[IMGLEFT]http://www.russell.ultimatemetal.com/Interview/behemoth.jpg[/IMGLEFT]By Josh Phillips
The extreme metal juggernaut known as Behemoth continues to roll on and with their latest release, Demigod, the band shows that they are one of metal's elite groups. I caught up with frontman Nergal on their North American tour for an enlightening conversation before the band hit the stage. Here's what unraveled:
Hello! How has the United States been treating Behemoth so far on this tour? How are the fans?
So far everything has been just great, I have no complaints really. We know our position here in the U.S., we are here to make a proper foundation. To make a home base for future albums and touring. I cant really complain with how we are treated on tours because we are a support band you know. But, the fans pay off any harsh conditions if there are any, so its fine, Im happy.
Demigod is now officially released in the United States and I think one of the first things people will notice when they get this album in their hands is the cover art. Could you speak a little bit about the concept and what it might represent?
The cover is supposed to be very dominative in its form, very expressive. There are different references, different caricatures and philosophies. Behemoth has always been very multi-dimensional and so is the cover of the new record. As a matter of fact, there are pieces of all of our bodies, of the band members, sewn together into one person. So this kind of symbolizes the unity of this band, that its stronger than ever. I like that idea, I think its cool, its a very strong, expressive cover. As I say, it might refer to different figures from history, like Christ for instance. Many people when they see the cover, they see Christ. The posture refers to Christ, but of course, this is not about Jesus Christ himself, its about playing with different forms and making something our own out of it.
The new release, Demigod, is another solid chapter in the Behemoth catalogue and it sees the band continue to move in an epic, mystical direction without sacrificing the brutality of the last few records. Some of the songs and riffs have a decidedly eastern feel, especially the closer, "The Reign ov Shemsu-Hor". Can you explain some of the elements that influence you musically?
Its a lot of different stuff really, you know I cant really name the elements because I dont know them. There are different things that inspire me, the main spirituality comes from myself. All that I can find, the world around, the universe. I just read books, I watch movies, I talk to people and listen to music. Its pretty much from everywhere. I just remember one of the biggest motivations for me to write this record was the fact that I was so pissed off when I came back from a U.S. tour. I found myself in a very uncomfortable life situation, so that kind of pissed me off and I had enough anger to write those kind of furious riffs, unleash it and materialize it in the songs. That is one of the coolest things about this album, that I captured that feeling.
One of the elements of the new album that was especially pleasing was the inclusion of those acoustic intro/outro pieces that I believe Seth wrote. Is there a chance of seeing more of these appear on your future work?
I guess so, I like them a lot so lets see what the future brings, but so far Im happy with it and we're going to explore these ideas more and more with every album. Demigod set the new standard and were going to use it as a base now and improve from this place to another. So, you can expect the unexpected.
[laughs]
I didnt think topping the last album, Zos Kia Cultus, would be possible, but Im coming to the conclusion that you have achieved that goal. One of the things that I thought tipped the balance in favor of Demigod was the quality level of the solos/leads. The one towards the end of Conquer All always sends a chill down my spine. How much time do you put into writing solos and implementing them into the music? Does it come naturally within the flow of writing the songs or do you set aside extra time and do that separately?
I do it separately, I want every solo to be very special. Behemoth is not a solo band if you know what I mean, its not about shredding every second there is a free spot in a song. The solo is there to be an integral part of the song, but it has to add something extra. I like melodic solos, I like when it gives a certain mood or atmosphere and that is why we put them there. For this band it works, you know, but of course I work my ass off on the solos, Im not the best guitar player around, just check out Suffocation, these guys just fuckin rule you know. Some of the best instrumentalists Ive seen around in a long time. There are always people and musicians to look up to and try to improve. I take it as a complement of course, but theres so much work ahead that has to be done.
Speaking of Conquer All, a video was created for that track and included on the U.S release of Demigod. Do you have plans to make videos for any of the other songs off the album?
Oh yeah, I just got a SMS from a label in Europe that they are really into doing this. This tour will end in June, then we are doing summer festivals and are coming back to the U.S this autumn. Were also going to assault Europe too and there will be twice as much touring as now. So, we need something extra, to keep interest in the band. We dont want to come back to the U.S. with nothing new. MTV will hopefully play another video, thats the point, so yes were going to do this. Im happy with this video weve done so far, Conquer All fucking rocks. Its a high-budget video, there is no digital, all analog. Its all very real and nicely made. It was a female producer from Poland who made it and she did really fine, it was like the first extreme metal band she had worked with. I wanted to work with someone who was more experienced with pop and rock bands you know. I didnt want to take an over-explored metal producer, I just wanted to do this with someone who was a fresh mind and she did an excellent job.
Karl Sanders of Nile made a guest appearance on this album and youll also be touring with them later this year, a show I hope to catch. What was it like working with him?
