Behemoth Album: “Thelema.6”

I'm defintely not a die-hard death metal fan, not even that much into metal to begin with. That much said, I have to say that Behemoth's 'Thelema.6' blew me away, it's intensity and raw sound make it stand out from the rest of the crowd. Which is what I can't stand about most of their contemporaries - they just play the same generic stuff, taking themselves way to serious. Behemoth seem to really enjoy what their doing and their enthusiasm shows: this album does not have one filler song, each one could stand on its own and all show a solid understanding of actual song writing. The drumming is superb and underscores the band's super tight structures. The vocals are your usual 'Cookie Monster' style but very raw, angry and yet never dull.

I would put them on a level with Nile: take a genre, use the traditional ingredients but bring out something that is genuinly new and surprisingly fresh. I guess Death Metal is not dead yet.

Even for people who like Mr Bungle better than Marduk a perfect buy.

I love Demigod to no end with all the middle eastern folk intros experimented on it but if you want to really hear Behemoth experimenting check out this album. Nergal even puts some surprising hidden easter eggs on this album which I will get to later. First of all is the industrial effects Nergal puts into some of the songs. Chains, spoken word stuff, wind, and just good mesh of everything. Just to hear the production by this band is a surprise to itself. That is if you have never heard the production from fellow Polish thrashers Vader. There is something about Polish bands wanting to give their best to their fans. Anyway getting to the easter eggs we find 3 hidden songs. The first is some weird chant that just scares the bejeezus out of you when it blasts on. Next is my favorite. It's a ripping cover of (get this) Queensryche. Yes I said Queensryche. Deathmetal sure knows how to honor the classic bands. Behemoth covers a edited track of Sister Mary from Operation Mindcrime. Man and I thought their cover of Wish from Nine Inch Nails on Conjuration was well enough this blows me away even more. Nergal even does some gothic singing though would have Geoff Tate banging away too. I tell you this band never ceases to surprise me. Check them out get this first and then Demigod then Zos Kia Cultus. Actually you should grab conjuration first since it's a limited EP if you really want to hear how they cover Nine Inch Nails. Then get the rest. Also if you want grab historica which is a box set of all their black metal ep's even from when Poland was still soviet bloc state. Too bad Nergal goes to no end putting himself down over those releases.

Behemoth are one of the most brutal death/black metal bands out there, to have survived as long as the average death metal life span has the misfortune not to. Not only have they survived in record releases, but have kept the releases fresh; pummeling you all the while!

This release continues along that road.

What I like most about this release is that at this point in their career they've chosen to adopt a style remeniscent of the best of both Emperor and Morbid Angel. Other bands have done the same, but with no where near the same technical proficiency and creativity, while still keeping it brutal (brutal! brutal!)

If you like this, you'll love "Kia Zos Cultus" and "Demigod".

It took me a while to get into behemoth. I actually didn't like them until I saw them live with Cannibal Corpse. They blew my mind away and I gained such respect for what they do. This album is really tight!!! The production is pretty damn good and the riffs are crazy. The drumming is probably my favorite part of the album. Amazing!!!

"We believe the majority of mankind should be killed because it is not worthy. It is not worthy of the gift of life". This album starts out with that quote, and the second you hear that you know this will be one undeniably evil experience. This album is fast, brutal and technical and any death metal fan should enjoy this as well as any other album from Behemoth. All songs are good but I believe the standout track would be the opener "Antichristian Phenomenon". If you like satanic death metal you can't go wrong with this CD or with this band.