The past five years have been trying for Behemoth. The Polish four-piece have faced a slew of medical issues between its members, forcing them to take a step away from the music industry to focus on personal matters. The Satanist, the group’s 10th studio album and first release since 2009’s Evangelion, marks their return to music, and therefore has been highly anticipated in the metal world.
The disc welcomes its audience with the opening track “Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel,” which is sludgy and calmer than one would expect from the band. As it progresses it picks up, and longtime drummer Zbigniew “Inferno” Prominski’s skills are showcased with an eerie choir of backing vocals added to the mix. But overall it is anti-climatic and not very suiting for an opener, especially on a record that will be marking Behemoth’s return.
“Amen” comes just about halfway through the nine-song tracklist and is without a doubt one of the heaviest songs on The Satanist. The track is laden with high-power energy as soon as it begins and features a brief yet satisfying guitar riff. “Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer,” which translates to “Pray For Us Lucifer,” is in the same vein, with chaotic drum and guitar parts that are almost catchy. The album concludes with the seven-minute “O Father O Satan O Sun,” ending with a monologue from lead vocalist and guitarist Adam “Nergal” Darski praising Satan.
Though at times the record can get a little dry, for fans of Behemoth it will be a greatly welcomed release. The Satanist picks up where they left off and ushers in a new era for the band, hopefully with smoother sailing.
In A Word: Heavy
