Behemoth-The Satanist-Expressing it in my words

“The Satanist” is the 10^th studio album by Polish metal giants Behemoth. The album was released on February 3, 2014, which is almost after four years prior to their last release “Evangelion”. After all the obstacles the band went through, this record is equivalent to achieving something precious after long duration of prayer for the loyal fans. “Evangelion”, the last record being so brutal and touching all the expectations of being extreme, this record was a question to how the band would present it.

I always admired Behemoth for their insane delivery of the first track which somehow get linked with a perfect intro and somehow make you feel into the situation and pull you towards the core of the album. “Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel”, the first very track is so much structured with melody, extreme vocals, thick bass lines, extremely polished riffs and a drumming machine giving the finishing touch. “Furor Divinus”, follows up next which becomes more aggressive and quick in expressing the elements of the song. “Messe Noire”, sounded more aggressive in terms of vocals. The expression, the aggressiveness pulled off by Nergal is worth mentioning and so he is one of the best extreme vocalists. The solos are perfect enough to pinch you badly. The album make its progress with “Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer”, as usual Behemoth only can name their songs in a way that almost express how the songs might be. This song turned out to be more aggressive and the album slowly steps up to its extreme level as “Amen” follows up next which rolls up with insane drumming. The melodic riffs and extreme vocals together never sounded that good then this.

The song structures are so brilliantly done that will involve you to be more focused on each words and on each outbreaks of insane blow of aggression which can be experienced in the title song “The Satanist”. The outbreak of melody and aggressiveness is so nicely written and it’s always been the signature of Behemoth for the past few records. The same instinct followed in “Ben Sahar”, the melody and the cooking done with extremely sharp compositions is enough to hold your mind and listen to it again and again. I really felt the melody parts are so mesmerizing and they make you feel relax and aggressive as well like tempting a hungry lion. “In The Absence Ov Light”, follows up next with a unique tone in the guitars and the aggressiveness is alive again until the peaceful acoustic part with Nergal delivering his words with so much of depth and confidence that if you don’t understand what he is saying, you will feel the depth of the words for sure. It lasts for some peaceful hearing pleasure until the monster wakes up again and end the song with a painful roar. “O Father  O Satan O Sun”, is the kind of last song which many bands fails to present. The mash up of perfect combination of every instruments used felt like they ripped off the best they can and only Behemoth can write songs like this.

“The Satanist”, is a spiritual journey of 44 minutes and it will always remind us how we are connected with Behemoth. The album speaks about everything we everyday think of, it will definitely inspire souls. For me the aggressiveness and melody took the album to another level and it was worth waiting for four years for this record. This is a record you can’t miss.  I wrote a lot for an album review, but I just couldn't help.

My Rating - 4.8/5

Caliban - Ghost Empire - Review

Ghost Empire is the 9th studio album by German metalcore band Caliban which was released on 24 January, 2014. This album is a dose of pure evolution of a band that is making insane music since 1997. This album is a level up to their maturity in the sense of growing and developing as a band, also keeping their sound as similar to the kind of sound present metalcore bands sound. The album is a hell ride of mix up of melody, riffs, breakdowns and as possible combination of vocals.

The album starts off with “King” which simply starts destructing you after few seconds; the groove this song keeps on maintaining with the punchy riffs is completely heavy as fuck. The album is literally meant for the metalcore fans as it maintains its heaviness, breakdowns and the melodic vocal feels will always remind us we are digging a metal core band. I bet “Chaos-Creation” is a good sing along song with its lyrical contents are fair enough to connect with people. “Wolves and Rats” posses much of melodic side of the album with a sweet start of the song and massive breakdowns in between, fair enough to get into a mosh. “nebeL” got some complicated riffs though simple but the use of clean vocals and mixing up with those heavy riffs and the mix of solos and breakdowns are so damn perfect.

The band implied some progressiveness to their riffs and song structure and it can be felt if the songs are listened nicely.  I really enjoyed the melodic feel with the clean vocals in the nowhere world of aggressive riffs and breakdowns in songs like “I Am Ghost”, “Devil’s Night”. “Your Song” is my favorite from the album as I really loved the start and the transformation to higher tempo with the crunchy breakdowns timed so perfectly with the combination of vocals.

The album carried lots of emotion, lots of stories behind each song. I somehow felt it justifies the journey of the band for so long and hence establishing as one of the best metalcore band. The emotions can be much more explored with the tracks like “Cries and Whispers”, “Good Man”, ”I am Rebellion” ; yes the name suggests a lot.

“Who We Are”, definitely express the face of the band and at some context the song structure is purely so much rooted to how a metalcore album should call its conclusion. The down parts of the song linked with the high parts perfectly and hence the development and evolution of the band can be sensed right away. “My vertigo” doesn't hold back in terms of melody and heaviness in context of the sound the band posses. The album concludes with “Falling Downwards” which also feat Matt Heafy of Trivium, and believe me the emotion this song carries is really heavy and can bring tears in your eyes. So much of perfectness before the album goes off with doses of melody, riffs, breakdowns, intense rhythm and so much of variations in vocals.

This album is made for metalcore diggers and especially for Caliban fans who are responsible for this long run of the band. “Ghost Empire” is a hell load album with 13 tracks ready to boil you out in your best pair of pants. Some words are still vibrating in my ears, I bet it will do in your ears as well. 

My Rating : 3.9/5