Behemoth (band): Difference between revisions

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Behemoth (pronunciation^ⓘ) is a Polish blackened death metal band. They are considered to have played an important role in establishing the Polish extreme metal underground, along-side bands such as Vader, Vesania, Decapitated and Hate.

Until the early 2000s, the band played traditional black metal with heathen lyrical content, but soon changed to that of occult and thelemic themes written by their lead vocalist Nergal and Krzysztof Azarewicz. The band favors pagan lyrics in their two latest albums, Demigod and The Apostasy. With the 2004 release of Demigod, the band showed their presence in the blackened death metal scene, while retaining their own signature style characterized by the drumwork of Inferno, multi-layered vocals and Nile-style Middle-Eastern influence. Lead singer and guitarist Nergal has transformed from a conventional black metal player to a more individualistic and unconventional player on the latest two albums. This is partly due to the changing of the band from straight forward black metal to a more individual blackened death metal group. ^{[citation needed]} Even though Behemoth has been labeled as death metal, black metal or thrash influenced, Adam has mentioned that he doesn't like the band to be labeled.

Behemoth was formed in 1991 as a trio, starting with raw and primitive black metal rehearsal tapes (Endless Damnation) and demos (The Return of the Northern Moon), the most significant of which was the second one—...From the Pagan Vastlands (1993)—showing the growing potential of the then 16 -year-old Nergal.

This tape was released by Polish label Pagan Records and later on by the American Wild Rags. Signing with a little-known Italian company Entropy Records, the band had the opportunity to record their debut release, an EP album entitled And the Forests Dream Eternally (1994), followed by the full-length Sventevith (Storming Near the Baltic) that gained positive responses worldwide and eventually saw the band moving on to a new record deal with German label Solistitium Records. The latter record established Behemoth as one of the very few black metal bands from mid-eastern Europe with enormous potential. Consequently, stepping forward, the band (as the three piece with Nergal, Baal, and Les) recorded their second album Grom.

Grom has been the most controversial release so far, due to its many different influences and musical styles, using female vocals as well as acoustic guitars and synthesizers. At the same time, Behemoth finally got a chance to play live shows in their native country and finally tour around Europe, gaining stage experience as well as positive feedback from the crowds. Two years later, the band recorded a third album, titled Pandemonic Incantations which was a "breakthrough moment" in Behemoth's short career. Reactions of their ever-increasing fanbase and metal media set the new quality standards for them. However, due to a lack of promotion, the album was not very well received. After another extensive tour, Behemoth signed a two-album-deal with Italian Avantgarde Music in the fall of 1998. The first output of this new collaboration was the highly successful album Satanica, on which their black metal sound had evolved into blackened death metal.

The label also secured the band with two European tours in support to Deicide and Satyricon. During that period, Behemoth had to go through some line up changes and problems with their ex-Polish label. The new members then were Novy (formerly known from Devilyn, now in Vader, Dies Irae) who handled the bass duties and Havok who became the band's guitarist. The new line-up resulted in Behemoth signing with Mystic, a well-known label. The next follow-up release to Satanica was Thelema.6. Massive guitar parts and precise drumming, with influences from different sources, showed that Behemoth were there to offer something really varied and innovative once again, complete with characteristic fierce brutality and speed. Arrangements and technical invention on individual compositions made the album an ultimate one for the blackened death metal genre. Lyrically, Nergal and his partner Krzysztof Azarewicz offered something of a very sophisticated, intimate and profound obscurity.

Thelema.6 has been massively supported in the press and media all over the world, including having their album being officially released in Russia and Brazil for the first time in their career. Continuing the support for Thelema.6, Behemoth appeared in several prestigious live events like Wacken Open Air, With Full Force, Inferno Metal Festival, Mystic Festival, and Mind Over Matter Autumn. They started first headlining tour alongside with Carpathian Forest and Khold, followed by festival tour in Poland (Thrash em All Fest. with Vader and Krisiun, among others).

