Minishops / Behemoth

BEHEMOTH
As Opvs Contra Natvram, their 12th studio release heralds from the rooftops – their longevity is down to a resolute commitment to find new ways to enthrall and inspire their ever-growing legion of latter-day heretics, a determination which shows no signs of erosion. It’s changing times and new battles to fight to which Nergal attributes BEHEMOTH’s unique ability to sound fresh despite their incredible tenure. Therein lies the inspiration for the album’s title and striking cover artwork. “The album title means going against the current. It’s the negative of the values and morals and ethics that I stand against. I’ve seriously been wrestling with destructive tendencies in pop culture - cancel culture, social media, and tools which I feel are very dangerous weapons in the hands of people who are not competent to judge others. That’s something which I find very destructive and disturbing and extremely limiting coming from an artists’ perspective. This is my middle finger to that. There’s a song on the record called Neo-Spartacvs. Spartacus was one of the most iconic rebels in history who went against the most powerful empire of all time. In the end it’s me screaming, ‘I Am Spartacus, and so are you!’ I want to spark that flame of rebellion. If something seems wrong then stand up to it!” Never being fully satisfied and never getting comfortable is the basis of the ferocious sounds to be found on Opvs…, too, and as Nergal explains, our viral armageddon

afforded him the perfect opportunity to luxuriate in the one thing that BEHEMOTH’s growing empire has never afforded him - time. “This is the most thoughtful, the most thought-through, the most mature thing we’ve done – it’s quintessentially BEHEMOTH” he says. “It’s just bangers – all meat, no fat.”