If, like me, you have been around for some time within the extreme metal scene then you will be very familiar with the Behemoth discography. In fact I’d even say they have been very consistent since Nergal formed the band in 1991, though the early demo material is an acquired taste to be honest with its lo-fi black metal ethos that the band was founded upon. Since then the band has an extensive discography with numerous releases, whether, albums, EPs, splits and live, Nergal has kept the name Behemoth firmly on the radar throughout their existence. As we know those humble black metal beginnings set about a staggering transformation into what has become the more familiar epic blackened death metal the band is more renowned for and whether you prefer those early recordings because you’re just too necro to like anything after, it is categorically undeniable that Nergal has worked harder than most to get the band to where they are today through a host of trials and tribulations which are well documented. I’d also add that there are few acts with a discography as diverse and eclectic as the Polish act, each release seemingly unveiling no end of ambition, creativity and astounding professional guile as we are now treated to the bands twelfth full length some four years after ‘I Loved You At Your Darkest’, though there have been a smattering of other releases in the interim.
The album title slightly confused me which if you do a broad translation comes across as music/compositions/work against nature, if I’m right that is, though I’m sure Nergal has some other underlying subliminal meaning to it. Be that as it may the album firmly continues Behemoth’s path within the epic blackened death metal scene and there are few acts that can match the unerring song writing craft of the band. What I have always liked about Behemoth is their ability to cram ridiculous amounts of musicality into their songs even though the durations are relatively short as the new album keeps the songs within the four minute barrier or less, apart from the closer. Catching Behemoth headline the Friday night at Bloodstock Open Air this year meant I’ve heard a few of these tracks already and like all other recent releases by the band they fit within the virtual cinematic terror we always expect.
Kicking off with ‘Post God Nirvana’ the dramatic toning and dread filled intro phase serves to escalate the song which comes across as a long intro piece with Nergal’s trademark vocal bellow before ‘Malaria Vulgata’ frenziedly smashes in with stratospheric intensity and potency. The blast beat tempos highlight the hyper velocity the band can wield without loss in accessibility as ‘The Deathless Sun’ follows and proves. With choral vocals adorning a significant part of the album’s atmosphere, they inject huge amounts of charisma, enhancing that epic cinematic prowess superbly. As I said every song is crammed with varying arrangements and it is this aspect that sets Behemoth apart as trailblazers of this style of metal.
Slowing down a tad is ‘Ov My Herculean Exile’ deploying a more texturized approach the song crushes the life from you before the intensification on ‘Neo Spartacus’, where drummer extraordinaire Inferno shows why he is one of the best extreme metal drummers there is. ‘Off To War!’ has a dramatic intro sequence and whilst not as sonically devastating it certainly packs a punch. ‘Once Upon A Pale Horse’ is awesome however, the calm opening leading into a very fine riff and a density not too dissimilar to 90s Morbid Angel, circa ‘Covenant’. That slime infested approach is linked to a slight avant-garde styling before the ensuing blasted phase.
‘Thy Becoming Eternal’ is the penultimate tune here as again the ability to inject copious dramatic poise is extravagantly constructed producing an intense and ferocious ceremony, linked to some spoken vocals adding another layer of character. Closing the album is ‘Versus Christus’, the longest tune here at six and half minutes and as expected, even predictably so, the track has a calm piano piece to begin it. The epic posturing produces tangible tension as the choral vocals work brilliantly here. The closer is saturated with changes, seamless transitions creating shades of mood and poignancy against the tracks vitriolic dissonance.
Is this Behemoth’s finest moment? It depends on what you want from the band, personally anything they’ve done has been majestic in some way, and whilst the last album had its naysayers, you cannot deny the bold ambition and creative dexterity that Behemoth continually release to their worldwide hordes of fans, and this album plainly shows there is no stopping the Polish juggernauts.
(8.5/10 Martin Harris)
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