Review Summary: Behemoth show once again that they are the best and most brutal band around in a wonderful live album.
A wind-like sound begins, a chant buids up 'Behemoth! Behemoth! Behemoth! Behemoth!' then applause, distant harpsicord sounds with drums and atmospheric singing. And then
Ov Fire and The Void begins. So starts
Evangelica Heretica the latest live edition from Behemoth, and one hour of utterly intense fury.
As said, the opener
Ov Fire and The Void really sets you up for what you are about to experience, furious blast beats, intense guitars, Nergal's voice cutting through it all with a rage unmatched by any other within the genre. The band are really tight here, they play everything with a crispness that demonstrates why they are at the top of their league, it is also played with a vigour that helps it come across to the listener. And for anyone worried that you might not get to enjoy the same brutality live as you do on the albums, have no fear, the raw fury that one experiences on the studio albums is just as brutal live, songs such as
Demigod and
Christians to the Lions are prime examples of this fury.
Behind this musical phenomenon is the band who are on prime form for this, Inferno, as usual, shows us why he is one of the best drummers around, his blast-beats and snare work providing a wonderful wall of sound that backs up the rest of the band. The fact that the man keeps up such as fast and difficult performance throughout the show demonstrates in itself the skill present. The guitars together are brilliant, the melodies coming together perfectly and showing some technicality that doesn't quite come across in the albums, the solos that are played occasionally throughout are highlights for the guitars, providing variety and a relief from the constant intensity that is a Behemoth show.
Roaring his way through this show is Nergal, the vocal addition, and what vocals they are. Anyone who has ever heard the band and gone 'bet his vocals suck live' should listen to this, and then be stabbed for doubting him. Nergal easily transfers his passionate fury that is heard on the albums to the live set, songs such as
Ov fire and The Void and Conquer All are perfect examples of this. Adding variation through snarls and growls rather than varying pitch one is still drawn into the power and conviction of his performance and it really pays of.
This is a great live album showcasing the talent and intensity of Behemoth, a band that is truly on top form and one of the leading death metal acts around, as they pound and roar their way through a set of old and new. This should be a definite addition to anyone who considers them self to be a fan of the band.
