History Music / Behemoth

Behemoth is a [[BlackMetal Blackened]] [[DeathMetal Death Metal]] band from Poland, and one of the largest extreme metal bands in their country. Formed in 1991, they started as a straight [[BlackMetal black metal]] band, but changed their sound over time to include more and more [[DeathMetal death metal]] elements, while keeping the visual style and general themes of a black metal band. This came to a head with ''Satanica'', where their style coalesced for the first time. Their first real big hit record was ''Demigod'', which established several of their better known songs including a couple of their {{Signature Song}}s. This set the tone for their following two albums, where they slowly grew in prominence in the Blackened Death scene. Unfortunately, things seemed to be looking pretty grim in 2010 hot off the heels of the release of ''Evangelion'': Vocalist and guitarist [[FaceOfTheBand Nergal]] was diagnosed with leukemia, and it seemed as if all was lost... but thankfully, he managed to survive it thanks to a fan's donated bone marrow matching. Two years of intensive recovery later, and a year in the studio, Behemoth released ''[[ConceptAlbum The Satanist]]'', which was yet another [[NewSoundAlbum shift in their work]] towards adding progressive elements into their blackened death metal, and that only increased with their most recent releases: ''I Loved You At Your Darkest'', and ''Opvs Contra Natvram''.

Behemoth is a [[BlackMetal Blackened]] [[DeathMetal Death Metal]] band from Poland, and one of the largest extreme metal bands in their country. Formed in 1991, they started as a straight [[BlackMetal black metal]] band, but changed their sound over time to include more and more [[DeathMetal death metal]] elements, while keeping the visual style and general themes of a black metal band. This came to a head with ''Satanica'', where their style coalesced for the first time. Their first real big hit record was ''Demigod'', which established several of their better known songs including a couple of their {{Signature Song}}s. This set the tone for their following two albums, where they slowly grew in prominence in the Blackened Death scene. Unfortunately, things seemed to be looking pretty grim in 2010 hot off the heels of the release of ''Evangelion'': Vocalist and guitarist [[FaceOfTheBand Nergal]] was diagnosed with leukemia, and it seemed as if all was lost... but thankfully, he managed to survive it thanks to a fan's donated bone marrow matching. Two years of intensive recovery later, and a year in the studio, Behemoth released ''[[ConceptAlbum The Satanist]]'', which was yet another [[NewSoundAlbum shift in their work]] towards adding progressive elements into their blackened death metal, and that only increased with their most recent release: ''I Loved You At Your Darkest''.

%%* HarshVocals

** In 2007, the All-Polish Committee for Defense Against Sects accused them of promoting satanism and murder. No ban has come from the Polish government...yet
** In 2010 Nergal was charged with denouncing religion for tearing up a Bible on stage in mid-set. He faced two years in prison if convicted; he was ultimately acquitted

* MyFriendsAndZoidberg: Even though Seth is a full member of the band he is still a studio musician and live act first and foremost. This means he is sometimes not included in promo photos.

* AllDrummersAreAnimals: [[AvertedTrope Averted]] with Inferno. Though incredibly fast and precise on the drums, he is one of the most low-key members of the group
* AwesomeMcCoolname: All the members have one for a nickname.

** The band's [[AwesomeMcCoolname nicknames]] are all references to mythology or literature. Nergal was an ancient [[Myth/MesopotamianMythology Babylonian]] deity, Inferno is a reference to ''Literature/TheDivineComedy'', Orion is a character in Myth/ClassicalMythology, and Seth is [[Literature/TheBible the brother of]] CainAndAbel, and is also an alternate name for Set, the god of darkness and chaos in Myth/EgyptianMythology, which is probably where it came from.

* BilingualBonus: Taken UpToEleven with the EP ''Xiądz''. When it was announced, ''nobody knew what the title meant or how to even '''pronounce it'''''. It wasn't until the EP leaked that some fans were able to figure out the title was of ''very'' old Polish that stands for ''Priest''. Same could be said with the track ''Nieboga Czarny Xiądz'', which stands for ''Unholy Black Priest''. Considering Behemoth's shtick, this is obvious.