It was great, but it was all correspondence. We did it by e-mail, I sent him a song and he put it on a server and I downloaded it and it took us a few hours maybe, so it was really a quick job, he did great. Actually, when you listen to his solo, you can feel his fingers were bleeding when he was playing it. Thats what I like the most about his guitar playing, its so emotional. Its not just about technique, its more about feeling. Its not always so tight and its kind of somehow sloppy. Its so emotional and you can get the feeling of what he had in mind doing this solo. I love it, one of the best moments of this album for me.
I watched your latest DVD (Crush.Fukk.Create) and on the second disc, we get a closer view of what Behemoth is like on the road. Judging from that, there have to be some crazy stories you have from touring. Would you mind telling about one of your favorites?
I cant really recall any, there have been too many to just pick out one. There are many crazy things going on and many crazy people who kind of stick to the band. Different people, nice girls around, you never know what happens after a show. [laugh] I dont know man, it seems like weve kind of cooled down now and arent so crazy anymore, so when we put out the next DVD, its not going to be as crazy as this one. But you never know, with us, as I said, expect the unexpected. But, I think this DVD is highly entertaining.
If you had to pick one place out of everywhere youve toured, what would be your favorite place that Behemoth has played? Whether it was because of the history of the area, the bands you played with or the energy of the fans.
I love playing in Israel you know because its so exotic. Its so special on the map of the world because of its history, its a cradle of civilization so its kind of inspiring playing for these people and going to Jerusalem. South America was just amazing, we were there for the first time ever just a few months back. Everything was just perfect there, I love it. Many good places you know, I pretty much enjoy playing everywhere. I try to get inspired by different crowds, for me there is no rule like Ok, you need to go like this or that, every town and country has a different temperament, so you cant expect everyone to be down for you everywhere, but its all about winning your fans and doing your best. I love to play live in general, any place is good.
As Above, So Below from Zos Kia Cultus is one of my all time favorite songs from any artist, it has such a great groove. As the creator of the music do you tend to pick favorites from your own catalogue of songs and if so what are some of your personal favorite Behemoth songs and why?
I think the new songs are my favorite ones. Most of them from the new record are great you know, Slaves Shall Serve, Demigod, Conquer All, Sculpting the Throne of Seth, you know, a few more. There are other cool songs too, I love Christians to the Lions because of its title and its fury, you know, weve got some good songs and I like them.
When listening to an album, I dont always read along with a bands lyrics, but with this release I was compelled to do so. The comments included to help explain the lyrics and your point of view on some things were particularly interesting and I found that some of the values you hold are also some of mine. In the description of the song Demigod you listed individuality, life affirmation, ambition, determination and vitality as some of the things you hold important and I thought that was very refreshing. Can you describe what influences you the most lyrically and what goals you hope to achieve within them?
Well, thats what I said, I was kind of angry you know. On one side its hate and anger and on the other side its love and passion and more positive. But, I see pretty much everything as a positive, even if Im pissed so bad, its very positive, as long as I can take something good out of it, its all positive. Thats how I look at life, thats the basic principle for me, to go through life and see positives. Enjoy it, dont sit there and cry that its so bad, just fuckin rule.
In the notes for Sculpting the Throne ov Seth you also described your no compromise and no surrender attitude. Behemoth is certainly one of the hardest working bands out there in touring and album production, so what drives you to be such a force?
Im that kind of character. I think it just comes from within and Ive tried to explain it several times, but the only explanation I get is that Im just that kind of person. I can never just sit there and wait for 20 minutes for things to come, Im always up front, always just go out and face things, work hard and be very active and alert.
Behemoth is also widely regarded as one of the best live bands on the planet. What do you do to make your shows so intense and what should a newcomer expect from their first live Behemoth experience?
I dont know man it comes from here. [points to a certain area] Its the testosterone that drives us. A few days ago we talked with Inferno and the guys within the band and we were like you know, you can have a shitty day and be pissed, then you get on stage and hear the first drum toms that go through Antichristian Phenomenon and its like the best cure for anything. You can be pissed or whatever and you hear these toms and all is gone. Your just there and that is how we see things, were in the music, you know, totally into the music, we love it and we feel very fortunate that we can do what we can do. We are happy with ourselves, were really happy.
Any final comments or anything youd like to add that we didnt cover?
Thanks for support brother. Its good that there are more and more people that want to interview us and stuff. Im always here for you, Im here to serve my people and youre my people. Keep it Metal, support bands, attend shows, buy albums because this is pretty much what keeps bands alive. Its not bad, Im not complaining, but its cool that people support bands, so keep on doing this and well be there for you.
All right, thanks for taking the time to do this interview and good luck with the show tonight and the rest of the tour!
