Artist: Behemoth Title: “At The Arena Ov Aion – Live Apostasy” Label: Regain Records Release Date: 12/9/2008 Genre: Blackened Death Metal Rating: 4.5/5
If you are an Extreme Metal fan that is worth their salt then you know full well about the impact and decimating power that is the band Behemoth and if you don’t know about them then it is high time that you started paying attention. Hailing from Poland, the mighty Behemoth are a take no prisoners Blackened Death Metal band that holds such power and thrall over their audiences that it leaves them numb after each and every show. If you’ve been fortunate enough to catch them in concert then you know what I mean and if you have not, then this is a lesson I insist you plan on learning. “At The Arena Ov Aion” is a live recording that somehow manages to capture the true essence and power of this band in concert and this is no easy feat to accomplish because the feeling at one of the bands shows is just so overwhelming. When played at certain volumes the listener can almost feel the anger and intensity being directed at him (or her) by the bands leader Nergal as he spits out the commands and leads his triumphant armies to march over the bones of their enemies. A Behemoth show is not for everyone I will admit, but if you love the things that bands like Suffocation or Cryptopsy do based on its speed and overall technical delivery, then Behemoth is surely one of the next wave of super powers for the Extreme Metal genre. The uneducated listener should be aware that their premise while Death Metal, has the Blackened side seasoned in and hence makes their subject matter somewhat blasphemous. They are staunchly anti-Christian which we find in songs like “Antichristian Phenomenon” and “Christians To The Lions” to cite an example. They are not recommended for the more pious of listeners that are out there. Continue reading “At The Arena Ov Aion – Live Apostasy” by Behemoth→
Artist: Behemoth Title: “Live Eschaton: The Art Of Rebellion” – Deluxe Edition Label: Metal Mind Productions
Release Date: 4/19/2009
Genre: Blackened Death Metal
Rating: 4/5
Even though the band had been around for a good decade before I ever was able to see them, I was instantly made a fan when the band performed in NYC as opener for Suffocation back in 2004. I’m not the only one that had been affected by the bands powerful music and presentation based on its overall intensity. One of the releases I looked into some time later after this show was the 2002 DVD release of “Live Eschaton – The Art Of Rebellion” which captured the band in concert in their native Poland. We reviewed this DVD and are representing our thoughts for you below from the original version and then we shall examine the new deluxe edition afterwards. Continue reading “Live Eschaton: The Art Of Rebellion” (Deluxe Edition) by Behemoth→
Artist: Behemoth Title: “The Apostasy” Limited Edition Label: Regain Records Release Date: 7/2007 Genre: Blackened Death Metal Rating: 4/5
Having already reviewed the smoldering masterpiece that was Behemoth’s “The Apostasy”, we were happy to learn that a Deluxe Edition would be offered by the folks at Regain Records. This time around it would come out with a super special digipak and include a bonus DVD with content to enjoy. We figured it best to start on this one by representing our original comments about the release and then shall work out the finer points of difference about the special edition. Check it out.
