CoC : Behemoth - Zos Kia Cultus - Here and Beyond : Review

Behemoth - _Zos Kia Cultus - Here and Beyond_
(Avantgarde Music, 2003)
by: Pedro Azevedo (9 out of 10)

I was thoroughly impressed by Behemoth's _Satanica_, which marked the beginning of Behemoth's more overtly death metal era. Its successor _Thelema.6_ also made a considerable impact, but ended up exhibiting a lot less staying power than _Satanica_ -- which means I overrated it by one mark. This serves to illustrate the fact that I had mixed expectations when I first opened the massive digipak that comes with the special edition of _Zos Kia Cultus_: on one hand I was quite certain Behemoth would again display their remarkable technical merits, but on the other hand I wasn't so sure I would still be spinning the album a month later. As it turns out, _Zos Kia Cultus_ is more of a _Satanica_ than a _Thelema.6_ for me. It shares both albums' technical qualities and boasts an even more crushing production than they do, but it is a lot closer to _Satanica_ in terms of hooks that make you want to go back to it after a while. _Zos Kia Cultus_ displays even more of a death metal influence than before, with Morbid Angel and even Nile-like sounds stepping to the forefront here. It is often slower and less frantic than _Satanica_, more calculated, and that sometimes lowers the intensity level a notch. I would have liked more of the flowing melodies of "Blackest ov the Black" in place of some of the slightly overused slower riffs on a couple of tracks early on in the album. But these are minor complaints, as _Zos Kia Cultus_ shines for its massive production, superb drum work, intense riffs, and monstrous vocals. If Nergal had been a preacher of some sort, he would surely have been able to whip vast audiences into a veritable frenzy with his distinctive, intensely harsh, determined voice. _Zos Kia Cultus_ proves that Behemoth are a huge force in the death metal world today, able to stand eye to eye with virtually any other band. Together with Immolation's _Unholy Cult_, Blood Red Throne's _Monument of Death_ and Bloodbath's _Resurrection Through Carnage_, _Zos Kia Cultus_ is (although for different reasons) among the most powerful and engaging death metal records I've heard in recent years.

Contact: http://www.behemoth.metalkings.com

(article published 11/4/2003)

CHATS
9/9/2007	J Smit	Behemoth: Lords of the Left Hand
11/19/2004	J Smit	Behemoth: Keeping It Real
4/9/1997	S Hoeltzel	Behemoth: Bards of the Black Baltic

ALBUMS
3/2/2014	A El Naby	9	Behemoth - The Satanist
8/16/2009	J Smit	9.5	Behemoth - Evangelion
1/23/2009	J Smit	9	Behemoth - At the Arena ov Aion - Live Apostasy
11/19/2008	Y Zhu	8	Behemoth - Ezkaton
9/9/2007	J Smit	8.5	Behemoth - The Apostasy
10/19/2004	T DePalma	7.5	Behemoth - Crush.Fukk.Create
10/19/2004	J Smit	9	Behemoth - Demigod
11/6/2003	X Hoose		Behemoth - Antichristian Phenomenon
1/10/2001	P Azevedo	9	Behemoth - Thelema.6
10/12/1999	P Azevedo	9	Behemoth - Satanica
9/1/1998	A McKay	7.5	Behemoth - Pandemonic Incantations
10/16/1997	S Hoeltzel	9	Behemoth - Bewitching the Pomerania
1/2/1997	S Hoeltzel	10	Behemoth - Grom

GIGS
10/31/2004	J Smit	Krisiun / Behemoth / Incantation / Ragnarok	A Beauteous Riot
1/10/2001	D Rocher	Morbid Angel / Enslaved / The Crown / Dying Fetus / Behemoth / Hypnos	Belated Tales of the Unexpected
3/5/2000	M Noll	Satyricon / Behemoth / Hecate Enthroned	Untied Bronze Chains
3/14/1999	P Schwarz	Deicide / Rotting Christ / Aeternus / Ancient Rites / Behemoth	Dead by Dawn