Review Summary: Hold your nose and enter, if you dare
Behemoth, like any mortal vessel, is a band as susceptible to the toll of time as any. Poised in an infernal throne atop a tenured blackened death metal career, this Polish quartet has very little left to prove with yet another release. But the burden of time's cruel indifference was always a cross Nergal and company would bear, and many extreme metal acts grow long in tooth with varying degrees of dignity, stagnation, and self-awareness. With "The *** Ov God", Behemoth discharge an album that certainly won't win over any skeptics, but could provide some gainful sonic compost for those who dare listen.
Let's start by addressing the elephant in the room: the title. It is, by far, the most appalling aspect of this record. I understand Nergal may have had the best intentions and thematic ideas in mind, but it's difficult to rationalize reading into something literally called ***. It's also hard to judge the title without raising an eyebrow at Nergal himself, who somehow thought it prudent to coin such a distasteful moniker well into his 40s. The title track's refrain "we are the *** ov God" is something you'd expect scrawled in an angsty high schooler's Death Notebook, rather than adorning the lyric booklet of Poland's biggest metal band. While Behemoth is no stranger to controversy and accusations of being too "edgy", they've unfortunately sentenced themselves to an inferno of embarrassment and mockery.
By now you're probably wondering "Row, how could an album with such an abominable title be anything other than ***?" Well, quite frankly, I'm just as surprised as you. Although the record suffers from many of the same issues as their previous work, "The *** Ov God" has a few tricks up it's sleeve that make it a worthwhile listen. For starters, Nergal delivers a commendable vocal performance that injects some serious weight to the compositions. While the lyrics are cheesy at times, particularly in the title track and the Whitmanesque "To Drown the Svn In Wine", I find there's enough dark anguished passion in the growls to compensate for them. The unbridled ferocity of "Nomen Barbarvm", the lush choral contrast of "O Venvs, Come!", and the strained cadence of "Lvciferaeon" prove that despite his drawbacks, Nergal can still hang with the best after such a long and taxing career in the scene.
Shockingly, this record has Behemoth righting their musical ship in the best direction since their seminal 2014 release, The Satanist. Seth and Nergal's tremolo riffs pair deliciously with Inferno's signature tom fills and Orion locks in as expected with his tightest basslines in years. "Nomen Barbarvm" has a remarkable solo section, with aggressive riffing and tapping very reminiscent of The Apostasy. "Sowing Salt", while disjointed at times, offers some infectious black metal flavor, with blast beats that crescendo into some lovely guitar licks on the tail-end. "O Venvs, Come!" conjures a brooding atmosphere with ominous guitar melodies and well-parsed drum fills, before a grandiose finale of choral vocals and rolling kicks. Although the band remains shrouded in questionable creative decisions and optics, their biggest sin has been monotony, and memorable moments such as these have been notably absent from their prior two albums. The production is also nicely balanced, with just enough detail to elevate the arrangements, and just enough rawness to retain that black metal charm.
While there is a lot to enjoy throughout this album, there are a handful of drawbacks as well. Some of the tracks suffer from a familiar repetition of ideas, namely "To Drown the Svn In Wine", which has some boisterous energy, but loses steam as it fizzles out on the bridge before returning to the intro riff. "Lvciferaen" also gets lost in the weeds, with nothing but the solo section to contrast an otherwise underwhelming composition. There is also a shortage of catchy riffs and an abundance of juvenile lyrics, with defiant passages including:
"Stride like the lion
Writhe like the snake
Driven to never bow in fear
Before no god, king, nor man"
or, perhaps
"We are the shadow elite
Blackening holy land
We are ruin, we are locusts
Fatum ov the universe
We are the shadow elite
Succumb never to fear"
I understand extreme metal lyrics are often glossed over, but for a band that prides themselves on sacrilegious artistry, I can't help but feel a bit underwhelmed, especially with a title like "The *** Ov God". The riffs are passable, and there are a few standouts, but they don't reach the intensity of Demigod, the eeriness of The Satanist, or the balance of both in Evangelion.
In all, this record was a pleasant surprise. It's unlikely to win over any former haters, but it's not nearly as *** as the title suggests, and you may actively enjoy it if you're willing to pick through. The musicianship is solid, the production elevates the songs, and there are some great sections that kick it up a notch. The final three tracks are Behemoth's best work in over a decade, and I would recommend starting there for anyone who's hesitant or unfamiliar with the band. Thank you for reading!
