Demigod

If you are already a fan of Behemoth, then you are no stranger to their evil, Satanic, and brutally-heavy style. From the haunting bleakness of their debut to the shell shock-inducing 'Zos Kia Cultus', they are well-known and respected for their hellish anthems of blasphemy. Just when you think they can't get any more brutal, they craft Demigod, which is nothing short of a musical earthquake. I will explain to you why Demigod is one of the heaviest albums I have heard recently.

The production on this release is crystal clear, which means that we get to hear everything perfectly. This adds to the sheer immensity of the album. The opening track starts with some Nile-esque clean guitars. After this menacing Middle Eastern intro the album explodes into an intimidating death metal assault. The drum work of Inferno is unbelievably fast in songs like 'Demigod' and the mighty 'Slaves Shall Serve'. His blasts are among the fastest I have ever heard, rivaling Kataklysm's 'Serenity in Fire', which is quite a feat. The guitar riffs are intense and furious with 'The Nephilim Rising' standing out. The opening riff to this song sounds like it was created in the fires of hell and it is one of the stand out songs on the album.

The vocals garnered mixed reception upon the album's released. Nergal's layered growls polarized fans with some taking a strong dislike. Do not listen to these critics. This effect makes the vocals sound more demonic, unnerving, and appropriate to the music. 'Towards Babylon' is the most brutal track on the album and this is mainly due to the vocals. Nergal sounds like he is commanding you to bow down before him with his hellish growls. The blast beats and guitar riffs make this song a formidable listen, and a clean pair of pants is needed after this one. The technicality of the guitars is mainly showcased in 'Xul', a beast of a track that features a guest appearance from Karl Sanders, a genius in complexity.

There are some interesting instruments on this record, such as a horn at the start of the title track. As well as sounding like the beginning of a death metal fox hunt (joke!), it provides the song with the atmosphere it needs. Although most of the album is more about overall heaviness than atmospherics, there are some brilliant little moments of experimenting. Some eerie ambiance at the end of the final track closes the album perfectly.

Production-wise, Demigod is probably about as heavy as it gets. Pristine, intense, and intimidating, it truly is a force to be reckoned with. Behemoth will have to work very hard indeed if they wish to outdo this avalanche of carnage, but as I thought the last album was as heavy as it gets, they may prove me wrong again. I am indeed hopeful for the future of these hardened death metal demons.

Virgin listeners beware. :)