“Given the amount of touring that Poland’s juggernaut of a band Behemoth did for their album “Demigod”, it seemed as though there was not enough downtime from the skull-crushing to offer up an album like “The Apostasy”, but here we are and the album is perhaps the best in the bands catalog to date. It begins with a majestic intro passage in “Rome 64 C.E.” and one can envision Nergal and his associates standing dominant over an unsuspecting world while it plays on. From there it is right into the smiting as the band delivers a pummeling with “Slaying The Prophets Ov Isa”, a track that shows us very early on that Behemoth has not slowed down things by any stretch of the imagination. Across the board we get a wide array of blast beats from drummer Inferno, which serve well under the searing guitar of Nergal who on the recording plays both lead and rhythm parts. Of course those who have seen the group live know that they are joined by Seth on second guitar. Early favorites come via tracks like “At The Left Hand Ov God” which while a speed demon at points has a lot of stop and start groove to it that shows the band to be master technicians at their craft as opposed to finding them to be a one speed, one melody group. There is a strong Middle Eastern groove to this one that worked out very well. Continue reading The Apostasy (Deluxe Edition) by Behemoth→
Artist: Behemoth Title: “The Apostasy” Label: Century Media Records Release Date: 7/17/2007 Genre: Blackened Death Metal Rating: 4/5
Given the amount of touring that Poland’s juggernaut of a band Behemoth did for their album “Demigod”, it seemed as though there was not enough downtime from the skull-crushing to offer up an album like “The Apostasy”, but here we are and the album is perhaps the best in the bands catalog to date. It begins with a majestic intro passage in “Rome 64 C.E.” and one can envision Nergal and his associates standing dominant over an unsuspecting world while it plays on. From there it is right into the smiting as the band delivers a pummeling with “Slaying The Prophets Ov Isa”, a track that shows us very early on that Behemoth has not slowed down things by any stretch of the imagination. Across the board we get a wide array of blast beats from drummer Inferno, which serve well under the searing guitar of Nergal who on the recording plays both lead and rhythm parts. Of course those who have seen the group live know that they are joined by Seth on second guitar. Early favorites come via tracks like “At The Left Hand Ov God” which while a speed demon at points has a lot of stop and start groove to it that shows the band to be master technicians at their craft as opposed to finding them to be a one speed, one melody group. There is a strong Middle Eastern groove to this one that worked out very well. One of the key appeals of the release is not only the resounding power and majesty of the material but also the spot on musicianship that the band delivers from song to song. They are a talented band who manages to show you just how good they have become technically after all the rounds of touring that they have been involved in. Nergal’s riffs can slice the skin off bone on a number of tracks while the bass of Orion crunches like some devastating thunder and driving it all home if the fantastic work of Inferno. We have praised him on a number of occasions but with “The Apostasy” he is raising the bar of Extreme Metal drumming very much. Yes, he does the conventional blast beats and incredible double bass patterns but there are so many time signature changes from track to track that he is bound to be referred to eventually as the leader in this style of drumming. He does not lose a second of his intense speed and yet manages to keep the fills flavorful and interesting. Continue reading “The Apostasy” by Behemoth→
Artist: Behemoth Title: “Ezkaton” Label: Metal Blade Records Release Date: 11/11/2008 Genre: Blackened Death Metal Rating: 3.5/5
Behemoth has been devastating each and every landscape that they gaze upon for years and sometimes seem to come off as a brutal force of nature more than a group of Extreme Blackened Death Metal artisans. The bands latest studio album was “Apostasy” and came to us via Century Media Records but now with their signing to Metal Blade Records they deliver a throttling EP release entitled “Ezkaton”. The band is no stranger to releasing such EP’s between their full length and over the years has issued molten releases such as “Slaves Shall Serve” prior to this one. “Ezkaton” is a seven track affair which destructively blends new studio tracks, covers and live material all into one blazing infernal soup that is bound to be enjoyed by their legions of fans who anxiously await the bands next studio album. On examination of the new studio tracks one finds that time and success has not found Behemoth choosing to sit comfortable and instead opting to pummel the listener once again. They begin the EP by re-recording their “Chant For Ezkaton 2000 E.V. and this new version offers up a superb production that makes ones speakers rumble when set loud enough. We get a new song in “Qadosh” and this is a blistering track that works well within the framework of what we experienced on “The Apostasy” and the toured to death “Demigod”. I am sure if this is a sign to come of the new studio work then all will be impressed. They deliver two covers and the first is Master Hammer’s “Jama Pekel” while the second is the Ramones track “I’m Not Jesus”. I had no real background in the Czech Black Metal band Master Hammer but do know that the words are all in Czech, which appears to be the same on Behemoth’s version. As far as Ramones go, well, it was interesting to hear a Blackened Death Metal band do a song from them, but while good I would have rather heard something different from the group. Ramones to me are best left uncovered unless it’s done by a more conventional Metal band or some Punk Rock luminaries. Continue reading “Ezkaton” by Behemoth→
