Behemoth (band): Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Behemoth

| image = Behemoth - ~~Rock~~Reload amFestival ~~Ring~~2024 ~~2019-3058~~01.jpg

| caption = Behemoth in ~~2019~~2024

| landscape = yes

| origin = [[Gdańsk]], Poland

| genre = {{flatlist|

* [[Blackened death metal]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3361711/behemoth-release-official-video-satanist/ | title=Behemoth Release Official Video for "The Satanist" | publisher=[[Bloody Disgusting]] | date=15 September 2015 | access-date=30 June 2016 | author=Barkan, Jonathan | archive-date=11 August 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811041121/http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3361711/behemoth-release-official-video-satanist/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

* {{nowrap|[[death metal]]<ref name=allmusicbiography/>}}

* ~~{{nowrap|~~[[black metal]] (early)}}

}}

| years_active = 1991–present

| label = {{flatlist|

* [[Metal Blade Records|Metal Blade]]

* [[Nuclear Blast]]

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* [[Mystic Production]]

}}

| associated_acts = [[Blindead]]

| website = {{URL|http://www.behemoth.pl}}

| current_members = * =[[Adam Darski|Nergal]]

* [[Adam Darski|Nergal]]

* [[Zbigniew Robert Promiński|Inferno]]

* [[Tomasz Wróblewski|Orion]]

| past_members = {{ubl

|Baal Ravenlock

|Desecrator

~~|Desecratorx~~

|Frost

|Orcus

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'''Behemoth''' is a Polish [[extreme metal]] band from [[Gdańsk]], formed in 1991. They are considered to have played an important role in establishing the Polish extreme metal underground.<ref name=allmusicbiography>{{cite web | title = Biography | url = http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:anfexqegldhe~T1 | publisher = Allmusic.com | access-date = 24 May 2009 | archive-date = 11 September 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200911080549/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/behemoth-mn0000789429 | url-status = live }}</ref>

Until the late 1990s, the band played a traditional [[black metal]] style with ~~heathen~~secular lyrical content, but ~~soon~~ changed to that of [[occult]] and [[thelema|thelemic]] themes written by their lead vocalist [[Adam Darski|Nergal]] and Krzysztof Azarewicz. With the 1999 release of ''[[Satanica (album)|Satanica]]'', the band demonstrated their presence in the death metal scene, while retaining their own signature style characterized by the drum work of [[Zbigniew Robert Promiński|Inferno]] and multi-layered vocals. Despite Behemoth having been labeled as [[death metal]] or [[thrash metal]]-influenced, Nergal has mentioned that he does not like the band to be labeled as such.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://blogs.guitarworld.com/metalkult/videos/behemoth-the-metalkult-interview/|title=BEHEMOTH: The Metal Kult Interview|last=Guitar World|publisher=[[Wayback Machine]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921222423/http://blogs.guitarworld.com/metalkult/videos/behemoth-the-metalkult-interview/|archive-date=21 September 2008|access-date=17 September 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.metalwarrants.com/interviews/behemoth.html|title=Interview with Nergal|publisher=[[Wayback Machine]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112110701/http://www.metalwarrants.com/interviews/behemoth.html|archive-date=12 November 2007}}</ref>

==History==

===Early career and first five albums (1991–2000)===

Behemoth was formed in 1991 as a trio, with [[Adam Darski|Nergal]] on lead guitar and vocals, [[Adam Muraszko|Baal]] on drums, and Desecrator on rhythm guitar. They started with the demos ''[[Endless Damnation]]'', and ''The Return of the Northern Moon''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.behemoth.pl/site/index.php/eng#discography |title=Behemoth |publisher=Behemoth.pl |access-date=19 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515062001/http://www.behemoth.pl/site/index.php/eng#discography |archive-date=15 May 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The most significant however, was the fourth demo—''[[...From the Pagan Vastlands]]'' (1994). This tape was released by Polish label [[Pagan Records]], and later on through [[Wild Rags]]. Their next release was ''[[Sventevith (Storming Near the Baltic)]]'' in 1995. A year later, they recorded their second album ''[[Grom (album)|Grom]]'', which was released in 1996. ''Grom'' features many different influences and musical styles, using female vocals as well as acoustic guitars and synthesizers. At the same time, Behemoth finally got a chance to play live shows in its native country and finally tour around Europe, gaining stage experience. Two years later, the band recorded a third album, titled ''[[Pandemonic Incantations]]''. The culmination of their increasing presence and metal media set a new standard for them.<ref>{{cite web | title = Behemoth - Pandemonic Incantations Review - sputnikmusic | url = http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=4196 | access-date = 23 May 2009 | archive-date = 2130 ~~April~~June 2012 | archive-url = https://~~www~~archive.~~webcitation.org~~today/20120630111732/~~675A8rzra?url=~~http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/4579/Behemoth-Pandemonic-Incantations/ | url-status = live }}</ref> However, due to a lack of promotion, the album was not well publicized. After another extensive tour, Behemoth signed a two-album deal with Italy's [[Avantgarde Music]] in the fall of 1998. The first result of this new collaboration was the successful<ref>{{cite web | title = CoC : Behemoth - Satanica : Review | url = http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/reviews/albums/2-1382_behemoth_satanica.aspx | access-date = 23 May 2009 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090624182042/http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/reviews/albums/2-1382_behemoth_satanica.aspx| archive-date= 24 June 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> album ''[[Satanica (album)|Satanica]]'', on which the black metal sound had evolved into [[blackened death metal]].

