Aosoth / Antaeus

In 2002 Aosoth and Antaeus released a split. This was the very first appearance of Aosoth in the musical proceedings and a split with another rising French band made sense, especially if we consider the presence of MkM in both of them.

Regarding Aosoth, there are three tracks in this release, and they greatly diverge from the path that the band has chosen to follow nowadays. The compositions are rawer and straightforward, with a fast tempo and even one or two black ‘n’ roll riffs like the opening one in “The Bond of the Nine Angels”. Despite that fact, they don’t lose any of their intensity and this special sound that has always characterized them. Also I’d like to mention a difference in the voice of MkM, since in this specific release it sounds a bit more high-pitched compared to the more introverted and ritualistic twang he uses at present.

As for Antaeus, we’re not dealing with any new tracks, since three of them were present in the “Cut Your Flesh and Worship Satan” album and the other one in the “SPK Kommando” split. These four compositions don’t really deviate from the aggressive and nihilistic identity that Antaeus are known for. The only difference in this case is that these tracks are heard from a live performance in Paris. Truth is that Antaeus sound even more ferocious live than in their albums because they perform with such brutality and speed that sound like a real war machine. Mkm, the drums, the guitars cutting like razors, everything contributes to this violent result.

To conclude, I enjoyed this split mainly because of the Aosoth side that really presented three great tracks and showed the potential of the band, even back then. Though Antaeus’ tracks are good, their repetition in a live performance didn’t really suit for me as I didn’t find it so intriguing. I’d prefer some new material. But overall this is a decent performance from two of the greatest bands that France has to offer.


Originally written for: The Lair of Storfeth