The Shit ov God
The title of The Shit ov God does a fairly efficient job of introducing Behemoth's position. Subtlety has taken the day off. The more interesting part is whether the music gives all that provocation something to stand on, and much of the time it does.
The Shadow Elite opens with the force you'd expect: dense guitars, a commanding vocal from Nergal and drumming that gives the song real momentum. Behemoth understand how to make extreme metal feel large without removing its aggression. The opening is a strong reminder of that ability.
Sowing Salt has more unusual movement in its rhythm and guitar parts. It can feel a little disjointed, but the changes give the song an unsettled character that suits it. The melodic details near the end are especially effective, adding something to follow through the attack.
The title track is more difficult. Its slow, heavy march and operatic elements make sense inside the album, but the blunt chant is less convincing than the playing behind it. The band's desire to make a statement occasionally reduces the song to the most obvious part of its message.
Lvciferaeon works better. It puts a strong black metal feel into a compact arrangement, with enough rhythmic movement to keep the aggression focused. Nomen Barbarvm adds another dose of weight, while O Venvs, Come! uses a choral contrast to open up the atmosphere.
The album has only eight tracks, and that focus helps. Behemoth move between fast attacks, slower passages and more ceremonial arrangements without losing the general direction. The performances remain a major attraction, even when the imagery and slogans feel familiar.
This isn't the most revealing record in the band's catalogue, and the title track's attempt at shock can make the surrounding music harder to take seriously. But there is strong material here, particularly when the guitars and drums carry the tension. Behemoth are still capable of making their darkness sound imposing. The best songs give them something worth shouting about.
