Masterful Magazine - Death Metal and Black Metal Magazine

Aosoth

Wywiad przeprowadził - Wouter Roemers

A little while ago Agonia Records released "Ashes Of Angels" the second album of French black metal duo Aosoth. With ties to revered outfits as Temple Of Baal and Antaeus it became instantly clear that Aosoth wasn't just another black metal act. Masterful Magazine got in contact with Agonia Records and arranged an interview with Aosoth composer/multi-instrumentalist and producer Sébastien Tuvi (Bestial Satanic T) to talk about the band's ideological ideas, his connection with Antaeus and the French black metal scene in general.

Hello Sébastien! "Ashes Of Angels" has been out for a while now. Are you satisfied with the reactions it got from the press as well as the fans?

Hails. From what I have seen we don't have too much to complain about, the press was rather kind to us, and the fans really seem to enjoy that album, I'd even say most of them like this one better than the previous one. However, I must say that we don't record albums in order to please people. We know what we want to do and we judge our own work according to our own standards. On that level I am very satisfied with this album.

Aosoth derives its name from a dark female force in the pantheon of the Order Of the Nine Angels. I am not at all involved in Satanism of any kind, so could you briefly explain this to our novice readers?

MkM would be the one able to go into further details on that area. But it is clear that the band Aosoth has strong links with the ONA. I myself am not directly involved in any organised group, but from the readings that were made available to me, I share lot of values with that organisation.

The band started out as a collaboration between yourself and Antaeus vocalist/lyricist Magus Kaiser Munkir. When did you discover that you shared an ideology and were musically compatible?

We have known each other for thirteen years or so, and have been playing music together in the past, and we've had a strong connection ever since. He was in the underground extreme metal scene way before I was, and as I grew more and more found of black metal (of its music and ideology) our connection grew stronger as well, and at some point it became logical that we would work together on this project.

The band's logo was created by Watain's Erik Danielsson. Is he a friend of the band and did he create the logo by himself – or did you give him a rough sketch of what you wanted the logo to look like?

He's been a friend of MkM's for quite a while now, and he did it himself. That logo was actually made at a time when Aosoth had a totally different line up, I wasn't a part of it then, but I would assume he had total freedom in the conception of that logo.

The lyrics for "Ashes Of Angels" were written by vocalist MkM (Antaeus) – can you briefly explain what they are about and how they relate to your Satanic outlook on life and society?

The lyrics of the debut album were focusing on principles from the ONA, however on the new offering it would be more about personal things, experiences, pain, hatred... So you could say they relate entirely on the way we perceive life in general. Same goes with the music actually, it was written in a very spontaneous way, and was guided by the way I felt at the time, and it clearly wasn't the best time of my existence.

Aosoth's self-titled debut was released by Total Holocaust Records in 2008. This new record was released in October 2009 through Poland's black metal specialist label Agonia Records. How's that been working out for the band? Are you satisfied with effort they've put into this release as far as distribution and promotion goes?

We are extremely happy with that collaboration, Agonia fulfilled its part of the deal. The promotion is very satisfying, and we have fast responses to our every requests

The band's earlier releases were strongly linked to The Order Of Nine Angels, a Satanic think-tank and organisation, and its philosophy. Have these ideological ties been loosened over the last couple of years?

I would not say that, no. We develop our thematics into something more concrete, but the ONA's still are very much present.

In April Aosoth will be touring Europe with French black metallers Hell Militia. After Antaeus' disastrous European tour in support of "Blood Libels" – was it easy convincing MkM to partake in this particular trek?

Not really. But the conditions seem pretty good and Antaeus was a very different entity. The hardest part was actually to get MkM to play live shows in general, but then he discovered that things could actually work, as I recruited potent musicians that were able to get along and do their jobs, when Antaeus always had quite a chaotic line-up, and human issues.

Over the last years France has become a breeding ground for some of the most respected (theological) black metal acts. Bands like Aldaaron, Antaeus, Belenos, Deathspell Omega, Glorior Belli, Merrimack and Vorkreist. What makes France such an ideal environment for this sort of music?

I really have no idea, but I am indeed proud to be a part of that scene. I have a lot of respect for most of the artists you mentioned.

Besides Aosoth you are also the founder of The Order Of Apollyon. This is an all-star death/black metal act consisting of drummer Dan Wilding (ex-Aborted, Trigger the Bloodshed), guitarist James McIlroy (ex-Cradle of Filth) and bassist Peter Benjamin (Akercocke). How are the sessions for your Listenable Records debut "The Flesh" coming along – are they nearing completion?

I am glad to say the album is now finished and about to be sent to the factory. I am extremely pleased with the result. It's interesting to be able to express a different facet of things through another project, although on some points The Order is not as far away from Aosoth than it may seem at first. We should start playing shows quite soon and I am looking forward to that.

Well, Sébastien, that sums it for me. Good luck with Aosoth and your other projects. If there's anything I forgot to mention – here's the space!

Thank you for the interview and see you on the road.

Info/booking: www.agoniarecords.com/

Aosoth

Wywiad przeprowadził - Wouter Roemers

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