Aosoth
Ashes of Angels

With France’s scourge of black metal, Antaeus on hold since 2006s blistering Blood Libels, Antaeus vocalist MkM has decided to forge on with his on project, one that’s been simmering and brewing now for the better part of a decade and one relatively overlooked full length album. With the help of Bestial Satanic T (ex-Aborted) who plays all the instruments, the second album from Aosoth fills the void of vitriolic nastiness left by Antaeus’ hiatus.

Obvious comparisons and stylistic similarities to Antaeus are immediately apparent and viable as Aosoth certainly ply a slick, vehement form of slightly death metal based black metal that treads the balance between violent, slicing black metal and some mid paced menace. It’s also the same way Zyklon are black metal ― slightly more polished, modern and clean ― as the tone is slightly less septic and Satanic with more esoteric, occult themes as opposed to the direct, Flesh Cutting,  Satan worshiping savagery of Antaeus. Its not Deathspell Omega twisted, but at times the delivery has that cryptic, controlled psychosis as heard on the title track, “Path of Twisted Light” and “Teaching/Erasing” .

Still, when you hear the likes of opener “Songs Without Lungs”, “Embrace and Enlightment”, “Summon the Dead”, “Communion Through the Ruin” and the utterly seething standout “Banished” (not to mention a cover of the Antaeus song “Inner War” which blends in seamlessly with the rest of the album) its hard not to think of Antaeus. But that’s not really a bad thing and Aosoth drip with the same intensity and fury at times.

In a year where some relatively laid back metal has grabbed my interest (Alcest, Nechochwen, Orphaned Land, Negura Bunget etc) its nice to feel my blood pump, my teeth grind, minutes and have some genuine hate boiling in my soul for a few minutes.

[Visit the band's website]
Written by Erik T
April 5th, 2010

Comments

  1. Commented by: slimylimey

    Love this album. Its been in constant rotation for the past couple of months.


  2. Commented by: Biff_Tannen

    I really need to pick this up. Been hearing great things about it for a while, and I need an MKM fix….it’s been much too long since the fucking GODLY Blood Libels.
    Great review!


  3. Commented by: Brutalicon

    Good review.

    How does Orphaned Land come across as black metal? Granted, I have only heard the last 2 full-lengths, but it never struck as black metal.


  4. Commented by: Joe

    laid “back” metal.


  5. Commented by: Brutalicon

    oops, thank god someone can read. I suck, sorry Erik and good catch Joe. I will submit to an hour of The Beegees as punishment.


  6. Commented by: Apollyon

    > I will submit to an hour of The Beegees as punishment.

    It’s not a punishment if you like it :)


  7. Commented by: Brutalicon

    ^^^

    them be fightin words


  8. Commented by: guilliame

    Teaching/Erasing is amazing!


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