Behemoth - I Loved You At Your Darkest

Ask anyone who knows me, when it comes to Metal I'm a Black Metal guy through and through.  And Behemoth has always been one of the more important bands to me.  I started listening to them around the time of their 1996 album "Grom".  Now, while I feel like so many Black Metal bands seemed to have a rough first few years, Behemoth right from this album seemed so unique for the genre.  Sure, there were the usual grand instrumentals and wildly epic atmospheres, as well as grizzly vocals and imagery.  But on top of that, Behemoth brought in elements of Folk Metal and elaborate strings and keyboards that you really weren't hearing in Metal at the time.  And while yes, the production could have been cleaner, this was a solid album.  Behemoth worked with the same sounds until 1999, when they really took off with "Satanica".  This album was a lot more streamlined with some polished production.  But more than anything it showed Behemoth narrowing down their sound to their extravagant and fearless brand of Black Metal.  But it was with 2000's "Thelema 6" that I sort of soured on Behemoth a little.  They had always toyed with Blackened Death Metal, but here they went full force with it.  And honestly, it wasn't nearly as memorable as some of the earlier material they had worked with.  The playing was expert-level, and the music was certainly brutal.  But it didn't have nearly as much personality.  However business seemed to be back to normal with 2002's "Zos Kia Cultus".  This album was just as brutal and technically may have been their most brutal to date.  But one thing I've always adored about Behemoth is their sense of adventure, their fearlessness, which shines here immaculately.  Behemoth tear through their own genre, but never are scared to branch out and tear through other ones as well.  And that my friends, is special.  Behemoth with 2007's "The Apostasy" only tightened their grip on me.  This was a wild album that was just as adventurous but almost even more gigantic.  More than ever, it seemed like the band was willing to bring in tons of wild sounds and sub-genres you would ever hear in Black Metal.  You may hear a death metal passage, you may hear some horns, anything was possible.  And Behemoth continued to just write really immediate and legitimately likable Metal tunes.  2009's "Evangelion" showed Behemoth continuing to fire on all cylinders.  With each release Behemoth sounded more out of control and was working with better production.  There were cinematic moments, as well as wildly adventurous elements you weren't going to hear with any other band.  There's a reason Behemoth mean so much to me, and this album is certainly a big part of it. Behemoth wasn't done with us yet friends.  2014 showed them release "The Satanist", which I honestly feel like is their best album.  This was a ferocious album that didn't hold back by any means.  The riffs were more explosive than ever, the vocals were more vicious and most importantly, Behemoth was writing catchy tunes that stuck with you without really selling out.  This album is freakin' amazing, and if you're new to these genres it's a great place to start.  SO, Behemoth is back with a blistering new set of songs.  And honestly, they sound just as adventurous and wild as ever, let's chat.

This album starts off with “Solve”, and you have to give Behemoth credit.  They certainly are starting this album off in a genuinely disturbing way.  We got some children chanting here, as well as a dense atmosphere.  And honestly, there’s not much more to it, but if this is how we’re starting things count me in.  Then we have Behemoth taking off completely with “Wolves ov Siberia”.  This is where I want to hear them, and this is a wildly vicious, encompassing Black Metal tune.  Behemoth literally sounds like they’re attacking from all angles.  There’s an absolutely gigantic cinematic vibe to this though.  Listening to this, I feel like I’m about to watch some Game Of Thrones massacre.  The drums are breakneck, the riffs are twisting, it’s wildly complex.  But it’s really not too much to take in, and it has that wonderfully epic and over-the-top vibe that many other Behemoth tracks have.  It’s a vicious start, but it’s right where I want to hear everyone.  Always seemingly on to the next sound, “God = Dog” is completely different for Behemoth.  This practically has a little groove to it, of course between the blasts of epic strings and throttling Metal.  It’s elaborate, artsy, and in your face.  Not to mention, after all of these years I love all the imagery that’s packed into the work of Behemoth.  They have a process that works for them, and they don’t change it over time, but they do make it bigger and better.  And it’s absolutely more explosive.  Not to mention, there are so many little details, like the children chanting and that wild guitar solo that makes this a stunner.   On the other hand, “Ecclesia Diabolica Catholica” is a little more on the reserved side.  Not in a bad way, in a way that it sort of pays tribute to the early days of Black Metal.  But with Nergal’s absolutely guttural screams and fantastic songwriting, this is absolutely still a Behemoth track  Behemoth don’t hold anything back and throw everything at you, which is something I’ve always admired about them.  It’s pummeling, but it still has that very grandiose feel  If you like your metal epic, you need to hear this pronto.  But once again, it’s some of the smaller details that bring this to the next level.  The chanting in the background gives this an impenetrable atmosphere, and these heavily effected vocals that pop in that I guess are supposed to be some other-worldly being is absolutely fantastic.  Plus, we get an acoustic portion in the last minute that drives home the fact that you’re dealing with some truly incredible musicians. 

