BEHEMOTH — The Satanist (review)

Album · 2014 · Death Metal

5/5 · 2014-04-09
arcane-beautiful

Whenever I heard Nergal got leukaemia I was generally shocked. Behemoth are band I have loved for a very long time and have respected Nergal for a very long time. Having been nearly arrested for blasphemy charges and always spouting intelligent anti theist statements. So after a miraculous recovery, the band have released 'The Satanist'....a statement very much defining the bands Anti religious status.

Compared to their last album, this one is definitely a massive step ahead. Having rather enjoyed their last album 'Evangelion' (although I did think it was a step down from their previous release 'The Apostasy'), this album has pretty much defiled their previous material and has put the band into even more exciting and newer sounds and heights.

Taking influence from the fathers of Black Metal like Bathory and Celtic Frost along with some new influences from Black Metal legends like Deathspell Omega and Enslaved. One of the most shocking things I found with this album was how melodically based the songs where. The songs are also a lot more carefully constructed when compared to other Behemoth tracks, with the additional use of hooks and chorus' which can be very rare in death metal (and I agree should be more common).

The album is more simplicity in style, but surprisingly enough, the simplicity of the songs has added a lot more depth to the bands music. Showing off a bigger focus on harmony, melody and instrumentation, the album is a real landmark for these guys, proving that extreme metal still is a genre that can shock and suprise people.

Nergal's vocals have also changed a hefty bit, with slight tonal similarities to his earlier growls on albums like 'Satanica' and 'Thelma 6'. It may be due to his recovery after surgery and chemo, but it does show a lot of pain and passion that I felt may have been lost in Behemoths more recent recordings.

The first track and lead single from the album 'Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel” is very much a continuation in the same field of 'Alas, Lord is Upon Me' from their last album. Slow and doomy in style, the song builds up to an amazing crescendo with some epic guitar hooks, horns and epic growls from Nergal.

One of the darkest and most twisted moments on the album is “Amen.” Lyrically moulded on a Christian prayer, the song takes a dark twist on the concept of prayer and spits on it with Satanic malice. Very much influenced by Deathspell Omega, the darkened riffs and blast beats are a power house to be matched.

One of the albums defining moments is seen in the title track. Definitly one of Behemoths most powerful and melodic tracks, it really is a highlight in the bands career. Lyrically and vocally, Nergal takes the listener on a spiritual and powerful journey.

One of the most interesting songs on the album has to be 'In The Absence Ov Light.' Having very limited lyrics, this song is flourished with some spoken word and a pretty beautiful uplifting saxophone solo. Don't know why saxophone and extreme metal go so well together...they just do.

The albums closer and longest track 'O Father O Sun O Lucifer.' A brilliant build up throughout with some rather beautiful instrumentation and a moving vocal performance from Nergal. An amazing ending to a contender for album of the year.

In conclusion, this album was a daring feat that really could have resulted in a rather weak effort. But after Nergal's death scare, the passion from this band that I have heard in previous releases is finally back. Wearing their influences on their sleeves, the bands sound has progressed into a more accessible and more unique sound. While this album is a masterpiece of metal, the band really have put the mark higher for their next release. A daring and interesting emotional experience I would recommend to any metal fan.

9/10