u/VO0OIID

Christgrinding Avenue is a final song of eighth album “The Apostasy” (2007). It’s easily one of the heaviest and angriest songs on the album and, in a way, is somewhat similar to how Behemoth closed “Zos Kia Cultus (Here And Beyond)” (2002) with Heru Ra Ha: Let There Be Mïght – just leave the heaviest thing for the very end. The band actively played Christgrinding Avenue live during “The Apostasy” era tours, but I don’t think they played it live ever since. The song also features an instrumental outro, which somewhat mirrors Rome 64 C.E. intro for opening track Slaying The Prophets Ov Isa, only slower, or maybe even can be compared to slower parts in non-album track Qadosh. This is also the song that ‘got the band into the court’, since Nergal was giving short speeches about bible before playing it live, including someone filming him tearing the bible, if I remember correctly. It was far from the last court cases for Behemoth, but I believe it was probably the first, and the best known one. You know, before Nergal decided he can do it for sport)

There isn’t that much to add, really – it’s just a really mean song. Way back I used to think it might be the best one on the album (or close to it), but I changed my opinion since then, kinda. So, what do you guys make of this one?

Christgrinding Avenue

Starspawn is a song from fourth album “Satanica” (1999), and it’s the only song of the record with lyrics being written by Nergal… Which is especially curious, since lyrics of this song mention Solaris, and looks like Nergal might be referring to it as “Planet Satan”… You know, that Solaris that is a psychological sci-fi story by Polish writer, which was later adapted into a movie in USSR, and a few decades later was remade by Hollywood. That’s a very unexpected crossover from mister Nergal!

The song itself is quite fast-paced and intense. I would even say that there are some minor similarities to Christians To The Lions from the next album, or at least endings of these two songs are almost identical (ironically, they are also both track 6 on their albums). Behemoth used to play Starspawn live during “Satanica” era, but I don’t think they played it ever since.

So, what do you guys think of this one? I think it’s a bit underrated, especially considering how non-stop Christians To The Lions is being played live, while I don’t think Starspawn is much behind, if at all, maybe even the other way around.

Starspawn

And since the band has put Solaris on a table here, I would like to share my hot take: 1973 version by Tarkovsky is just not good, especially since first half of the movie (which is almost 3 hours long!) is completely pointless and 100% irrelevant to the plot, and the rest is just not as good as a more modern take, including in terms of acting skills, music (one of the very best soundtracks I’ve heard in a film for sure), lighting – just everything. I really liked his other film, Stalker (1979), but this one kinda sucks, at least comparing to 2002 version with George Clooney and Natascha McElhone (and was produced by James Cameron). I know that Stanisław Lem, author of the book (1961) utterly hated both movies. By the way, American remake was also very technologically advanced for its age – for example, visual representation of Solaris was the most technologically advanced use of CGI to that date. Also, overall atmosphere and feel of the movie is just completely unmatched, which is probably another reason why I wasn’t able to enjoy Soviet version. Anyway, I’m a big believer in 2002 version, it’s just great.

Intro and The Dark Forest (Cast Me Your Spell) are opening tracks of their second album “Grom” (1996). First of all, the intro – it’s really good. Builds up anticipation and tension quite seriously, a simplistic intro really well done. I’m not overly too big on “Grom” in general, and I used to like it more before, and lost some of the interest later, but damn if The Dark Forest (Cast Me Your Spell) is not an excellent song. Really cool fast, blastbeaty parts, nice acoustic guitar riffs, great guitar solo, it’s one of two “Grom” songs not only to mention Nergal’s cleans, but also has clean female vocals by guest singer Celina. Even ultra-simplistic, short instrumental outro is on fire. This song is just very good! As simple as that. Gem.

Intro

The Dark Forest (Cast Me Your Spell)

Conquer All is a song from seventh album “Demigod” (2004). It’s one of the biggest Behemoth’s hits and also one of the fasters song to be ever done by them: according to Nergal, it was all a quick inspiration while already working in a studio – it took him one hour to compose the song, and another hour to fully record it with the band, so it literary took them two hours to get from absolutely nothing to having one of their main bangers fully ready.

