Antaeus [ Black metal | French | Interview on February 29 , 2008]

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Antaeus [Date of interview: February 29, 2008]
Antaeus, French black metal band formed in 1993 with only a philosophy is "cyfaws"! [Cut your flesh and worship SATAN].

Night life, after hard work for worker reason is paying the bills, I saw MkM from Antaeus emerged from the dark side of the world. That's the good chanced to drink and talk with the topic that is related with the "life" of Antaeus. Although MkM and I sit in the other side of the dark world and I bring the conversation for the metal fans in Thailand here!

Begin with the alcohol in your hand, what's kind of alcohol that you really like to drink, mister?
MkM | ANTAEUS: well, as of now, I guess that vodka could be mentioned, it has been the daily partner for the last week, around one bottle of Poliakov per day, not the best ever, but it does calm me down, so... fine choice. I'd go for beers though, Belgium ones.

Have you ever tried some Thai rum? That's more fuckin harder than Poliakov.
MkM | ANTAEUS: Oh I'm sure it is, rum is usually stronger, but it has also more sugar & since I have diabetes, I tend to avoid the too sugary drinks (like wine as well & mixed drinks).

Yeah, get into your musick life, you just told me about "tour" thing that bother your mind, you mean the mini European tour?
MkM | ANTAEUS: Yes, it was actually in October - November 2006, right after the release of blood libels, so quite some time, but still a bit too much in my mind.

You mention on the tour with German black metal "Secrets of the Moon", right?
MkM | ANTAEUS: Yes, we were doing this tour together, switching places as "headliner" each night, though SOTM is obviously a way bigger band than us, and considering the amount of fest and gigs offer they had since, I still do wonder why they picked us up.

After the show, you get the answer? I think your band not ordinary, man..Fuckin is famous in the underground metal scene.
MkM | ANTAEUS: Well, we have a "name", but that doesn't mean that there is any kind of support out there for us. For instance, nearly no one on the European tour did check us out live, at the best 5 guys each night, on a 10 days tour. + most of the promoters weren't interested in getting us at all, though we were performing for free, not even getting the full transportation money back.

So after ten days, of driving & having lame live experiences, you tend to be very bored from such situation SOTM thought that this tour would also secure them some gigs in France, since we're "local", they thought some promoters would book us, while NO ONE did, I had to set it up myself for Paris.

That's why you mention on this tour that just likes a mistake, something like that?
MkM | ANTAEUS: A mistake that had to be done, since, it somehow killed the band, after 13 years of existence, we realized it made no sense any longer to go on, we could record something like every three years and limit ourselves to that.

You seem to be discouraged, mister?
MkM | ANTAEUS: If I do "enjoy" having such experience? Not really. We didn't expect success, but getting a reactive audience & just getting the money invested back without any profit, would have been "Perfect" but impossible for a band like ours, SOTM had a great success though, very good crowd, good conditions, good sales for merch & so on, and people being supportive, they do deserve it.

On that tour, you ask SOTM to join or they invite you to join?
MkM | ANTAEUS: Ah of course they did ask us, there is NO one who would book Antaeus on tour you know, who the hell would be interested???? Even as guest, we were asked not to perform or do it for nothing.

Ahh, fuck,man, I ever seen your live clip that's fuckin awesome that you done with the audience.
MkM | ANTAEUS: No, you've seen a gig from 2003 in our home town and any gig recorded outside this one, was like the same for us on stage, but NO audience at all, was like performing in an empty room.

Why you don't set up some gigs in your home town?
MkM | ANTAEUS: We've performed around 70 gigs all in all, and maybe 6 were good.

Ahh fuck! 6 of 70?
MkM | ANTAEUS: I did, that was a mistake for this tour, it's impossible to perform live in Paris nowadays, I did loose 700 euros and well, the gig was lame. We had many problems, really a failure to finish live performance in our town with this gig...

That's pity! If you guys come up for the show in Asia, just like my country or Indonesia, I think that it made you guys definitely impressed, mister. And maybe, some organizers in Asia who read this interview and interest to bring you guys here, it would be great!
MkM | ANTAEUS: Indeed, did witness some live recording of Impiety, Surrender of divinity over there and that seemed very active, but it's really impossible to come for us, it's out of reach for us to pay such plane tickets. We've tried to contact some but as you might guess, people are not interested in Europe, so it's usually not interesting for Asia or South America or USA even and we're not making any cash with sales either to afford such thing, even now, performing 50 kms away, I couldn't afford it. I just focus on getting to see a few gigs in Paris, but it's just too expensive anyway.

In Paris, it is still expensive? You mean the cost of venue, something like that?
MkM | ANTAEUS: Yes, venue, ticket price all combined, just one gig cost nearly 40/50e in the end just to witness.