Official Behemoth Website
Official Century Media Website
Official Regain Records Website
The extreme metal juggernaut known as Behemoth continues to roll on and with their latest release, Demigod, the band shows that they are one of metal's elite groups. I caught up with frontman Nergal on their North American tour for an enlightening conversation before the band hit the stage. Here's what unraveled:
Hello! How has the United States been treating Behemoth so far on this tour? How are the fans?
So far everything has been just great, I have no complaints really. We know our position here in the U.S., we are here to make a proper foundation. To make a home base for future albums and touring. I cant really complain with how we are treated on tours because we are a support band you know. But, the fans pay off any harsh conditions if there are any, so its fine, Im happy.
Demigod is now officially released in the United States and I think one of the first things people will notice when they get this album in their hands is the cover art. Could you speak a little bit about the concept and what it might represent?
The cover is supposed to be very dominative in its form, very expressive. There are different references, different caricatures and philosophies. Behemoth has always been very multi-dimensional and so is the cover of the new record. As a matter of fact, there are pieces of all of our bodies, of the band members, sewn together into one person. So this kind of symbolizes the unity of this band, that its stronger than ever. I like that idea, I think its cool, its a very strong, expressive cover. As I say, it might refer to different figures from history, like Christ for instance. Many people when they see the cover, they see Christ. The posture refers to Christ, but of course, this is not about Jesus Christ himself, its about playing with different forms and making something our own out of it.
The new release, Demigod, is another solid chapter in the Behemoth catalogue and it sees the band continue to move in an epic, mystical direction without sacrificing the brutality of the last few records. Some of the songs and riffs have a decidedly eastern feel, especially the closer, "The Reign ov Shemsu-Hor". Can you explain some of the elements that influence you musically?
Its a lot of different stuff really, you know I cant really name the elements because I dont know them. There are different things that inspire me, the main spirituality comes from myself. All that I can find, the world around, the universe. I just read books, I watch movies, I talk to people and listen to music. Its pretty much from everywhere. I just remember one of the biggest motivations for me to write this record was the fact that I was so pissed off when I came back from a U.S. tour. I found myself in a very uncomfortable life situation, so that kind of pissed me off and I had enough anger to write those kind of furious riffs, unleash it and materialize it in the songs. That is one of the coolest things about this album, that I captured that feeling.
One of the elements of the new album that was especially pleasing was the inclusion of those acoustic intro/outro pieces that I believe Seth wrote. Is there a chance of seeing more of these appear on your future work?
I guess so, I like them a lot so lets see what the future brings, but so far Im happy with it and we're going to explore these ideas more and more with every album. Demigod set the new standard and were going to use it as a base now and improve from this place to another. So, you can expect the unexpected.
[laughs]
I didnt think topping the last album, Zos Kia Cultus, would be possible, but Im coming to the conclusion that you have achieved that goal. One of the things that I thought tipped the balance in favor of Demigod was the quality level of the solos/leads. The one towards the end of Conquer All always sends a chill down my spine. How much time do you put into writing solos and implementing them into the music? Does it come naturally within the flow of writing the songs or do you set aside extra time and do that separately?
I do it separately, I want every solo to be very special. Behemoth is not a solo band if you know what I mean, its not about shredding every second there is a free spot in a song. The solo is there to be an integral part of the song, but it has to add something extra. I like melodic solos, I like when it gives a certain mood or atmosphere and that is why we put them there. For this band it works, you know, but of course I work my ass off on the solos, Im not the best guitar player around, just check out Suffocation, these guys just fuckin rule you know. Some of the best instrumentalists Ive seen around in a long time. There are always people and musicians to look up to and try to improve. I take it as a complement of course, but theres so much work ahead that has to be done.
Speaking of Conquer All, a video was created for that track and included on the U.S release of Demigod. Do you have plans to make videos for any of the other songs off the album?
Oh yeah, I just got a SMS from a label in Europe that they are really into doing this. This tour will end in June, then we are doing summer festivals and are coming back to the U.S this autumn. Were also going to assault Europe too and there will be twice as much touring as now. So, we need something extra, to keep interest in the band. We dont want to come back to the U.S. with nothing new. MTV will hopefully play another video, thats the point, so yes were going to do this. Im happy with this video weve done so far, Conquer All fucking rocks. Its a high-budget video, there is no digital, all analog. Its all very real and nicely made. It was a female producer from Poland who made it and she did really fine, it was like the first extreme metal band she had worked with. I wanted to work with someone who was more experienced with pop and rock bands you know. I didnt want to take an over-explored metal producer, I just wanted to do this with someone who was a fresh mind and she did an excellent job.
Karl Sanders of Nile made a guest appearance on this album and youll also be touring with them later this year, a show I hope to catch. What was it like working with him?
