Genre: Death/Black

Label: Nuclear Blast/Metal Blade

IS Rating: 9

Comments: A grandiose feast of Theosophical sentiment.

Release Date: August 11, 2009

Poland’s premier cultural ambassadors return in grand style this year with a spanking new nine-song opus that’ll likely set churches ablaze. Its title not to be confused with the Japanese anime series of the same name, Behemoth’s “Evangelion” carries on where the last two albums left off, only the decibels are faster, the percussion more intense, and Nergal as arcane and esoteric as ever. Lending a bit of cinematic grandeur to their sound, “Daimonos” begins with Nergal’s spine tingling blaspheming pronouncements (he shouts a bunch of stuff) before introducing the brutal parts. One of the album’s most brilliant highlights, which already include expert musicianship, relentless energy, and ornate cover art, is the drumming of Nergal’s partner in crime, Inferno. Judging by his performance, the speed in which he goes about reducing his kit to oblivion is beyond human.
Speaking of oblivion, besides the standard fare glut of blasphemic madness on the songs “Shemaforash” and “Alas, Lord Is Upon Me” there are some wonderful compositions here that bleed complexity. Case in point: “Ov Fire And The Void” and album closer “Lucifer.” This surgically executed and painfully worked over “Evangelion” provides the optimum in extreme musical entertainment, guaranteeing its appeal to a broad spectrum of metal fans. Past the blastbeats and insane vocals, this is one epic slab of infernal sorcery. “Evangelion” is every inch the good news its title suggests. Buy it and weep. 

Miguel Blardony