%%* MetalScream: Constantly

* IndecipherableLyrics: Par for the course for [[HeavyMetal extreme metal]]. Special points go to the beginning of ''Slaves shall serve'', which is in a dead language. That said, Since ''The Apostasy'', Nergal's vocals have become slightly easier to understand.

* ContemptibleCover: While they've mostly avoided this, they do consider the artwork for ''Bewitching the Pomerania'' the very worst of all of them due to it's cheap and amateurish design.

* MohsScaleOfRockAndMetalHardness: From a soft 9 to the hardest of 10s.
** Since ''ILYAYD'', they can go from 7 all the way back up to 10.

Behemoth is a [[BlackMetal Blackened]] [[DeathMetal Death Metal]] band from Poland, and one of the largest extreme metal bands in their country. Formed in 1991, they started as a straight [[BlackMetal black metal]] band, but changed their sound over time to include more and more [[DeathMetal death metal]] elements, while keeping the visual style and general themes of a black metal band. This came to a head with ''Satanica'', where their style coalesced for the first time. Their first real big hit record was ''Demigod'', which established several of their better known songs including a couple of their {{Signature Song}}s. This set the tone for their following two albums, where they slowly grew in prominence in the Blackened Death scene. Unfortunately, things seemed to be looking pretty grim in 2010 hot off the heels of the release of ''Evangelion'': Vocalist and guitarist [[FaceOfTheBand Nergal]] was [[AuthorExistenceFailure diagnosed with leukemia]], and it seemed as if all was lost... [[AvertedTrope but thankfully,]] he managed to survive it thanks to a fan's donated bone marrow matching. Two years of intensive recovery later, and a year in the studio, Behemoth released ''[[ConceptAlbum The Satanist]]'', which was yet another [[NewSoundAlbum shift in their work]] towards adding progressive elements into their blackened death metal, and that only increased with their most recent release: ''I Loved You At Your Darkest''.

* NewSoundAlbum: Behemoth introduced DeathMetal influences starting with ''Satanica'' and increased them over time to the point where very little BlackMetal sound is present. Starting with ''Zos Kia Cultus'', they had evolved into (mostly) full-on death metal, though they still kept the black metal outfits, which contrasts with their sound somewhat. ''I Loved You at Your Darkest'' also introduced prominent GothicMetal elements.

* AllDrummersAreAnimals: [[AvertedTrope Averted]] with Inferno. Though incredibly fast and precise on the drums, he is one of the most low key members of the group
* AttentionWhore: Nergal has been accused of this. He's gained a reputation for putting the band's image out there above everything else, and is a little overly addicted to social media.

* HarshVocals
* IndecipherableLyrics: Par for the course for [[HeavyMetal extreme metal]]. Special points go to the beginning of ''Slaves shall serve'', which is in a dead language.
** That said, Since ''The Apostasy'', Nergal's vocals have become slightly easier to understand.

* MetalScream: Constantly

Behemoth is a [[BlackMetal Blackened]] [[DeathMetal Death Metal]] band from Poland, and one of the largest extreme metal bands in their country. Formed in 1991, they started as a straight [[BlackMetal black metal]] band, but changed their sound over time to include more and more [[DeathMetal death metal]] elements, while keeping the visual style and general themes of a black metal band. This came to a head with ''Satantica'', where their style coalesced for the first time. Their first real big hit record was ''Demigod'', which established several of their better known songs including a couple of their {{Signature Song}}s. This set the tone for their following two albums, where they slowly grew in prominence in the Blackened Death scene. Unfortunately, things seemed to be looking pretty grim in 2010 hot off the heels of the release of ''Evangelion'': Vocalist and guitarist [[FaceOfTheBand Nergal]] was [[AuthorExistenceFailure diagnosed with leukemia]], and it seemed as if all was lost... [[AvertedTrope but thankfully,]] he managed to survive it thanks to a fan's donated bone marrow matching. Two years of intensive recovery later, and a year in the studio, Behemoth released ''[[ConceptAlbum The Satanist]]'', which was yet another [[NewSoundAlbum shift in their work]] towards adding progressive elements into their blackened death metal, and that only increased with their most recent release: ''I Loved You At Your Darkest''.