It was great, but it was all correspondence. We did it by e-mail, I sent him a song and he put it on a server and I downloaded it and it took us a few hours maybe, so it was really a quick job, he did great. Actually, when you listen to his solo, you can feel his fingers were bleeding when he was playing it. Thats what I like the most about his guitar playing, its so emotional. Its not just about technique, its more about feeling. Its not always so tight and its kind of somehow sloppy. Its so emotional and you can get the feeling of what he had in mind doing this solo. I love it, one of the best moments of this album for me.
I watched your latest DVD (Crush.Fukk.Create) and on the second disc, we get a closer view of what Behemoth is like on the road. Judging from that, there have to be some crazy stories you have from touring. Would you mind telling about one of your favorites?
I cant really recall any, there have been too many to just pick out one. There are many crazy things going on and many crazy people who kind of stick to the band. Different people, nice girls around, you never know what happens after a show. [laugh] I dont know man, it seems like weve kind of cooled down now and arent so crazy anymore, so when we put out the next DVD, its not going to be as crazy as this one. But you never know, with us, as I said, expect the unexpected. But, I think this DVD is highly entertaining.
If you had to pick one place out of everywhere youve toured, what would be your favorite place that Behemoth has played? Whether it was because of the history of the area, the bands you played with or the energy of the fans.
I love playing in Israel you know because its so exotic. Its so special on the map of the world because of its history, its a cradle of civilization so its kind of inspiring playing for these people and going to Jerusalem. South America was just amazing, we were there for the first time ever just a few months back. Everything was just perfect there, I love it. Many good places you know, I pretty much enjoy playing everywhere. I try to get inspired by different crowds, for me there is no rule like Ok, you need to go like this or that, every town and country has a different temperament, so you cant expect everyone to be down for you everywhere, but its all about winning your fans and doing your best. I love to play live in general, any place is good.
As Above, So Below from Zos Kia Cultus is one of my all time favorite songs from any artist, it has such a great groove. As the creator of the music do you tend to pick favorites from your own catalogue of songs and if so what are some of your personal favorite Behemoth songs and why?
I think the new songs are my favorite ones. Most of them from the new record are great you know, Slaves Shall Serve, Demigod, Conquer All, Sculpting the Throne of Seth, you know, a few more. There are other cool songs too, I love Christians to the Lions because of its title and its fury, you know, weve got some good songs and I like them.
When listening to an album, I dont always read along with a bands lyrics, but with this release I was compelled to do so. The comments included to help explain the lyrics and your point of view on some things were particularly interesting and I found that some of the values you hold are also some of mine. In the description of the song Demigod you listed individuality, life affirmation, ambition, determination and vitality as some of the things you hold important and I thought that was very refreshing. Can you describe what influences you the most lyrically and what goals you hope to achieve within them?
Well, thats what I said, I was kind of angry you know. On one side its hate and anger and on the other side its love and passion and more positive. But, I see pretty much everything as a positive, even if Im pissed so bad, its very positive, as long as I can take something good out of it, its all positive. Thats how I look at life, thats the basic principle for me, to go through life and see positives. Enjoy it, dont sit there and cry that its so bad, just fuckin rule.
In the notes for Sculpting the Throne ov Seth you also described your no compromise and no surrender attitude. Behemoth is certainly one of the hardest working bands out there in touring and album production, so what drives you to be such a force?
Im that kind of character. I think it just comes from within and Ive tried to explain it several times, but the only explanation I get is that Im just that kind of person. I can never just sit there and wait for 20 minutes for things to come, Im always up front, always just go out and face things, work hard and be very active and alert.
Behemoth is also widely regarded as one of the best live bands on the planet. What do you do to make your shows so intense and what should a newcomer expect from their first live Behemoth experience?
I dont know man it comes from here. [points to a certain area] Its the testosterone that drives us. A few days ago we talked with Inferno and the guys within the band and we were like you know, you can have a shitty day and be pissed, then you get on stage and hear the first drum toms that go through Antichristian Phenomenon and its like the best cure for anything. You can be pissed or whatever and you hear these toms and all is gone. Your just there and that is how we see things, were in the music, you know, totally into the music, we love it and we feel very fortunate that we can do what we can do. We are happy with ourselves, were really happy.
Any final comments or anything youd like to add that we didnt cover?
Thanks for support brother. Its good that there are more and more people that want to interview us and stuff. Im always here for you, Im here to serve my people and youre my people. Keep it Metal, support bands, attend shows, buy albums because this is pretty much what keeps bands alive. Its not bad, Im not complaining, but its cool that people support bands, so keep on doing this and well be there for you.
All right, thanks for taking the time to do this interview and good luck with the show tonight and the rest of the tour!
Official Behemoth Website
Official Century Media Website
Official Regain Records Website
but hopefully one day I'll get to see them, they're one of my favourite metal acts.
