Live from Maida Vale

A million years ago, I found a lolcat of a cute orange kitten tilting its head at a perfect ninety-degree angle to the left with 'WHAT'S YOUR POINT?' written in huge white letters at the bottom. I never saved it, unfortunately, but if I had done so, I would be able to write a review of "Live from Maida Vale" by simply uploading that picture. This is a four-song release of Behemoth performing tunes from "I Loved You at Your Darkest" at a BBC Radio session. A competent enough release, I have to wonder a few things. First, why does Behemoth have so many live albums and such? Is the demand to hear live recordings of Behemoth really that high? Second, is the source material of "I Loved You at Your Darkest" stable enough to justify such a release? And the million-dollar question: what's the point?

I think the answer to my second question is yes. I like the aforementioned follow-up to "The Satanist." A meeker release compared to "The Satanist," which I love and consider the band's best work, unpopular as that opinion may be, but sufficient nonetheless. "Live from Maida Vale" is live in a studio, but the same rules apply. Behemoth is no stranger to the live environment, and as such the songs are performed adequately. The sound quality is muddier than the source material; it provides a more organic way to experience these cuts. There is not much else going on besides that. Behemoth puts on a show, fifteen minutes pass, and that is that. I could have predicted Nergal does not throw out an improvised oboe solo during the bridge of "Bartzabel," but you never know. These are strange times.

But maybe an improvised oboe solo would have this feel a little more than a pleasantry to be forgotten as soon as it ends. Maybe the spice of a mad crowd loving it would put on some beef. How about a deep cut from one of the older albums that is now itching for attention? Is it worth this much of an analysis? Depends on how much one values this kind of stuff, I suppose. This did not do much for me, clearly. "Live from Maida Vale" sounds as hollow as the studio in which they recorded this stuff. Capable enough, yet empty. Still, what is the point? And if you hate "I Loved You at Your Darkest," you will obviously hate this, and I effectively just wasted a few minutes of your life. At least you can now search for a funny cat picture worth saving.