You can tell when a band ceases to be truly (or is trvly?) underground. The know-it-alls from something like the Mayhem Energy Festival (where the Poles are now on tour), come out of the woodwork, espousing how they’ve sold-out, are playing to emo kids and mock “I liked their earlier stuff better” purity. Welcome to the internet Nergal! OK, it’s not the same band that came crawling from beneath the jack booted, downtrodden Iron Curtain almost two decades ago (band is celebrating 18 years, older than many of those “knowledgeable” pundits!), but most of Behemoth’s appeal still lies in the brutal assault coming from the stage. Rarely has that intensity been captured in a studio moment, although the force of Nergal’s tortured 2+ second shout to close ‘Transmigrating Beyond Realms Ov Amenti’ comes close.

In the cinematic world, “Evangelion” is a Hitchcockian suspense, not some slap-dash, indie made splatter flick. The power and intrigue comes in the subtlety (as juxtaposed to the madness), not blinding speed, nor volume. Strange guitar wonks, then plenty of soloing on ‘Shemaforash’ which ends with a mystical Middle Eastern fade-out. Tasteful guitar opens ‘He Who Breeds Pestilence’, before it dives into deadlier waters, although that same theme reoccurs throughout.

‘The Seed Ov I’ features the hypnotic, repetitive jackhammering-the-brain riffage Nergal can apparently write in his sleep. Killer stuff! At 3:17, ‘Alas, Lord Is Upon Me’ waits until the midway point to introduced muted lyrics. The closing ‘Lucifer’ is the lengthiest track of this ill-born breed, a couple minutes of atmosphere before a Venomous grind, topped with swirl of electronic effects ridden guitar and spoken-word voiceover.

Certainly not a by-the-numbers Behemoth disc. Situate thyself in the front row, before the speakers, if you dare!