And I would probably say it’s their very best song ever. There are just so many great aspects about it, and not a single second of filler or mediocracy. And the guitar solo! Absolutely amazing! And such a cornerstone track, even in terms of overall band mentality.

This was also their third (proper) music video ever, as well as first attempt at introducing some kind of temporary mask for Nergal.

Conquer All is one of two mandatory live songs from “Demigod” and, interestingly enough, they play live chorus slower than studio version. It’s probably also worth mentioning that drum beat during guitar solo – in studio version it sounds almost like a really fast stop-go type of thing, while in live versions it’s perfectly clear Inferno is just bashing those double floor bass drums non-stop, like throughout most of the song.

On a down side, I’m sure at least some of you have heard about one riff similarity with thrash band Anthrax, and their song Be All, End All… Obviously, there are some riff similarities, however that’s what it is – a similarity, and of a just single riff, the songs themselves have pretty much nothing in common, especially considering age (as in when) and genre difference, and even the vibe of the riff (in question) itself is so different. So yeah, taking into the account how Conquer All was done, it’s possible that Nergal unconsciously borrowed a motive for main verse riff, but saying anything like “Behemoth stole the song” is an extreme stretch to say the least) And it’s not like that riff is what makes the song so great – there are more than plenty of other reasons!

So yeah, best Behemoth song, imho, and personally for me – very close to my personal second favorite, Mysterium Coniunctionis (Hermanubis), from the same album.

Let us know what you think about this one! And what are your thoughts on that whole Anthrax business, if any?

Conquer All

Live 2009, from “Evangelia Heretika” (2010)

Pure Evil And Hate is a song from “And The Forests Dream Eternally” (1995) mini-album, and is easily one of the most famous Behemoth’s earliest period songs, I would even say it’s second most well-known after From The Pagan Vastlands. The first wave of fame came (partially) due to confusing language used by the band: on the back of the record they claimed Pure Evil And Hate to be a tribute to Bathory, implying it was inspired by Bathory… However, in metal word tribute is usually used as synonym to cover, so the band got bombarded by post mail, with people asking where did they find such Bathory song in a first place. The other reason is probably that it’s one of the most often early Behemoth songs that they play live. It wasn’t like with From The Pagan Vastlands, which was played non-stop; instead Pure Evil And Hate seems to be more of a random addition to setlists, even in (relatively) more modern days. Because of that, there is a number of live recording available. The song itself is unusually… almost rock’n’roll’y riff, even Bathory themselves didn’t play it like that. And, of course, it’s also much more thrashy than their usual delivery, which makes it the most stand out track of the EP stylistically. I would say the song title is even contradictory to the music: it’s not ‘pure evil’ or ‘hate’, it’s probably the most fun song they ever did. It’s a classic; you just have to know it, even if you don’t like their early stuff.

Pure Evil And Hate

XXX Years Ov Blasphemy, live

I’ll be taking a break for 2 days, but I’ll return on Sunday.

Post-God Nirvana and Malaria Vulgata are opening tracks of twelfth album “Opvs Contra Natvram” (2022). Malaria is a rather common and a very deadly disease, typically caused by certain insects, while Vulgata is “common” in latin, referring to 4^(th) century latin translation of the bible, thus together the song title is basically about calling the bible ‘common disease’.

Post-God Nirvana is a quite decent post-industrial intro track and, ironically, is even one minute longer than the song that follows. Malaria Vulgata just might be the most grindcore song Behemoth ever did, and not just because it’s short, but also because there is lot packed in those two minutes. While it might not be particularly catchy, I think it’s a good start for the album, specifically in a way that it offers what previous two albums where kinda lacking, especially “I Loved You At Your Darkest” (2018) – just locked-in, tight and determined, blastbeaty Behemoth, like in 2000s. Do you agree? Or not?

Post-God Nirvana

Malaria Vulgata