CoC : Behemoth - Bewitching the Pomerania : Review

Behemoth - _Bewitching the Pomerania_
(Solstitium Records, 1997)
by: Henry Akeley (9 out of 10)

This terrific gust of raging, engaging heathen song demonstrates yet again Behemoth's mastery of furious black metal in the swollen-hearted Polish style. There are three tracks, two of which are re-recordings of old songs - but this repetition prompts no complaints, since both old songs are great efforts which benefit from being revisited. Rescued from the horrid sound of _Sventevith_, the agonized, anthemic majesty of "Hidden in the Fog" now rings out loud and clear. (I generally don't mind "bad" production, but the sound of the original is just too lousy for material this strong.) Also included here is "Sventevith (Storming Near the Baltic)", originally from the mini-CD _And the Forests Dream Eternally_ - which, by the way, is a masterpiece of ass-kicking backwoods rage. (The mini-CD, I mean.) This time around, the song benefits from improved instrumental technique (plus clearer sound), which adds some fluidity to the momentum of its sustained sonic charge. Well-played melodic lead guitar lines figure prominently, but they are not squeaky, obtrusive, or annoying in the least. The new song, "With Spell of Inferno (Mefisto)", is pure Behemoth: a molten fusion of impassioned riffs, articulate vocals, and awesome percussion which alternates between ripping speed and more rocking mid-paced sections. Great stuff - once again.

(article published 16/10/1997)

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

ALBUMS
2/3/2014	A El Naby	9	Behemoth - The Satanist
16/8/2009	J Smit	9.5	Behemoth - Evangelion
23/1/2009	J Smit	9	Behemoth - At the Arena ov Aion - Live Apostasy
19/11/2008	Y Zhu	8	Behemoth - Ezkaton
9/9/2007	J Smit	8.5	Behemoth - The Apostasy
19/10/2004	T DePalma	7.5	Behemoth - Crush.Fukk.Create
19/10/2004	J Smit	9	Behemoth - Demigod
6/11/2003	X Hoose		Behemoth - Antichristian Phenomenon
11/4/2003	P Azevedo	9	Behemoth - Zos Kia Cultus - Here and Beyond
10/1/2001	P Azevedo	9	Behemoth - Thelema.6
12/10/1999	P Azevedo	9	Behemoth - Satanica
1/9/1998	A McKay	7.5	Behemoth - Pandemonic Incantations
2/1/1997	S Hoeltzel	10	Behemoth - Grom

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