Opium tainted Dream | Review By: Noa Kushnir

Intro

Recently we are blessed by an avalanche of great bands heading towards this little unholy piece of earth upon which we dwell. If all gigs take place as planned we'll be graced by the presence of returning Norse legends Taake, Belphegor (why not bring Vader as well if you're at it?), Grave Miasma and even Switzerland's mighty Bölzer. Who would have imagined that these Swiss fiends would have ever looked toward our direction let alone come over for a visit, especially in light of their now booming popularity throughout Europe? And most of all who are the culprits responsible for all that?

Questions aside, I feel more than blessed for this upcoming series of fortunate events and happy that all this is taking place in the most appropriate time of the year, namely the freezing, cold, grim and dark winter. My favorite time of the year has just become better. As Morbid Angel once said, blessed are the sick - and the sick fans of Extreme Metal were most certainly blessed this winter.

Aosoth were the first, at least for me, to start off the musical festivities, announcing their coming amids the blazing hot summer. By then, I was already part of the reshimotohu.com team so I quickly jumped on the opportunity of reviewing this once in a lifetime event. And whoever knows the local scene, knows that bands of their kind seldom frequent our little province, and it is with true envy that I often look upon various countries in Europe, with their numerous Black Metal festivals and bands. I wanted this event to succeed, I wanted the Levontin club to be packed full, for the sake of the band and for the sake of our little puddle of a Black Metal scene, whose few but devoted fans deserve much more and much better. I wasn't sure all that could happen, remembering the poor attendance in a recent Death Metal night I've been to in that very same venue and a conversation with a friend regarding the possible decline of live shows in the age of streaming online content.

On top of that, I've been admitted free entry as part of the press team in exchange for doing this review, something that has never occurred to me before as a freelance writer so the pressure to succeed in my mission already took the best out of me before the gig even started.

I joined my usual carpool buddies for the long journey down from the north. As usual we blasted relentless Extreme Metal on the car stereo all the way to the venue. The driver being a Death Metal fanatic certainly helped me enrich my knowledge in the genre, relieve some stress by head banging to some bloodthirsty stuff and get me into the mood for a hopefully great night.

The event started square on time, as another event was planned right after ours. This time I've remembered to check out the upstairs bar and was happy to find they still have Guinness on tap among other great alcoholic choices. This place certainly doesn't hold back on quality.

Downstairs at the show venue, the frontman of Mortuus Umbra already spread out the merch table. As someone who does everything within his capacity to support the musicians he follows, a certain part of me felt bad for the free admission I was granted, so I was expecting to find some stuff brought along by Aosoth – determined to purchase as much as I can to support the band. Much to my chagrin, none was to be found. If I've known better I would have, as I've done with Kutna Hora, at least baked the most decadent cake imaginable for the organizers and musicians to share. Now I can only hope this review will be enough.

Ratimus was also there, and we did some catching up on the progress done on his part of our work together, but not for long, as Har was going onstage in a few minutes. Someone had to go up there to play the bass while someone else had to stand in the crowd and ramble about the whole thing later. So less talk, more Rock…Or Black Metal for that matter.

Har

First up on the stage were local Bestial Black Metallers Har. Having seen and reviewed the band more than once during this year I feared I'd have nothing new to say, but what do I know?

Last time I've seen Har on stage was at the aforementioned Death Metal night – which unfortunately drew a very small crowd. They were the last band to perform that night, hitting the stage at around 2 AM. I was already dead tired and unable to focus, but as much as I can recall the balance wasn't perfectly tailored to the requirements of their specific sound, hiding all the interesting musical details and rendering an otherwise interesting sound into one smooshed up presentation devoid of much interest. I was afraid the same thing will happen again this time– not only with Har but with main act Aosoth. I was nervous I'd feel nothing but boredom and earaches. But then again, what do I know?

The sound was great! The awesome realization hit me on the first note of "Nachash/Serpent". Everything was sharp and clearly heard. Hell, I even heard the bass and lead guitar well, and that's something I don't recall hearing or noticing much in their previous gigs. All the details that made Har's recordings so enjoyable were present in their live performance, unfolding before my ears and eyes. I was instantly relieved and ready to surrender myself to a great night of music.

Har: Even Ratimus and his bass could be heard

There were even a few nice and unexpected surprises in store, one of them being the screeching guitarist. I do not remember seeing that happen in any of their previous gigs and I've never expected anything like that to happen. Maybe it went unnoticed due to sound issues, but this time these screeching back vocals, accompanied by that sight of the otherwise quiet looking guy letting out a bloodcurdling scream out of nowhere left a lasting impression.

