A discussion with a friend a few years ago about black metal bands from France made the point of how the french do take it to the extreme. Over the top if you will. Not in a bad way, but just more the point that what ever mood they want to fill their art with, they will make sure it is not only there, but saturate it! Aosoth's new album 'IV: An Arrow in Heart' is one of those moments. Do they saturate this album in darkness and blistering heaviness or what?
I think back to 2004 when Deathspell Omega's album 'Si Monumentum Requires, Circumspice' came out and all the metal zines were raving about it being a black metal classic. At least to these ears, Aosoth has done one better here. It is just as heavy, just as dark, just as organic and fucking evil. The big difference is they change the patterns a bit to set their moments apart. Take the blistering speeds of songs like the title song or 'One With The Prince...' but become overwhelmed by the technical twists or dissonant riffs and slowed down moments. Almost mesmerizing, really capturing you in their darkness. Even at around five minutes on 'One With The Prince...', that moment where the boulder like drums take full control and that riff lifts the floor from under you. Just awesome.
Perhaps angels do exist, but like humanity, there are evil ones too, that lurk in the underground. The raw and deep tones in these crushingly heavy riffs have caused the holy structures to crumble and the path ways to crack open and cave in, which can allow these evil ones to ascend and strangle their way to reclaiming the kingdom in the skies above. Led by the harsh calls of MkM, they will march throughout the Earth and build black Temples to worship their dark one.
After all the chaos that you have heard. Take a moment to reflect with 'Broken Dialogue', with its drones and dark melodic steps. It will not be long though before 'Ritual Marks of Penitence' bellows in for the final piece to slowly grind away at ripping a giant hole into the Earths heart. And thus the end to a very fine black metal album.
When that part of you feels that Deathspell Omega has become a little too 'spaz-tech' or Blut Aus Nord has become a little too 'mechanical', Aosoth is the perfect option to turn to. Black, crushing and still carrying an organic sound. Great work!
Ikil
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