Review Summary: Instrumental imprisonment
While there are some that are consumed by the influence that inevitably stains our world like a shower of rancorous rain, there are some that hide in the shadow and watch while the world slowly engulfs itself. Death Metal is the boundary which distinguishes the two and Behemoth is the definition of difference and extremity that scornfully overlooks all its contemporary minions, which take up their space in the genre. In reality, something new is innovated; the conjoining of death metal and a black metal, to create a murky tune, which is slavishly shadowed with extreme drumming and riffing, creating a musical experience that is reminiscent of a monster thirsty for vengeance. The succulent convention of instruments induces headbanging while at the same time adhering to a black metal influenced atmosphere. Originally hailing from Poland, the band has now released 7 albums; even though they have broken themselves off from the rest and embody a whole new type of music, in themselves they haven't changed their style substantially. Zos Kia Cultus (Here and Beyond) is a heavy Behemoth with down-tuned riffing which exuberates misery in a dimension that is unknown to us.
Behemoth is a picturesque of a haunted castle which stands on a ledge overlooking the world. While the storms rage on, so does the complacent music inside the castle chambers. These walls distinguish this band from the rest, creating a completely new innovation. They succeed in inducing feelings and emotions with the help of their heavy, subsiding guitar-generated atmospheric beats and the drums inhumanely make their contribution to the peril that anyone who comes close is subjected to. With this succeeding, no one has managed to recreate a new Behemoth. The band has been gifted with and has awakened a whole new domain of music which they have yet to take to the fullest, only then will they leave behind a legendary mark; a burden has been imposed on them, but this album is only their journey to becoming the best.
The vocals are dreadfully monstruous, and angrily growl lyrics in old English, the result of many years of interest for ancient languages. The riffs are down-tuned and the percussions help to make them flourish; the whole act is well organized. The speed of the whole drum set-up is ineffable, and they are conclusive in varying the song, as the change of their pace is essential in creating a groove quality; as well of course defining the Death Metal genre. The guitar is excellently manipulated and swings across like a pendulum during the pummeling drums handled proficiently by Inferno.
Nergal belligerently takes up his position as the vocalist, his voice almost completely impaired from his career as a singer; he is destined to be in the band, and makes it what it is. Every element is successfully rendered unique. Behemoth brings out a conspicuous theme, which aggravates to the obsequious terror conveyed in their music. Each song is only a different form of what they are able to bring out with their aptitudes, and relentlessly attacks the listener. I don't think their sound is completely anomalous, or rather it is, but it's not a real spine chiller. The band are only slowly snowballing in qualities that will one day make them better. There isn't a lot to say really, it's a very controversial band. To some corny and laughable, judging by the atmosphere they attempt to create, or for others who simply have nothing of this in their musical range, it can be the cause of a near convulsion, which almost happened to a girl I showed a Behemoth video to (Don't attempt this). However, this only shows that the band skillfully manages to spread terror, and aren't just noise, but an artifact of uniqueness, and there are those who successfully yield to the powers of their music, because it is good.
Behemoth is a seed planted in the midst of hazy ruins; it is harmless, but today it has grown into something which completely builds a new direction of musicianship. They create atmospheric and deadly riffing which adds to this feeling of hopeless confinement. The gap is only closing, as Behemoth has created a refined compilation with Zos Kia Cultus. This album has personality, which is why I would recommend it to all metalheads. Happy listening.
Recommended Tracks:
- Horns Ov Baphomet
- Modern Iconoclasts
- No Sympathy For Fools
- Typhonian Soul Zodiack
