Nergal speaks on Behemoth

Behemoth frontman Nergal spoke to Metaleater.com on August 10th during the band's stop in Vancouver at the Sounds Of The Underground where he relayed his thoughts on the tour.

"It's been nothing but great," he stated. "It's almost over now; it went out so fast. It's been a blast pretty much every day. Long days for us, you know; we go on early, then afterwards. It's just pure fun; just kidding around and socializing people; dealing with everyone on the tour, starting from the crew to band members and fans - it's nothing but pleasure, you know. It's been maybe the best tour we've done in the US so far. It's amazing. I love it."

While the roster at this year's festival is diverse, Behemoth and Cannibal Corpse claim the title of "most extreme", which is exposing both bands to a new audience.

Nergal further comments: "That's the plan, you know. That's what I hope we are doing with this tour. I think the same goes for Cannibal Corpse and probably some other bands. We're not the most mainstream band on the bill, so I guess starting at the top - it's just too fast for some people. We're doing well and I think it's actually exactly as they planned it to be. It's been a good tour for us. I think that there is some variety on the bill. Everything is good, you know. I think we actually benefit from it definitely, and there are some other bands that do too. It's good; I'm happy with it, you know. I mean, I'll say this: America needs more serious, heavy fucken music. That's what we're trying to do with our presence on this tour."

Nergal also revealed more details surrounding the band's forthcoming album, which he has previously described as being "insane, heavy and epic".

Nergal elaborates: "That's what it sounds like so far. I can't really say much until it's done, but we're working on the record. We have like almost 6 songs finished; 4 of them are crazy - just crazy. It's fast; it's technical; it's fucken catchy; it's everything, you know. It's heavy, more like mid-tempo, slow songs. I can't say yet, but it's going to be a crazy record - and hopefully the best one. But what else can I say at this stage - not much."

When asked if the new album would follow the same theme as Demigod, Nergal confirmed: "Yeah, we are continuing where we stopped with Demigod. And when that record ended we started from there; trying to move on and develop from there and just get better - and hopefully get better songs and everything. So let's see what happens. I'm pretty sure that this record is going to rock as fuck, and I'm pretty sure it's going to top Demigod. We picked up a great producer to make the record. I'm not going to reveal any names yet because it's still under work. We are doing everything to top Demigod; to put out the best Behemoth record. We can, you know."

Nergal revealed exclusively to Metaleater the tentative title for the new album. "Actually, we picked the (tentative) title and it's The Apostasy; it's the working title for this new record."

Nergal recently traveled to Jerusalem to walk the Via Dolorosaand, an experience he says will make its way onto the new Behemoth album.

"I've got this song title in my head which is 'Christ Grinding Avenue', and it's talking about our trip to Jerusalem, and my thoughts and impressions from that place and religion and crime. It's going to be crazy; it's going to be in the vein of 'Christians To The Lions' and 'Slaves Shall Serve' - that kind of song - just insane (laughs) and probably blasphemous too."

He continues, "I've been to many places, like Oriental and exotic places, that definitely differ so much - the vibe and everything is just so different from what I face in my everyday life, " he says. "So I thought that it might definitely influence me on writing new lyrics and new music. But then on the other hand, there's so much bullshit going on in Poland right now with the Catholic politics and everything, you know. There's just more and more censorship, and more and more Catholic and right-wing(ers) getting in, and I hate it so fucken much, you know. There definitely is going to be some serious anger going on in the new record."

Once the Sounds Of The Underground tour has wrapped up today (August 12) at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, CA, the band will perform at selected festivals in Europe, then they will just focus on the new record.

"We're going to start recording by the end of October and be ready by late February, and hopefully have the record ready by around May (2007)," states Nergal. "It takes ages to do records, and that's the way it has to be."