The label also secured two European tours for the band in support of [[Deicide (band)|Deicide]] and [[Satyricon (band)|Satyricon]] respectively. During that period, Behemoth had to go through some line-up changes and had problems with their ex-Polish label. By the time ''Satanica'' came out, Inferno and Les were out of the band. Nergal began looking for new members but could not find a new drummer. Inferno returned to the band in early 2000, along with new members [[Marcin Nowak (musician)|Novy]] (formerly known from Devilyn, [[Vader (band)|Vader]] and Dies Irae), who handled the bass duties, and Havok, who became the band's guitarist. After the line-up changes Behemoth signed with the Polish label [[Mystic Production]]. The follow-up release to ''Satanica'' was ''[[Thelema.6]]''. Massive guitar parts and precise drumming, with influences from different sources, saw them progress further towards<ref>{{cite web | title = CoC : Behemoth - Thelema.6 : Review | url = http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/reviews/albums/2-1835_behemoth_thelema6.aspx | access-date = 24 May 2009 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090623095114/http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/reviews/albums/2-1835_behemoth_thelema6.aspx| archive-date= 23 June 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = MetalBite Thelema.6 Review by Chad on 2/17/2002 | url = http://www.metalbite.com/tracks.asp?album=714 | access-date = 24 May 2009 | archive-date = 23 November 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071123001538/http://www.metalbite.com/tracks.asp?album=714 | url-status = live }}</ref> [[blackened death metal]].

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In July and August 2009, Behemoth participated in the Rockstar [[Mayhem Festival]] alongside a variety of metal bands such as [[Slayer]], [[Bullet for My Valentine]], [[All That Remains (band)|All That Remains]], [[Trivium (band)|Trivium]], [[Marilyn Manson (band)|Marilyn Manson]], [[Cannibal Corpse]] and [[Job for a Cowboy]]. In September 2009 Behemoth headlined the "New Evangelion" Polish tour alongside Azarath, [[Black River (band)|Black River]] and Hermh.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.agoniarecords.com/index.php?pos=site&lang=en&section=tourdates&id=33 |title=Agoina Records |publisher=Agoniarecords.com |access-date=19 October 2011 |archive-date=5 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005161843/http://www.agoniarecords.com/index.php?pos=site&lang=en&section=tourdates&id=33 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In January 2010, Behemoth toured North America during "Evangelia Amerika Tour". In March they toured Europe with shows in Scandinavia, Greece and Turkey. In April, Behemoth toured Japan, Australia and New Zealand. In May they started European "Evangelion Summer Campaign 2010" with shows on open-air festivals in Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Poland. In June and July they toured France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Turkey, Serbia and Croatia with [[Decapitated (band)|Decapitated]] and [[Ex Deo]]. In July and August they performed on next open-air festivals, in Czech Republic and Poland.

===Nergal's illness, recovery and ''The Satanist'' (2010–2016)===

In August 2010, Nergal was rushed to a hospital and was diagnosed with [[leukemia]]. It was reported that his leukemia was so advanced that [[chemotherapy]] couldn't help him; however, that has been proven false. [[Doda (singer)|Doda]], his girlfriend at that time, offered her bone marrow for a transplant but tests showed she wasn't a match.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvp.info/informacje/ludzie/nergal-czeka-na-szpik/2378233 |title=Nergal czeka na szpik |publisher=Tvp.Info |access-date=19 October 2011 |archive-date=4 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004125656/http://www.tvp.info/informacje/ludzie/nergal-czeka-na-szpik/2378233 |url-status=dead |language=pl |trans-title=Nergal is waiting for marrow}}</ref> A donor was subsequently found. Behemoth was forced to cancel all upcoming shows in August, including the Sonisphere Festival in Finland, concerts in Russia, Belarus and Baltic States in September and October, and their North American tour "Lawless States of Heretika" with [[Watain]], [[Withered]] and Black Anvil in November and December.