One other memorable moment of Har's part in the evening took place during the fourth song on their set list, which was "Necromancer". Tension gradually built up in the introduction played by the lead guitar exploded into a fast and relentless piece fondly remembered from their "Baal Ha'ov" EP. It seemed like the crowd responded similarly to the crazy, intense, momentum. A well-timed cry of "come on!" was emitted by my neighbor as the song picked up speed and the next thing I know I was head banging and dancing around in my place among many others, hair flying all over the place, totally in the zone.

The slower songs allowed me to observe the body language of singer which was rich and well placed as usual, and when paired with his looming priest like appearance it truly accounted for a very dramatic stage presence.

From a previous conversation with one of the band members, I came to know that their newer material will be leaning less toward the Classic and more toward the Bestial side of Black Metal. Now Bestial Black Metal has always been a style I've found to be aurally challenging – but not entirely without its rewards. The few newer songs on their setlist, showed me that their take on Bestial Black Metal managed to preserve the atmosphere they've created on their previous efforts. That's definitely the kind of Bestial Black Metal that pleases my palate. Now I'm just looking forward to hear more of their newer material.

Mortuus Umbra

After Har cleared the stage, I went out to breathe some fresh air, catch up with old friends and meet some new ones.

On my way up I bumped into Ferum of Dim Aura. I already knew that the band was scheduled to warm up Bölzer as well as Taake's upcoming gigs, but I had no idea they were also recording a new EP. Does it mean that we'll be hearing some new material on their upcoming couple of gigs? Certainly looking forward for that.

There was quite a crowd of people on the street outside, which seemed to remain there even after Mortuus Umbra started playing. If I haven't known better (thanks to a reminder from a rather tired looking Ratimus) I would have totally missed their gig! Which makes me wonder, why the hell do people pay for gigs and then stay outside the venue most of evening? Maybe I'm judging people too harshly here and that it wasn't the case, but I've already seen such things happen on other occasions.

From a conversation with frontman Tom, Mortuus Umbra recently returned from successful tour in Austria, Holland and Germany. Apparently their EP sold so well that he only had 1 copy left for sale. Tonight's setlist also included a few new songs by Mortuus Umbra which will hopefully be included in an EP they're planning to record in a couple of months. Whoa, so much to look forward to from the local scene!

Only one copy left! Tom of Mortuus Umbra

Missing the beginning of the gig might have ruined things for me a little bit here. I couldn't properly make the transition from Har to Mortuus Umbra's unique but different style and get into the right mind for their music. I must admit I couldn't pay the proper and deserved attention to the new songs because of that. Will have to wait for the new EP then…

Has Jon Nodtveit returned from the dead?

The band was beautifully synched as usual, to the point of sending chills down my spine at one time. Besides not being in the right mind for their music, which was largely my fault, the only thing I found lacking was the sound, which for these guys deserves to be crystal clear. Later I've heard from friends that stayed inside that the band was doing a long balance before the gig started. Maybe they just couldn't get that right sound today. After all, the Levontin's abilities are limited. Besides that, nothing will probably surpass the semi-private gig they've done about a year ago in Tom's studio. The one they've done before heading to play in Iceland. To be honest, they were a bit of an unexpected letdown of the evening, but it's only because my expectations from them are very high.

Aosoth

I was already familiar with the works of Aosoth. I must say I had a very hard time digesting this band's style, as Aosoth sound nothing like conventional Black Metal. Their music and concept are hard to categorize. Even after somewhat wrapping my head around the music, I still felt like I had one missing piece to solve the puzzle that was Aosoth. Worse than that, I had no Idea what that missing piece was until the day of the gig. Now however, I think I know better.

Prior to the gig, I had no idea how the band looked like. I think I even saw the bassist wandering around outside the venue. I usually don't really know and don’t' really care about band's appearance, but I regret I've never bothered to do the research this time. It was a mistake, since the visual aspect is sometimes a clue on the concept of the band, not to speak of the missed opportunity for a spontaneous mini-interview…

This time I dared not venture out of the venue. I waited patiently till a dramatic intro marked the beginning of their gig.

The band goes onstage in a simple all-black stage attire, pants tucked into knee high boots. I know I have mentioned my appreciation towards bands who stick to the visual traditions of Black Metal in their stage shows, but in a world where bands seem not to be in touch with original meaning and effect of these, I sometimes find these to be futile – as a means to compensate over things they lack musically. I love it when bands know how to keep it simple but mature and elegant, letting the music speak for itself.

Are you going to choke me with that thing?

