Behemoth – "The Shit ov God"

Yes, he totally went there. Heh-heh, "went".

Yes, yes, I know. We're all thinking it. We'll get to it in a moment, okay?

First of all, though, there can be little doubt that 2014's "The Satanist" is Behemoth's magnum opus. And there can be just as little doubt that the subsequent releases so far were not able to reach the artistic heights of said opus. I mean, when you name the follow-up "I Loved You at Your Darkest", you'd better either have gone all-out goth or thrown some extraordinarily kickass tunes on there for things to carry that title. Behemoth did neither. And even though 2022's "Opvs Contra Natvram" had its moments, those moments, also, felt spread too thin, like too little butter over too big of a wafer. Not a very exciting metaphor; not a very exciting album, either.

So, getting to that elephant in the room already… When Behemoth released the title track to this album as a single, people started talking. And for good reason. Because not only is that title all-domineeringly loud in all its apparent immaturity; the same thing goes for some of the track's lyrics:

I for ingrate
E to eradicate
S for the scorn
U for useless
S for the shame
J for joyless
H to humiliate
S for thy son unloved
We are the shit ov god

However, if upon that unambiguous little statement you can still find as much Jesus in yourselves as to forgive another lil' metaphor here, I'd like to play Devil's advocate for a bit. (And yes, pun even intended, thank you very much.)

For one thing, we all know that when Nergal says or does something, he damn well means it. We all know that the man has never exactly been shy about his resentment towards the Christian church. (I mean, for crying out loud, y'all went and bought an album dubbed "The Satanist".) And by far not the least of all, when music is strong enough, it can integrate its share of imprudent lyrics.

Such is the case with "The Shit ov God". Yes, in spite of that title and that aforequoted little dubious acroymic rant, we're dealing with a title track here that not only hits that coveted sweet spot between dark and aggressive enough that it carries the infectious catchiness of the banger that it becomes in its chorus, but is also grand and solemn, opened by en eerie female choir – sung by actual humans; not just played Manowar style on a keyboard. Yes, those lyrics are infantile, but it's the only case on the album, and it does not make the song any less aggressive or memorable.

For an album named as is the case, there is so much desolate darkness here that the whole thing justifies that dumbass title and then some.

Opener "The Shadow Elite" contains the full range of elements that collectively make death metal awesome, exchanging between a blast beat and a drive reminiscent of this little 2002 Opeth ditty called "Wreath". Those background tremolo-picked runs verge on madness, adding an equal parts theatrical and ominous touch. And again, the vocal lines are fucking catchy. And virtually all the way through Behemoth's 13th studio album, Nergal uses this gift of combining the catchy and the unearthly energetic. And that exact combination is the goddamn ideal in metal, whether we're talking Iron Maiden or Slipknot.

Indeed, just like there is something to be said for the man's proficiency in combining aggression and memorability, there is also something to be said for his proficiency in juxtaposing different atmospheres. This is heard best in the two-part verse of "Sowing Salt" – part maniacal explosion of chaos, part slowly and mercilessly drawn-out suffering. He does it over and over, and he succeeds every time. From the rabid death thrash of "Lvciferaeon" with its arpeggiated black metal chords, for example, anyone with a universal sense of music will still clearly remember its resonant chorus: "If I am God, everyone is / If I am not, none exists".

And yes, that parole is virtually as simple as can be stated, but hand in hand with the music's awe-inspiring frenzy, and borne upon vocals more raspy than deep, and more dementedly confrontational than standard-burpy, the whole thing undeniably and seemingly effortlessly comes together. And waddyaknow, not only is the guitar solo laid back and melodic, resting upon an equally melodic chord progression, but there's a goddamn ascending 1-note modulation towards the end – and it fucking works.

"The Shit ov God" – as strange as it may sound when mentioning that title – is the best Behemoth album since their much-mentioned magnum opus.

Indeed, apart from all the lyrical hooks that you never thought you'd appreciate after hearing the album title, you will also notice and remember the tremolo figure over the fiery blast of "To Drown the Svn in Wine", along with Nergal's Walt Whitman reference of "Oh, captain! / My captain!". And you, too, will be excitedly disturbed by its conclusive possessedly lamenting and desperately begging voices superimposed on a somber background choir. You will also remember that hopelessly lonely, slowly arpeggiated and distorted intro of "O Venvs, Come" and its tensely depressive mood. Yes, for an album named as is the case, there is so much desolate darkness here that the whole thing justifies that dumbass title and then some. Shit, even the guitar sound is perfect – not too distorted, not too bass-y or trebled, not too in-your-face, but equal parts resonant and penetrating like nails through flesh.

While the atmosphere does end up being somewhat homogenous, it's still as bulletproof as it is convincing, and overall, the album maintains its ungodly momentum throughout its ungodly 38 minutes. And while Nergal does have something to convince us of, it doesn't seem like he's trying nearly as hard at doing it as he did on the last coupla albums. And most likely, this is exactly why "The Shit ov God" – as strange as it may sound when mentioning that title – is the best Behemoth album since their much-mentioned magnum opus. Perhaps not quite as overwhelmingly inspiring as the latest LP from Hate – the group's fine countrymen and colleagues in this peculiar little corner of "blackened" death metal. But still easily making the top 10 this year. And if you can't get over those title track lyrics, here are some from the conclusive track that perfectly encapsule the main character's entire disposition – album for album, year for year:

Oh, how I yearned for my revival
Being ever born anew
So I could tear this matrix asunder
Daring to stray worlds away from you
For I am the last living god
Herald ov godless rebirth

Rating: 5 out of 6

Genre: Blackened death metal
Release date: 9/5/2025
Label: Nuclear Blast
Producer: Jens Bogren