Since its formation in 1991 Behemoth has been at the forefront of creating the blackened death metal genre.
With albums like “Satanica”, “The Apostasy”, “The Satanist” & the band’s last album “I Loved You at Your Darkest” the group have written some of the best music within the BDM sound over three decades.
Their last two albums saw the bands grow into an even more theatrical, progressive & broader spectrum.
So what do Behemoth have in store with the release of their latest album “Opvs Contra Natvram”?
Right from the opening track “Post God Nirvana” we have the band’s biggest & most sonic opening track to date. Drums pound as Nergal’s voice echoes to the masses!
So epic in nature this track is large & triphument. Slowly building to the climax as the track ends “Malaria Vulgata” blasts down the doors. A full-on assault on the senses. This might only be the first track on the album but already you can sense this is the most pissed off & hostile the band has been in years. Feeling more raw, brutal & confident doing so.
“The Deathless Sun” one of the bands leading singles brings back the operatic sound from the previous two albums with a soaring chorus, gospel-like vocal melodies chant with the song like a guitar riff in a mesmerising twist. This track builds into a fantastic climax & also shows one of the strongest elements of the album. Seth’s guitar leads on this track & throughout the album are perfectly written & some of the bands have created to date.
The pulsating track “Neo Spartacus” is tied together by the titan bass tone of Orion. This track is a focused track that shows off his technical skill & how the band work as a unit to craft imaginative song structures.
At albums halfway point “Disinheritance” gives us a glimpse of the merging of the bands last few albums sonics & the more raw sound they are going for on “Opvs Contra Natvram”.
Near the “bridge” of the track the band take a moment to breathe as guitars feedback not before the band unleash in cohesion again to build to a chaotic ending.
A lovely pallante cleanse somes in “Once Upon A Pale Horse”.
With an “upbeat” rhythm driving the track, the song is a highlight & standout on the album. A nice breakaway from the feral nature of the album. Driving & bold this track is a surprise and very much welcome!
Ending the album “Versus Christus” is the largest track on the album & a journey on its own. Featuring passages of Nergal teasing the listener in a Nick Cave sultry manor before the band starts to build the track & provide an epic closing. Inferno’s drumming on this track & like the rest of the album is yet again superb.
“Opvs Contra Natvram” isn’t the direction the world thought Behemoth would take. It may not be as grandiose as the last two albums but at its core still keeps elements of “The Satanist” & “ILYAYD” but also bringing back the raw aggression of their older records. This album is Behemoth doing what they want on their own terms & perfect blend of the bands musical history in one phenomenal album.
Joseph Mitchell
12TH STUDIO ALBUM OPVS CONTRA NATVRAM ARRIVES SEPTEMBER 16th
Opvs Contra Cvltvram, a streaming event shot on the roof of Warsaw’s renowned Palace of Culture & Science and premiering at 12pm ET on Thursday, September 15 on the band’s YouTube channel and here.
Pre-order or pre-save the album here, and set your reminder for the groundbreaking livestream Opvs Contra Cvltvram here.
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