Artist: Front Beast / Agathocles
Country: Germany / Belgium
Label: Deathstrike Records
Formats: Split 7″ EP
Year: 2003
Although Agathocles is such a band which is able to surprise with every new release and you know you can practically expect everything from the band. But I have to admit that I would never have expected Agathocles to split with a blackmetal band. But? They did, with Front Beast. The ideologies of both genres (being mincecore and blackmetal) differ quite a lot. But, that shouldn’t be a real problem, for this is quite a cool split EP again.
On side A we find the Belgians, Agathocles. Four songs in the same vein as all of their previous efforts, so I could be quite short here. Just four great pieces of mincecore. These were recorded on 23rd of May in Leipzig last year. One single difference is that these songs are just a little more punky and the vocals seem to be slightly different. Topic-wise things didn’t really change: anti-Nazi, against pollution, being yourself and the things that go wrong with the state (the Belgian this time). Somehow this is so very predictable, but damn it, somehow I just can’t get enough of this band.
As we flip the record we find the German blackmetal act Front Beast. This is actually a one-man project led by Evil Avenger who is also active in the old school thrash band Nocturnal and run the old school label Deathstrike Records (this EP is released through his own label as well). Evil Avenger has displayed his deepest desires to maintain the old school feeling of metal the way it was played in the 80’s in every release he did, both with his bands as on his label. This one lengthy track which is pressed on his side of the vinyl is quite eerie and raw blackmetal. Complete with the nihilistic feeling (the title refers to it as well), howling screams, simple drums and the raw riffs. Eerie blackmetal which isn’t that original, but very interesting?
Totally different than earlier releases but surely very interesting and I guess all Agathocles fans should buy this to open their eyes for the other side of the split EP, and so have to do Front Beast fans. What an idea this is!