But there was one tradition these guys weren't easily willing to give up. I'm referring of course to the corpse-painted faces. But these were too, as one would expect from the French, very tastefully done. The paint on bassist's face actually freaked me out. His painted face was so pale, pasty and sick looking. But to me, the biggest surprise was the vocalist. Having initially heard his pissed off vocals on sister band Antaeus, I haven't imagined him looking anything close to what I've seen. Shoulder length hair constantly covering face, in times he was standing in a hunched over posture with his hands wrapped around chest as if cowering against a host of invisible demons. He was looking anything but pissed off and aggressive. Tortured? Maybe. Insane? Yes. Wretched? Somehow. All that being said, the band wouldn't have chosen a frontman that doesn't represent the bands concept and image. That made me question my assumptions regarding the whole idea behind the band.

Now tell me that sick lookingface doesn't creep you out...

Cowering before a host of invisible demons

Who would have imagined that was the one last piece I needed to let Aosoth's work finally sink in? What's the bands concept? Is it anger? Pain? Insanity? In hindsight I should have researched it better instead of assuming it to be anger, Satanism and violence based on the aggressive sound, the occasional lyrics I managed to decipher and on the nature of sister band Antaeus. Somehow I always expected Aosoth to give me the same kind of aural assault I got from Antaeus. Looking back, that might have been the reason why I always had the feeling that something there's missing whenever listening to Aosoth's recordings. Yes my friends, I haven't realized how Aosoth turned out to be a whole lot different than her blood crazed sibling.

And that leads me to the music...

But before that, I should mention a little experiment I've ended up doing during that evening. During each gig I wandered around the crowd area, looking for that sweet spot where the music could be best heard. The professional sound engineers among you might be snickering by now at my little experiment, but I'm no professional sound engineer.

I've started at the front rows during Aosoth, but good thing I kept doing my little experiment. Otherwise I might have given a bad and unfair review based on the really shitty sound in the front rows. I would have been bummed out because of the horrible balance that ruined the night, and then blamed the vocalist with his unexpected stage presence, whose feeble sounding vocals botched the show and then called it a day. Good thing I haven't done that. From the front row Mr. Vocalist was barely heard and that might have made him look really wretched, not to speak of the other instruments which were indistinguishable and invisible from there. The only pro of the front row was the showmanship. All of them went crazy - each on his own instrument.

I noticed a dramatic change in sound quality deeper inside the crowd area. All that was unheard before was suddenly present and I could finally enjoy the gig. The performance and sound quality almost matched that of the recordings.

The synchronization between the band members was perfect. They even brought along recordings of the electronic passages from the albums. And while these played, all hell and havoc that moments before took over the stage suddenly came to a dramatic halt. The band members who moments ago went crazy were suddenly standing still, some with their eyes closed, as if meditating in their moment of calm before the inevitable storm.

The only thing I found lacking was the double bass drumming ever present in the recording. It was too bad that one of the aspects I found so characteristic to the band's sound was indistinguishable in their live performance.

Only my hands could provide the rest and suffering...

Whatever the bands concept was, from my new position in the crowd, the meditative quality of the music was undeniable. The association which came to my mind was that of a dream in an opium tainted sleep of a madman or some kind of mental state that gives you unwilling glimpses to dark and terrifying places you've never expected to find inside yourself. As the music played, I could imagine slumped over figures on an armchairs and recliners among heaps of dusty books of forbidden knowledge and empty glasses of wine and other strange potions. Was it all the cigarette smoke that hung like incense in the air and the lack of oxygen that led me to this train of thought?

Praying to the nameless god - the meditative quality of the music was undeniable. I hope you die for not bringing these Antaeus patches to the merch table…Just kidding

The gig started off with opening tracks from An Arrow in Heart and III. But soon enough the songs fused one into another in a medley of dark delirium. Whenever I'll be listening to Aosoth, this gig will always remind me of a hazy opium den, delirium and madness as in H.P Lovecraft's Hypnos. 19th century Stoner Black Metal if you wish. To me it was like a take on the well-known genre, but with less sleaze, with more class and sophistication...Still not sure if that's an accurate description of the manifold nature of their music, but that's a whole new perception of the band I've been given on that very same evening.

Summary

This was a great start for our season of musical festivities. I truly hope we've indeed set a precedence here and showed the rest of the world that events like this can actually take off in this little culturally god forsaken piece of the world – for the present season and for all seasons to come. May Aosoth be our ambassadors in the French scene so we may be graced in the future by the presence of all great cultural gems spawned in that land over the years.

Who knows, maybe even Famine and his gang of the Black Plague will be the next ones knocking on our doors?

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