The powerful transformation from decent black metal to colossal death metal has turned Behemoth into one of the genre's most favored bands. Their new style involves much more speed picking and palmuted trash/metal riffs, along with some of metal's best drumming. The double bass drum in Demigod is sick, perhaps some of the best drumming I've heard in any death metal album. Nergals voice has evolved into a much deeper and more gruesome scream. The lyrics may not be the easiest to understand because of the muffled sound due to the multiple layers of voices, but definately a perfect fit and mood setter for this album.
What is Demigod about? Nergal created this album to express and preech his ethics on life. "There are no gods but ourselves" he quotes. Nergal believes that instead of following a god, we should rise up and become the gods that rule the earth, and in Nergal's mind, the universe. The lyrics in the song "Conquer All" tell about Nergal's desire to conquer the universe, and to be above all else. While some of the other tracks touch different topics, the album as a whole focuses around this basic idea.
Sculpting The Throne Ov Seth - The acoustic opener to this track goes to show the true uniqueness of metal. The opener quickly blasts into the death metal part of the opener, until the band releases it's double bass drum and heavy and fast sweep picking into the rest of this great track.
Demigod - Again, Behemoth proves to the world that death metal is what music is all about. The track opens with the sound of horns, probably the call to battle. The horns continue to sound as the double bass drum and melody of the guitars storms in and changes the mood of the song. Using the same idea the horns give the listener, this song is instrumentally one of the coolest on the album.
Conquer All - This track doesn't have a unique opener like first two, but delivers a powerful and addiciting riff from the beginning to the end. Again, the double bass drum and syncronizing of the guitars tears its way through they're previous work. The different guitar parts throughout this song perfectly come together to make an addictive melody. Conquer All has a more powerful and mind consuming bridge than the rest of the songs, truely the best metal has to offer.
The Nehpilim Rising - This track's intro overwhelms its listeners right away with the combination of guitars to form a wicked riff. The verse riff is perhaps the catchiest on the entire album, and I love the pinch harmonics there. The main riff makes me think that my head is a ball attached to a chain, slinging back and fourth, and I am instantly hipnotized by the sound. The outro of the song returns to Behemoth's acoustics proving once again this band's talent. This is my favorite and in my opinion the best song on the album.
Towards Babylon - The beginning of this track is very thrashy and sets the sound for the rest of the track. Some very impressive sweep picking, but the sound of the song doesnt change much as the track goes on. The solos are definately the highlight of the song.
Before The Aeons Came - The intro to this song has to be one of the coolest sounding ever (besides the acoustics), and the double bass drum enters and changes the mood to a more aggressive feeling. The chorus has an awsome guitar riffs that stands out the most in the song.
Mysterium Coniunctionis (Mermanubis) - The mood and sound set at the beginning of the track can best catch the attention of the listener and lead them right into this songs verse. The verse riff is very good and probably the best part of this song. Nergal's voice changes a bit into more of a suffering scream for part of the song, which can be good or bad, depending on the listener.
Xul - The solid note at the beginning sets sort of an erie feeling at first, and then is interupted by the destruction of the double bass drum. While the verse riffs arn't as good in this song, it is equipped with some very wicked and impressive solos. The track as a whole has a very nice sound, making this song stand with the rest.
Slaves Shall Serve - The opener to this has only Nergal's voice preaching with a very evil and mysterious tone. The double bass drum and the guitars blast their way in and present a very solid and powerful riff. The solos in this song are what kept my attention from drifting. Closing the song is Nergal shouting Slaves Shall Serve! Slaves Shall Serve! Slaves, Shall, ***ing Serve! A wicked death metal song indeed, and one of the best on the album.
The Reign Ov Shemsu-Hor - I have to admit that I get bored of the first 2 minutes of this song, the crazy thing about it though is that you never know when it will change. This track is very much different from the others, but indeed it does have a very cool riff and sound to it as it picks up. Great closing track.
Pros:
- Each of these songs are unigue and sound different. The listener can get a different idea from each song interperet what they want.
- Excellent, fast, technical, and unique drumming, purely some of metal's finest.
- The guitar riffs are very heavy and unique sounding.
- Awsome solos.
- Excellent intros and outros to the tracks, ultimatly showing the talent of this death metal band.
Cons:
- Nergal is a bit hard to understand.
In the many years that i have endured music, I have heard nothing that lives up to or compares to what Behemoth has brought us with Demigod. A pure and unique deathmetal sound nonetheless. This band has filled the spot for my number 1 deathmetal band, and I strongly recommend this album to anyone who understands music and deathmetal.
This is my first review so I expect there to be criticism.
