Behemoth

Formed in 1991 by Nergal, who through many lineup changes would be the one constant in the band, Behemoth would prove to be one of the better death metal/black metal bands from Poland. Their early work was in the black metal arena, forging a style that really wasn't radically different from anyone else. The From The Pagan Vastlands (1993) boasted a three-piece band, while And the Forests Dream Eternally (1994), the debut, was basically a solo affair for Nergal. Sventevith (Storming Near The Baltic)(1995) saw Baal Ravenlock join on drums, while Les joined on guitar for Grom (1996). Inferno took over drums on the Bewitching the Pomerania (1997) EP and Pandemonic Incantations (1998) that saw Mefisto take over bass.

Satanica (1999) was a turning point of sorts for the band when their black desires changed to a more death metal like structure. L. Kaos assumed guitars for the production. Havoc took over the vacant guitar slot with Novy (ex-Des Irae/ex-Vader) taking over on bass for 2000's Thelema.6, an album many considered a flawless merging of death metal and black metal that was followed by the Historica box set (2000), Zos Kia Cultus - Here and Beyond (2002), Conjuration (2003), Crush.Fukk.Create - Requiem for Generation Armageddon DVD (2004) and Demigod (2004).

The follow-up albums of note would be The Apostasy, Evangelion (2009), The Satanist (2014) and I Loved You at Your Darkest (2018) along with a set of compilations, lives and EPs in the form of The Metal Mind Years boxed set (2018), O Pentagram Ignis EP (2019), Live from Maida Vale live (2020), Live in Manchester live (2020), In Absentia Dei live (2021) and A Forest EP (2020) before the release of the follow-up album, Opvs Contra Natvram (2022).

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Footnote: Several session musicians have performed with this act over the years, too many to name here. Also: No relation to the UK band of the same name.