Behemoth - Bloodstock 2012 review

'A certified success story'

Anna Hyams - 11 August 2012

After 2012's unexpected Behemoth absence, they, and fighting-fit frontman Adam 'Nergal' Darski are finally storming the stage of Bloodstock, with more firepower than you can shake a flaming stick at.

Arriving on stage to chants of "Be-he-moth", Nergal crosses his chest and stands hands outstretched, eyes closed, like some sort of evil messiah. As the drums roll into 'Fire & Void' they step up behind their coiled python/star/crescent moon mic stands and let the fury rip.

Brimstone to make the devil proud lights up the stage, and more than a few photographers are seen checking their eyebrows still exist as Behemoth thunder their way through 'Demi-God'.

Nergal yells "It's good to be alive" to a roar of appreciation from the fans, as the rest of the band whip their long locks into the air and absolutely thrash out favourites 'Conquer All', 'Christians To The Lions' and 'Slaves Shall Serve'. For those not in the know, the band pulled their BOA appearance last year due to Nergal's Leukaemia diagnosis, which he has since recovered from.

Behemoth have boldly proclaimed they want to be 'the best black metal band on the planet' and if tonight is anything to go by, they're certainly storming the likes of previous black metal acts on today's bill. There's something inherently less comedic about Behemoth, you get the feeling they don't take themselves quite as seriously as others and despite the theatrics, they don't feel the need to splatter the crowd with pig's blood, like notorious others.

As the night winds to a close, Nergal is seen in an array of headgear, including what appears to be a crown of thorns and a mask not dissimilar to something Magneto might sport in an X-Men movie. Closing out the night in a final burst of glittery ticker-tape, whilst pretty, is a little girly after all the fire and screaming.

Though the gravelly-voiced metal screaming might not be everyone's drug of choice, it's pretty hard to deny the riffage and shred-ability of this band. Though a possibly questionable choice for headline act, especially above the likes of Iced Earth (who have previously headlined German metal-fest giant, Wacken Open Air) Behemoth are a BOA certified success story, they came, they roared, they conquered. Eventually.

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