Behemoth / O2 Academy / Brixton

Apr 14

Apr 14 Behemoth / O2 Academy / Brixton

As Polish blackened metal legends prepare to unleash their latest album “The Shit Ov God” on the world on 9th May, we headed to Old London Town to catch their live along with Satyricon and Rotting Chris on the “Unholy Trinity” tour. Three of extreme metal’s biggest stars, on one stage, on one night… What’s not to like about that !

Walking in to the impressive Brixton Academy, first up on stage are Greek black metallers Rotting Christ. They had been through the mill already on this tour, having been involved in a serious car accident driving from their show in Berlin, Germany to Zurich, Switzerland. Thankfully all the band members were unharmed and were able to continue on the tour.

Formed back in 1987 they have been at the forefront of the Greek metal scene for years. They released their debut album “Thy Mighty Contract” in 1993, and the latest of their 14 albums “Pro Xristou” in 2024.

Rotting Christ are Sakis Tolis (vocals and guitar), Themis Tolis (drums), Kostas "Spades" Heliotis (bass) and Kostis Foukarakis (guitar).

On a slightly sour note tonight, unfortunately many of the faithful were unable to get in to see Rotting Christ. The Brixton Academy was packed to the rafters but unfortunately the queuing system let them down somewhat, with the line snaking right round the venue and off down Brixton high street! There were still fans trying to get in as the Rotting Christ set ended. A real shame, and something I’m sure will improve with upcoming shows for the recently re-opened venue.

Being first up, they shouldn’t have worried about getting the crowd going. What struck me, was how many of the crowd were looking forward to seeing Rotting Christ the most, a sign of their global popularity, founded on their bold, dramatic and dynamic musical style. And the reception they got was electric. Waves of heads bobbing back and forth, horns in the air with a good old pit forming early on in the proceedings.

Given a 40 min set, boy did they delivered ! It was harsh, powerful, fast and furious from start to finish.The set was packed with fan favourites, the highlights for me being Fire, God and Fear, Like Father Like Son and Non Serviam. But the piece de resistance was most definitely the final track Grandis Spiritus Diavolos with its brutal riffs and power drums, the crowd were going berserk !

Rotting Christ were excellent, delivering a set for the ages that had the crowd pumped big time.

Setlist

666

P'unchaw kachun- Tuta kachun

Fire, God and Fear

Kata Ton Daimona Eaytoy

Elthe Kyrie

Like Father, Like Son

Non Serviam

Societas Satanas (Thou Art Lord cover)

Grandis Spiritus Diavolos

Next up is the Norwegian black metal band Satyricon. Hailing from Oslo, formed in 1991. A band that been on a journey, their earlier releases very much in the Norwegian black metal style, they have developed and changed and added in more elements of heavy metal to their soundscape. Since their debut “ Dark Medieval Times” they’ve released 10 studio albums, the latest being Satyricon & Munch” in 2022.

This was my first time seeing Satyricon live and they didn’t disappoint. What struck me was the balance of their sound tonight. The guitar riffs and melodies were red hot and crisp, backed by some blistering fast and loud drums. The keyboard gave the sound a richness and an added depth. Despite being black metal, the sound has a clearer tone and is perhaps more mainstream accessible ? Don’t get me wrong its delightfully loud and hard but perhaps a bit slower and intricate. The crowd were engrossed and loved every second from the raucous opener Now, Diabolical through favourites such as Deep Calleth Upon Deep and The Pentagram Burns to the final number K.I.N.G.

The only bad bit of the set ? That it had to end. Satyricon delivered an impressive set for the ages, and showed they are still a dominant force in Norwegian metal.

Setlist

Now, Diabolical

Repined Bastard Nation

Black Crow on a Tombstone

Deep Calleth Upon Deep

Interlude

Black Wings and Withering Gloom

The Pentagram Burns

To the Mountains

Mother North

K.I.N.G.

A longer break, as the stage is set for tonight’s headliners, and boy you could feel the expectation around the room! Formed in Gdańsk, Poland in 1991, Behemoth are a blackened metal band, who have a rich history of legal issues with the Polish state and church and their use of iconography and their right to express their views.

Behemoth are Adam "Nergal" Darski (guitar and vocals), Zbigniew "Inferno" Promiński (drums), Tomasz "Orion" Wróblewski (bass) and Patryk "Seth" Sztyber (guitar). They released their debut album Sventevith (Storming Near the Baltic) in 1995 and have released 13 studio albums, the latest “The Shit Ov God” due out in a couple of weeks on the 9th May 2025.

The stage is screened off with a giant white sheet as the set is prepared. The lights dim and the smoke builds in the darkness. Through the side of the screen I see Nergal, Orion and Seth take their positions, as a video is projected on to the white drape. Then the noise drops, the curtain slides down and Behemoth are off, straight into The Shadow Elite.

Nergal is bare to the waist, with white and black body paint smeared over his flesh while Seth and Orion are imposing figures dressed in heavy post-apocalyptical garb. The visual is impressive and powerful. The new album, as it’s name “The Shit Ov God” gives no fucks at all, and tonight’s performance mirrors this approach. It is brutal from first to last note. Nergal has an intense aura to him tonight. Not one to jump around, he has an elegant demeanour, and yet imposing and scary, and his snarls feel more dramatic and menacing than ever tonight.

The introduction to fan favourite Ov Fire And Void is intense every element playing its part to the max. The setlist is a real good balance of older material and new stuff from the last, and forthcoming new album. For the title track The Shit Ov God Nergal stands in front of the drums behind a metal symbol from the album’s artwork, lit by a simple spot above him. The effect is mesmerising and striking ! Its brutal in every way, and shows that Behemoth have lost N ONE of their energy, and attitude.

Seth and Orion played a pivotal role with their physically imposing presence, and either side of the stage were towers, from which they ascended and played high above the crowd, increasing the dramatic feel even more. With frequent use of the pyrotechnics, it was damn hot, and the visuals played a big part on the feel of the set. But this isn’t all about showmanship, or fire, the musicianship was simply outstanding. The drums were heavy and thumped into your chest like an express rain. The bass, rich and powerful like a boxers expert 1…2…, and the guitars squealed. Nergal’s harsh rasping vocals are deep and dark and add the final demonic touch. This Is black metal as it should be !

It was great to see old favourites like Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer and the classic Conquer All on the setlist. Overall, it was too sterile and overproduced to feel like an actual live show, which led to my wife and me leaving after what, I think, was four songs. For me, I love Bartzabel and Wolves of Siberia from 2018’s brilliant album “I Loved You at Your Darkest” and both were delivered perfectly. The crowd pressed up against the barrier and let the mayhem and brutality of the sound wash over them in waves.

As the night comes to an end we get O Father O Satan O Sun ! from 2014’s “The Satanist”.

The time has just flown by. Behemoth delivered a level of intensity rarely seen and an audio / visual experience unlike any other. It was just a shame there was only one show, a second show perhaps in Manchester would have given ore of their UK fans to catch this tour, but hey….. they’ll be back, and we can’t wait !

“The Shit Ov God” is out on 9th May and can be pre-ordered from the band’s webstore HERE.

Setlist

The Shadow Elite

Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer

Demigod

The Shit ov God

Conquer All

Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel

Ov Fire and the Void

Christgrinding Avenue

Bartzabel

Solve