Behemoth's live DVD ''[[Evangelia Heretika]]'' was released on 9 November 2010.<ref>{{cite web | title=Behemoth "Evangelia Heretika" Trailer | website=[[YouTube]] | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75_MgGymtFQ | date=29 September 2010 | access-date=29 September 2010 | archive-date=11 February 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130211144001/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75_MgGymtFQ | url-status=live }}</ref> The DVD package includes two DVDs featuring Live in Warsaw 2009, Live in Paris 2008, Documentaries, Bonus Material and an Audio CD.<ref>{{cite web|title=Behemoth To Release a New DVD Evangelia Heretika|date=30 September 2010 |url=http://www.metalcallout.com/metal-music-videos/behemoth-to-release-a-new-dvd-evangelia-heretika.html|publisher=Metal CallOut|access-date=30 September 2010|archive-date=28 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228033924/http://www.metalcallout.com/metal-music-videos/behemoth-to-release-a-new-dvd-evangelia-heretika.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 17 January 2011, Nergal left the hematology division of Uniwersyteckie Centrum Kliniczne, four weeks after he underwent a bone marrow transplant procedure. He said that he would take several months of recovery while living in his flat in one of the Gdańsk's districts in order to restore his physical condition. He also announced that he was eager to resume playing the guitar again, its having been six months since he last played. He also said that he had a huge motivation and desire to continue his work with the band, thanking all people who helped him.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.behemoth.pl/site/index.php/eng#calosc.377.NERGAL_RELEASED_FROM_HOSPITAL! |title=Behemoth |publisher=Behemoth.pl |access-date=19 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515062001/http://www.behemoth.pl/site/index.php/eng#calosc.377.NERGAL_RELEASED_FROM_HOSPITAL! |archive-date=15 May 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

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On August 9, 2015, Behemoth were announced as the special guests at [[Bloodstock Open Air]] in 2016, playing ''The Satanist'' in its entirety on Friday, 12 August 2016.

Due to Inferno becoming a father in July 2017, Jon "the Charn" Rice replaced him on drums at the American summer tour with [[Slayer]] and [[Lamb of God (band)|Lamb of God]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://loudwire.com/behemoth-job-for-a-cowboy-drummer-inferno-fill-in-slayer-tour/ |title=Behemoth Recruit Ex-Job for a Cowboy Drummer as Inferno's Fill-In on North American Slayer Tour |website=[[Loudwire]] |date=8 July 2017 |access-date=6 September 2017 |archive-date=7 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907080709/http://loudwire.com/behemoth-job-for-a-cowboy-drummer-inferno-fill-in-slayer-tour/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===''I Loved You at Your Darkest'' and ''Opvs Contra Natvram'' (2016–present)===

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In August 2019, the band was announced as the support act for [[Slipknot (band)|Slipknot]]'s 2020 European tour.

In March 2021, Nergal announced that the band was preparing a new album to celebrate their 30th anniversary.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Blabbermouth|date=2 March 2021|title=BEHEMOTH Is Working On New Material, Preparing For 30th-Anniversary Celebrations|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/behemoth-is-working-on-new-material-preparing-for-30th-anniversary-celebrations/|access-date=11 March 2021|website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET}}</ref> The twelfth studio album ''[[Opvs Contra Natvram]]'' was announced on 11 May 2022, set to be released on 16 September. A music video of the first single titled "Ov My Herculean Exile" was made available for streaming that day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/behemoth-announces-12th-studio-album-opvs-contra-natvram-shares-ov-my-herculean-exile-video|title=BEHEMOTH Announces 12th Studio Album 'Opvs Contra Natvram', Shares 'Ov My Herculean Exile' Video|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|date=11 May 2022 |accessdate=11 May 2022}}</ref>

As of December 2023, according to Nergal, new music from Behemoth is in the works.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/new-behemoth-music-is-on-the-way-says-nergal|title=New BEHEMOTH Music Is On The Way, Says NERGAL|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=December 10, 2023|date=December 4, 2023}}</ref>