But for me, it’s tracks like “Bartzabel” that are what I continue to show up and listen to over and over.  This one is so much more slow-paced.  But it may just be the most intense track of the bunch, even the most epic, dare I say emotional.  This is practically the most human we’ve ever heard Behemoth, at least for a while.  I love the tender guitars and the gun-shot drums.  And it’s all just so fantastically melodic, and a real turning point for this album.  I didn’t know what to think of this the first time I heard this, but this is mind-bogglingly good. And yea, it’s not your standard Black Metal, it’s a new sound entirely.  But for the life of me, I can’t remember the last time I got sucked into a Behemoth track this much.  And it’s still pretty heavy, which is great, but I didn’t expect any of this.  “If Crucifixion Was Not Enough…” gets us rolling back in a wilder direction.  I still think it’s easily some of the more digestible Black Metal you'll hear this year.  But taking something from their “The Satanist” album, it’s also incredibly catchy at times.  Or at least enough to really stick with you.  But this album is just filled with so many great details that you just don’t see too much anymore in Metal.  For one, we get some seriously fantastic songwriting with very visceral lyrics, and it’s filled with tons of wild imagery.  Not to mention, the most important element, it’s heavy as hell.  In between all of this, this track is still a monstrosity of Metal and isn’t to be messed with.  The atmosphere on this album continues to be to die for with “Angelvs XIII”.  It just adds so much to the already overblown and wildly insane nature of this album.  Here, we get everything from Classic Rock drum fills to some of the more Death Metal inspired riffs here.  And yes, you’re absolutely right, it’s not as instantaneous or catchy, or anything in between.  It’s actually probably one of the most repulsive and gruesome tracks of the bunch.  But Behemoth still ends up making it all come off very grand.  Like, that’s what Behemoth has become.  Even when they’re sort of sounding a little unfocused, they end up pulling it all together with tricks up their sleeve like this stunning Acoustic ending.  Between the much more direct guitars and the speedy verses on “Sabbath Mater”, this is much more instantaneous.  Some of those little details that were popping up earlier are much more than that by this point like these gigantic drum fills and this chanted chorus.  Everything about this is just so over-the-top and extravagant.  But it just ends up making me remember more and more about these tracks with each listen.  And as this one goes on it just goes into wilder directions.  I might be in the minority here, but it’s just so extravagant that I love it. 

At this point in the album, I literally don’t know what to expect next, and that’s what makes this album so exciting.  That, paired alongside of the very brooding, slow-paced intro of “Havohej Pantocrator” makes for something quite stunning.  The drums here are so powerful, so immense, and the very slow-paced guitars just makes for so much added tension.  Like, this one takes over a minute to really start chugging.  But it’s done so well that I’m fine with it.  Then, when this track gets rolling we get this unbelievably fresh Acoustic strumming with all sort of hell going on behind it.  Nergal’s lyrics here are some of his more creative of this album, and will have every last Metal fan raising his horns and singing every word.  It’s totally campy and ridiculous, but it’s where I love hearing Metal.  As of right now, Behemoth have outdone themselves.  Now, if I had to choose one track here I wasn’t totally into it would be “Rom 5:8”.  This is certainly one of the more straightforward of the bunch, instantly taking off with these very soaring guitars that do come off pretty grand.  But like I said I’m iffy on this one.  They did the last track so well with all of these campy effects.  And don’t get me wrong, they’re still effective.  But the verses here seem a little thrown together for me.  So much so, that I’m actually excited to hear the very sluggish chorus.  The multi-layered vocals are very cool, but this one to me just doesn’t always come off like a Behemoth tune.  Sure, it’s pummeling and intense.  But outside of that, what about this comes off like a Behemoth track?  On the other hand, “We Are the Next 1000 Years” may be one of the most no-bullshit tracks here.  This is a monstrosity instantly, and absolutely soul-crushing.  Nergal’s vocals are absolutely the centerpiece as they should be, as he’s sounding less human by the second.  And you can say this is a little straightforward for Behemoth, and you would absolutely be right.  I will say this though, the very graceful and absolutely fucking gorgeous break int he second half remind you just who you’re dealing with.  This one went from an absolute powerhouse to this emotional, spacious tune in mere seconds.  Isn’t it fun being a Behemoth fan?  They end up ending this album off on an incredibly triumphant note as well with “Coagvla”.  I mean, yea this is a little bit of a short ending barely reaching over 2-minutes.  But I can’t help but get swept up in every instrumental, the thunderous playing, the fantastic atmosphere and more.  

Rating:  9.0/10

Give A Listen To: “Wolves ov Siberia”, “Havohej Pantocrator”, “Bartzabel”, “Sabbath Mater”

Least Favorite Track: “Rom 5:8”

Genre: Black Metal /  Blackened Death Metal

Overall Thoughts: Polish Black Metal legends Behemoth have returned once again, with an album that quite frankly just blew everything else in Metal this year completely out of the water.  You can argue that this is Behemoth’s most human album, and you certainly would make a fantastic point, because I believe it is.  But while from a distance this may be a different side for Behemoth, everything else about this band and this album have been cranked up more than ever.  The more melodic moments from “The Satanist” are here and spades, as well as their focus on building a massive atmosphere as they’ve been learning to do for years.  But since day one, the adventurous side to this band has always been a selling point for me.  Behemoth put throw everything at you here, to a point where you don’t know whether or not you’re going to be pummeled by Death Metal riffs or an Acoustic passage.  You may hear some Classic Rock inspired drum fills or a Choir chime in for a chorus.  It’s all on the table with Behemoth, and while this may not be their best album, it’s a dangerous reminder to just how bold and fearless this band is in the Metal world.