform Inner war as second guitar player. Perfect way for us to close the tour.
– And finally, what are the future plans for AOSOTH?
*** Not much right now, am finishing the “promo” time for this album, having that limited lp version out. We were to record one or two cover tracks for split vinyls but due to issue with some equipment, all is pushed to a later date. Also since the aosoth line up (bst & inrvi) are session in the Antaeus gigs we have to do (deathkult last june & rites of darkness in this coming december in texas). Guess it’s mostly focused on Antaeus right now. We might organise ourself one gig in our area (paris) in 2012 since we haven’t performed live since the tour, so it will be like a year in between the last gig and the only one for 2012. Doubt we will be able to do any live gigs apart from this one.
But then again, InrVI is busy with the composition of his album for Agonia records, Bst has two recording to conclude with his own bands… they’re very busy. Agonia is expecting us to release something before 2013 (if we ever do another album that is !)
– That’s all from my side. If you want to add some final words, feel free to do it.
*** Hails to you for the interest in Aosoth !
AMSG
MkM