[[caption-width-right:350:Pictured: Nergal, Orion, Inferno. Not Pictured: Seth]]

* MyFriendsAndZoidberg: Even though Seth is a full member of the band he is still a studio musician and live act more than anything. This means he is sometimes not included in promo photos.

* AwesomeMcCoolname: All the members have one for a nickname

[[quoteright:319:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Behemoth_2046.jpg]][[caption-width-right:319:From left to right: Inferno, Nergal and Orion.\\
Not pictured: Seth.]]
Behemoth is a [[BlackMetal Blackened]] [[DeathMetal Death Metal]] band from Poland, and one of the largest extreme metal bands in their country. Formed in 1991, they started as a straight [[BlackMetal black metal]] band, but changed their sound over time to include more and more [[DeathMetal death metal]] elements, while keeping the visual style of a black metal band. Vocalist and guitarist [[FaceOfTheBand Nergal]] was [[AuthorExistenceFailure diagnosed with leukemia]], [[AvertedTrope but]] managed to survive it. \\
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'''Members'''

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'''Studio Albums'''

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Their pre-''Satanica'' albums suffer/benefit from this big time.
* EpicRocking: "The Reign of Shemsu-Hor" and "Lucifer" both clock in at over eight minutes each

* IndecipherableLyrics: Par for the course for [[HeavyMetal extreme metal]]

** 2011 brought both an inversion and straight case of {{Moral Guardians}}hip. He was invited to take part in a TV show on public channel, which unsurprisingly whipped the MoralGuardians into a frenzy
* MyFriendsAndZoidberg: Even though Seth is a full member of the band he is sometimes not included in promo photos. He is also occasionally listed separately in the credits from Nergal, Orion and Inferno

* NewSoundAlbum: Behemoth introduced DeathMetal influences starting with ''Satanica'' and increased them over time to the point where very little BlackMetal sound is present. Starting with ''Zos Kia Cultus'', they had evolved into (mostly) full-on death metal, though they still kept the black metal outfits, which contrasts with their sound somewhat.

[[quoteright:319:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Behemoth_2046.jpg]][[caption-width-right:319:Nergal (centre), Orion (right), and Inferno (Left). [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg Hey, Where's Seth?]]]]

[[IThoughtItMeant This is not the page for a]] [[AttackOfThe50FootWhatever big-ass monster]].

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Behemoth is a [[BlackMetal Blackened]] [[DeathMetal Death Metal]] band from Poland, and one of the largest extreme metal bands in their country. Formed in 1991, they started as a straight [[BlackMetal black metal]] band, but changed their sound over time to include more and more [[DeathMetal death metal]] elements, while keeping the visual style of a black metal band. Vocalist and guitarist [[FaceOfTheBand Nergal]] was [[AuthorExistenceFailure diagnosed with leukemia]], [[AvertedTrope but]] managed to survive it. \\
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[[IThoughtItMeant This is not the page for a]] [[AttackOfThe50FootWhatever big-ass monster]]. [[quoteright:319:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Behemoth_2046.jpg]][[caption-width-right:319:Nergal (centre), Orion (right), and Inferno (Left). [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg Hey, Where's Seth?]]]]

* ShoutOut: The band's [[AwesomeMcCoolname nicknames]] are all references to mythology or literature. Nergal was an ancient [[Myth/MesopotamianMythology Babylonian]] deity, Inferno is a reference to ''Literature/TheDivineComedy'', Orion is a character in Myth/ClassicalMythology, and Seth is [[Literature/TheBible the brother of]] CainAndAbel
** It's also an alternate name for Set, the god of darkness and chaos in Myth/EgyptianMythology, which is probably where it came from.

* ShoutOut: The band's [[AwesomeMcCoolname nicknames]] are all references to mythology or literature. Nergal was an ancient [[Myth/MesopotamianMythology Babylonian]] deity, Inferno is a reference to the DivineComedy, Orion is a character in Myth/ClassicalMythology, and Seth is [[Literature/TheBible the brother of]] CainAndAbel