Following up on 2010’s Ashes of Angels, former Antaeus vocalist MkM has returned to his Aosoth-project to deliver sermons of blackened fury. And while the last effort had slight tinges of Deathspell Omega/Blut Aus Nord styled discordance and atmospherics, with lengthier songs, more dissonant, harrowing and atonal hues, Aosoth appears to have morphed into a much more virulent and claustrophobic form of black metal akin to their formerly peerless French peers.
With only six songs, all numbered in roman numerals, III already gives of a ritualistic, cryptic vibe, before you even hit play. But as the almost eight minutes that comprise “I” lurch, ooze, and careen out of the speakers with a manner of skin crawling riffs, itchy atmospherics and nerve-wracking ambience, the vibe is fervently cemented.
The filthy, distant, scratchy production and feral, twisted tremolo blasts (i.e. start of “II” devastating opening salvo of “VI”) are responsible for much of the album’s filthy ambience, but when coupled with MkM’s tortured rasps and the injections of slower, creepy, unsettling passages (end of “I”, start of “III”, end of “V”), the album descends into a whole other realm of psychosis, paranoia and dread.
The album’s highlight is the last almost 20 minutes that comprise parts “V” and “VI”. These two, 9+ minute monstrosities deliver a sanity sapping descent into lengthy, varied sonic bedlam with the albums most memorable crippling riffs, structures and transitions to sickly, occult passages. Of note the last few moments of the devastating “VI”, where a distant choral effigy chants the albums death throes in rather effective, haunting fashion. It’s a subtle dichotomy from the tracks prior vortex in intensity but allows the listener to regain their sanity and gather their thoughts from the previous 45 minutes of sonic molestation.
Yup! Just go ahead and add Aoseth to the growing list of the French Black Metal elite — with III, they’ve rendered arguably one of 2011’s best black metal releases thus far.
[Visit the band's website]Find more articles with 2011, Agonia Records, Aosoth, E.Thomas, Review
Comments
Leave a Reply
Mental fortitude is required to endure this multi-tentacled, all-consuming beast masquerading as an album! Fan-fucking-tastic!
on May 31st, 2011 at 12:27This is album of the year so far for me.
on May 31st, 2011 at 14:18defs looking into this soon. this shit is my bread and butter.
on May 31st, 2011 at 15:31I remember being less than blown away with the last one, but maybe I should go back and revisit it. Cool review
on Jun 1st, 2011 at 10:08liked the song I heard here a lot. must be something in the wine over in France. yikes.
on Jun 1st, 2011 at 10:29Love this band. Ashes was such a devastating album and this is a great followup.
on Jun 2nd, 2011 at 18:25This album is how filthy black metal should sound. MkM’s vokills are fucking rotten!
on Jun 2nd, 2011 at 22:30Such a good album…
on Jun 5th, 2011 at 00:44Love this album it helped shape and inspire a project I’ve been working on.
on Jun 26th, 2011 at 10:11