By:
Ernesto Aguilar
Album Type: Full Length
(Live)
Date Released: 13/04/2018
Label: Nuclear Blast
The
group's performances are frenzied, the production is sterling and with a
crystal clear sound thoughout, this makes “Messe Noire” a real pleasure to
experience
“Messe Noise”
CD//DD//2LP track listing:
1.
Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel (6:33)
2.
Furor Divinus (3:21)
3.
Messe Noire (4:41)
4.
Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer (6:20)
5.
Amen (3:54)
6.
The Satanist (6:35)
7.
Ben Sahar (5:32)
8.
In The Absence Ov Light (4:54)
9.
O Father O Satan O Sun! (8:45)
The Review:
Now
playing dates as part of Slayer's farewell tour,
Poland's Behemoth could well be argued to be the heir
apparent to the thrash kings' crown. While clearly the music is different, Behemoth's infernal songsmithing makes it a better fit than
most. Paired with a long, ignoble history and you have a strong case to be
made.
Although
Behemoth has many touchstone albums to its credit, its
tenth release, 2014's “The Satanist”,
is easily near the top of its discography. It is the release from whence
classics like "Blow Your Trumpets
Gabriel" and "O Father, O
Satan, O Sun" came. Moreover it was regarded by critics as a return to
form after potentially uneven works just before. Behemoth's
new album, “Messe Noire”, is, in
fact, a live concert recording of “The
Satanist” in full.
If
you have never caught Behemoth live, do
yourself a favor and watch some of the concerts – especially those in its
native land – on YouTube. The group's frenzied performances are only matched by
their enthusiastic audiences. “Messe
Noire” captures Behemoth exceptionally
well, even without the visuals.
From
"Gabriel," the album's
open, into the buzzsaw guitars of "Furor
Divinus" and the title track, it is evident Behemoth
is all in on the live aspect. The additional singers, symphonic elements and
builds presented on “The Satanist”
are replicated live and do not lose much luster on the audio version ("Messe Noire" has also been
released on video format).
Since
1995's "Sventevith (Storming Near
the Baltic)," Behemoth has cultivated
a rabid fan base, one enthralled by its colorful imagery and history as well as
its sound. Indeed, as the band's focal point, Adam "Nergal" Darski
has a connection to these supporters that is uncommon even within metal. From
his health difficulties – including a brief hiatus due to leukemia – and
outspoken advocacy of Satanism, Nergal's intensely personal story is hewn from
the cloth from which all the great rock music histories are cut. Where some
bands prefer complete anonymity, Behemoth and Nergal's
openness has proven the old maxim: people want something with which they can
identify. You feel identification through "Messe
Noire." The live version of "Ora
Pro Nobis Lucifer" has such weight, as you hear the crowd toward its
close on into "Amen."
The
production on "Messe Noire"
is sterling throughout. The sound quality is crystal clear and the audience
noise never overwhelms the stage show. This makes songs like "The Satanist" and "O Father" a real pleasure to
experience. Chances are, Behemoth fans have already picked up this April release.
However, if you're a metal devotee who has dug Behemoth
for any length of time, you'll be well served to pick up "Messe Noire" in its audio or video formats.
“Messe Noise”
is
available here
Band
info: facebook
