02.08.2018 Behemoth

Wacken Open Air XXIX

Wacken (Germany)

(Pentax K-5 with Sigma AF 70-200mm 2.8 EX DC APO HSM II)

On stage it was getting gloomy. The Polish death metal export hit Behemoth was the one to set the first exclamation mark of the day on the Harder Stage. An inferno was set free being without equal. Again and again fire accompanied by most brutal metal thunderstorm that was how “singer” Adam Michael “Nergal” Darski was presenting himself and his allies being at their best. Friends of tougher way of music were fully getting their money’s worth.
The infield in front of the stage was extremely well filled and directly from the start one was thrilled so that there was not time to take a breath. Nergal clashed one grunted or screamed broadside after the other against one and also his guitarist Patryk Dominik “Seth” Sztyber as well as bassist Tomasz “Orion” Wróblewski supported him powerful-voiced. Additionally, Zbigniew Robert “Inferno” Promiński thrashed in accordance with his name onto his working tool so that a pleasant full body massage pleased the audience. There was a nice cross section of their work presented and additionally of the upcoming album “I Loved You At Your Darkest” the live premiere of their latest single release “God = Dog” as well as later also “Wolfes Ov Siberia”.
They presented themselves in proper style dressed in frocks like wardrobes supported by corpse paint and gradually increasing amount of artificial blood. It was simply wicked what was going on on stage and that was seamlessly transferred onto the crowd in front of it that was also going insane during crackers like “Chant For Eschaton 2000” of the 1999er album “Satanica”. There was also in between a short speech of “Nargal” on how beautiful life is (“Stay strong! Face your fears!”) at least he was able to cheat death back in 2011 after leukemia was diagnosed on him and he received a bone marrow donation. Directly afterwards they continued with neat death metal until “O Father O Satan O Sun!” formed the point of farewell.
Actually, that is not really my style of music but what Behemoth fired across the field was simply mesmerizing you and did not let you go anymore. An infernal show accompanied by an unbelievable wave of brute metal, wow! Unfortunately, it was still quite sunny otherwise the atmosphere would have been far more suitable to the music and the innumerable fire effects would have shown much better to advantage. But also like it was I have to say kudos to Behemoth! That was really epic what they presented! Not for no reason there was such a huge crowd in front of the stage. Who, just like me, also normally is not really a fan of such music should at least take a glimpse on one of their live shows. Maybe a comparable experience will ensue.