==Controversy==

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Nergal has [[Adam Darski#Career|repeatedly been on trial]] in Poland for tearing up the Bible in a 2007 incident.<ref>{{cite news

|url = https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-poland-blasphemy/court-rules-against-polish-rocker-who-tore-up-bible-idUKBRE89T01920121030 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170911114710/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-poland-blasphemy/court-rules-against-polish-rocker-who-tore-up-bible-idUKBRE89T01920121030 |url-status = dead |archive-date = 11 September 2017 |last1=Szymanowski |first1=Grzegorz |last2=Lowe |first2=Christian |access-date = 11 November 2020 |title = Court rules against Polish rocker who tore up Bible |newspaper=Reuters |date = 29 October 2012}}</ref>

In May 2014, Russia expelled Behemoth for four to five years because of visa issues.<ref name="Vesti May 14">{{cite news |url=http://www.vesti.ru/doc.html?id=1607100 |title=Группу Behemoth оштрафовали и выгнали из России |date=22 May 2014 |access-date=22 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522134827/http://www.vesti.ru/doc.html?id=1607100 |archive-date=22 May 2014 |publisher=[[Vesti.ru]] |language=ru |trans-title=Behemoth group fined and kicked out of Russia}}</ref>

In 2019, Nergal sparked controversy by posting a picture of himself wearing a "Black Metal against ANTIFA" t-shirt on Instagram.<ref>{{Cite web|last=October 2019|first=Metal Hammer08|title=Behemoth's Nergal sparks controversy with "black metal against Antifa" t-shirt|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/behemoths-nergal-sparks-controversy-with-black-metal-against-antifa-t-shirt|access-date=24 February 2021|website=Metal Hammer Magazine|date=8 October 2019|language=en}}</ref>

==Band members==

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===Current===

* [[Adam Darski|Adam "Nergal" Darski]] – lead and rhythm guitar, lead vocals (1991–present~~), rhythm guitar (1992–1993, 1994–1995, 1997–1998, 1999–2000, 2003–2004~~), bass (1991–1993, 1993–1997, 1998–2003)

* [[Zbigniew Robert Promiński|Zbigniew "Inferno" Promiński]] – drums (1997–1999, 2000–present)

* [[Tomasz Wróblewski|Tomasz "Orion" Wróblewski]] – bass, backing vocals (2003–present)

===Session/touring musicians===

* [[Patryk Dominik Sztyber|Patryk "Seth" Sztyber]] – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals (2004–present)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.metaltalk.net/20107006.php|title=INTERVIEW WITH ORION FROM BEHEMOTH}|website=Metaltalk.net|date=17 February 2014}}</ref>

===Former===

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* Adam Sierżęga – drums (2013, 2016)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://muzyka.onet.pl/metal/behemoth-nie-scigamy-sie-z-nikim/h5e2r |title=Behemoth: nie ścigamy się z nikim |publisher=Muzyka |date=13 August 2013 |access-date=5 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020232742/http://muzyka.onet.pl/metal/behemoth-nie-scigamy-sie-z-nikim/h5e2r |archive-date=20 October 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

* [[Kerim Lechner|Kerim "Krimh" Lechner]] – drums (2013)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/behemoth-featuring-ex-decapitated-drummer-krimh-drum-cam-footage-from-see-rock-festival/ |title=Behemoth Featuring Ex Decapitated Drummer Krimh: Drum Cam Footage From See Rock Festival |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |date=23 June 2013 |access-date=5 March 2015 |archive-date=2 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402220501/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/behemoth-featuring-ex-decapitated-drummer-krimh-drum-cam-footage-from-see-rock-festival/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

* Jon "The Charn" Rice – drums (2017, 2019, 2022, 2024)

* Jay "The Tan God" Kumar – drums (2018)

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!2022

|''[[Opvs Contra Natvram]]''

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| ''The Satanist''

| {{won}}

|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://metalshockfinland.com/2014/06/20/behemoth-awarded-best-album-at-metal-hammer-golden-gods-awards/ |title=BEHEMOTH Awarded ~~“Best~~"Best ~~Album“~~Album" At Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards |date=June 20, 2014 |website=Metal Shock Finland |access-date=June 9, 2022}}</ref>

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* {{Official website}}

* [http://www.nepalunderground.com/behemoth-to-headline-silence-festival-iv-2013 Behemoth Live in Nepal]

* [http://rockthenight.eu/behemoth-novarock-fest-2016 Behemoth live at NovaRock Fest 2016]

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[[Category:Metal Mind Productions artists]]

[[Category:Musical groups established in 1991]]

[[Category:~~Musical~~Polish musical quartets]]

[[Category:Mystic Production artists]]

[[Category:Obscenity controversies in music]]