And how about the responses from your album, man? I know that nowadays, you can not judge with the sale amount because of the downloader's.
MkM | ANTAEUS: It was a failure in the USA, something like 108 copies sold for last year, all in all, I do think we've sold just enough to cover the printing cost and the promotion the label did for us nothing more.

I think your first the full-length album "Cut your flesh..." that InCoffin get the right to made the tape format and sell here in Thailand,. That's good response from the metal heads here.
MkM | ANTAEUS: I couldn't know really, but the tape was limited to 150 copies or so no?

As I know in the InCoffin website - it's produced about 200 limited and sold out!
MkM | ANTAEUS: An honor to be on such format indeed, was the only release that got repressed on tape.

You know, during that time, metalheads here really wanna know more your story.
MkM | ANTAEUS: Well, which story?

Your biography and the press words mentioned about you guys sliced your skin in the gig, just like "Cut your flesh and worship Satan"!
MkM | ANTAEUS: "the press words"?? that is so weird, yes my skin is slayed all over but I never did on stage. At worst, old wounds would reopen with sweat & anger but never did a show of that genre, it's a personal belief and process.

Just the word of month, mister?
MkM | ANTAEUS: "cyfaws" is my way of life for over 15 years.

Hey MkM, with the respect, you guys confront with the bad situation like we talked about. I have just curious about the future on Antaeus?
MkM | ANTAEUS: Last time I got to see anyone from Antaeus was in December 2006. We didn't meet since, no more drummer, no more second guitar player.

Damn it! After the end of the tour?
MkM | ANTAEUS: Yes, we were really bitter after this tour, I did try to find some session drummer, but we couldn't find any! we can not afford any actually.

But you're still looking the session, right?
MkM | ANTAEUS: Not really, I got so pissed off about it all and most drummers did expect something different of Antaeus, when they get to find out, that they have to pay for reh' and so on, that we don't get any cents at all, while having a "name" around, they just hoped for gas money & since they have skills, they do prefer working with bigger bands.

One guy (drowning, ex diabolic) did offer to do a recording for ONE track for us, but he's only available in August for one or two days, so nothing in between.

So they went with bands who could offer more "ok" conditions for instance, bands like Vorkreist or hell militia in France, have WAY better conditions than us, there is no match.

And have you ever thought why "Antaeus" confront with the situation like this? Because the other metal bands in your scene get the better chance than you or maybe that's the "fate".
MkM | ANTAEUS: Just more "support" even from the local scene, I guess it's also important to get at least some local support.

Damn straight! Now, how about the French metal scene?
MkM | ANTAEUS: No idea, I have no contact with it, only issues & gossips. They can all fuck off basically only some bands like Temple of baal, Heresiarch, dso, od sanctus are worth mentioning.

I wish you will get the session of your band soon.
MkM | ANTAEUS: Doubt it really, only the guy in august but honestly, who would loose time with us? I mean, why? all good drummers are already so busy and have not enough time.

Yeah, during this time that you don't have any session, you're still writing the songs and keep for the raw material?
MkM | ANTAEUS: Not really, Set (main guitar) really got pissed at all, and since he has lost all in his life, he's now focusing on not being "homeless" again, so that's his priority, he's 35, I'm 33, the band is something we can afford when all else is "steady" as individual, we are not any different from before, just most experienced but Art wise, all is on hold, we will just do a split EP with Katharsis, to be out in 2009 I hope nothing before & most likely, nothing up to 2010.

Yeah, I think that it's only good news for the metal fans with this conversation, man.
MkM | ANTAEUS: Well 2010, you do know like me that most would have forgotten our name by then or would quit metal we've been there, we will remain.

Nah, I don't think so, man.
MkM | ANTAEUS: I can tell you, many people thought "blood libels" was our first album!

Fuck! What??!!?? Are you kidding me?
MkM | ANTAEUS: They were like "good work for a young band".

Who think like that?
MkM | ANTAEUS: Getting comments like that from guys being 17 years old.

Damn it! That's fuckin ridiculous, man!
MkM | ANTAEUS: Well, since we're not known at all, most are just wondering what is "Antaeus".

Hey have you ever come to Asia on vacation?
MkM | ANTAEUS: I went to Philippines when I was a kid and stopped in Hong Kong but was like 13 and since Antaeus exists, I never had any vacation since all my money would go there, this band was a Sacrifice really got sick from combining work non stop & work with Antaeus!

My very own failure, I should have remained just a rehearsal band and never release any CDs or anything that was our main mistake.

Thanks for your time. Wanna say something to Metal Thai's Readers, go ahead, mister!
MkM | ANTAEUS: Well, you mentioned it, if one day we could perform there that would be Killer to see like minded maniacs from your area. Thanks for the support & time given. "AMSG".