In 2001, Behemoth focused on writing new material for their sixth studio album. Meantime, they did their second headlining tour in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. Having completed the recording of their new songs, Behemoth entered Hendrix Studio for the second time, with help of their long time friend and sound engineer Arkadiusz Malczewski, and produced Zos Kia Cultus (Here and Beyond). The result was impressively massive and overwhelming for their detractors who thought that the band couldn't heighten since Thelema.6.

In February 2003, the band started their first tour in Norway, playing in cities as Bergen, Oslo and Stavanger. On March 11, 2003, the American premiere, scheduled by Century Media Records, headlined Behemoth's first appearance in the US continent. The tour started on the 9th of March at the New Jersey's Metalfest and continued with a decent amount of shows across America and Canada, with the company of Deicide, Revenge, Vehemence and Amon Amarth. Shortly after doing their first US tour the band was invited to join the Blackest of the Black Tour by Glenn Danzig. The already legendary festival included acts like Danzig, Superjoint Ritual, Nile, and Opeth. In the fall of 2003, Behemoth flew over to US to complete their third tour with Six Feet Under, Skinless and Black Dahlia Murder. The band did their Finnish debut appearance on the famous Tuska Festival with Ministry, Soulfly, among others. At that time, due to some line up difficulties, Nergal parted his ways with Havok and Novy, who decided to focus on activities with their own bands. Eventually, the band resumed touring in the UK and Europe.

In 2004, their seventh studio album, Demigod was released to good critical response. Recorded at the Hendrix Studios, the album debuted at number 15 on the national Polish album charts. A music video for the song "Conquer All" was shot.

In 2007, the band toured Europe alongside Napalm Death, Moonspell and Dew-Scented. Behemoth released their eighth studio album The Apostasy in July that year, recorded at Radio Gdañsk studios in December 2006. Shortly after the release of The Apostasy, the band was featured as one of Ozzfest 2007's second stage headliners, one of the four non-US bands playing that year.^[4] In October/November 2007, they played their first US and Canadian headlining tour alongside Job For A Cowboy, Gojira, and Beneath The Massacre.^[5]

Behemoth, along with shock rocker Marilyn Manson may have been banned from playing in their native country, Poland. The All-Polish Committee for Defense Against Sects in July 2007 distributed a list of bands to many Polish officials that allegedly promote Satanism and murder. Critics of this policy primarily see this as a violation of free speech, with the most scathing criticism coming generally from within the metal community. However, the list has not gone into effect, and Behemoth is still allowed to play in Poland without having to be worried to be detained.^[6]

• Adam "Nergal" Darski - vocals, lead/rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, synthesizer, programming (1991 - present)
• Patryk "Seth" Sztyber - lead & rhythm guitar, backing vocals (session and live, 2004 - present)
• Tomasz "Orion" Wróblewski - bass guitar, backing vocals (2004 - present)
• Zbigniew Robert "Inferno" Promiński - drums, percussion (1997 - present)

• Adam "Desecrator" Malinowski - guitar, bass guitar (1992)
• Rafał "Frost / Browar" Brauer - bass guitar (1993)
• "Orcus" - bass guitar (1994 - 1995)
• Adam "Baal Ravenlock" Muraszko - drums (1993 - 1996)
• "Mafisto" - bass guitar (1998)
• Leszek "Les L.Kaos" Dziegielwski - guitar, bass guitar (1996 - 1997, 1999)
• Marcin "Novy" Nowak - bass guitar (2000 - 2003)
• Mateusz Maurycy "Havok" Śmierzchalski - guitar (2000 - 2003)

• Czarne Zastepy - A Tribute to Kat 1996 Contributing the song "Ostatni Tabor"
• Originators of the northern darkness - A tribute to Mayhem 2000 Contributing the song "Carnage"
• Tyrants from the abyss - A tribute to Morbid Angel 2002 Contributing the song "Day of suffering"

• As Above So Below
• Conquer All
• Decade of Therion
• Slaves Shall Serve
• Christians to the Lions
• Prometherion

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Behemoth.

• Behemoth's official website
• Behemoth's MySpace profile
• Behemoth's YouTube profile
• Behemoth's official merchandise website
• Behemoth biography