Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on March 2010

Behemoth are known for being one of the hardest-touring bands in metal. Since releasing their new album Evangelion last summer, the Gdansk trio have spent most of their time on the road, playing 80 dates in Europe and the US—and will continue to do so for the rest of 2010. Still, their upcoming set for promoter Smash’s long-running Extreme The Dojo metal showcase marks only the second time that the band will have played Japan.

According to frontman Nergal, their first visit here was an educational experience.

“I was told Japanese fans are very polite, that they always let you talk in between the songs and never make noise,” he says over the phone a few hours before showtime in Athens. “But they went crazy! The pit was insane, and we loved it.”

Behemoth are also known for their anti-religious views, but in a country with as small a Christian population as Japan, is the impact of songs dealing with God and the Devil lessened? “It’s all about the music, it’s all about the vibe,” Nergal responds. “I really believe in energy. Sometimes, we don’t need to speak the same language, and we can still share the same energy and enjoy the same music and celebrate the same moment.”

Given that most people wouldn’t normally associate “satanic” heavy metal with an upbeat outlook, Nergal’s attitude may seem surprising. Yet those familiar with the effort that Behemoth put into their live shows know how important developing chemistry with the audience is to the band. The resulting vibe, says Nergal, “is the universal language that we use to communicate with our fans—it’s the most essential thing. It’s in the air; it’s something surreal.”

These good vibes seem to stick with Nergal after he leaves the spotlight. Perhaps it isn’t so difficult to stay positive when your band is one of the most successful acts on the underground metal scene. Or could it be that the singer is just pleased with the band’s new record?

“It’s a great feeling that after eight albums… we can change ourselves and deliver something new—an album that eclipses everything we’ve done in the past,” he says. While this sounds like the standard party line, Nergal speaks with such pride that it’s hard not to believe he’s entirely sincere. “I can’t really see us [outdoing Evangelion] in a year or two. We’re definitely going to take our time to deliver [the next album].”

No matter what comes next, Nergal realizes that he and his bandmates need to keep it real. “It’s all about being honest and sincere in what you do. Other people are going to judge if it’s better or worse, but I don’t give a fuck as long as I can look in the mirror and say, ‘This is my most complete work, and I’m happy and satisfied with myself.’ That’s the bottom line.”

“Extreme The Dojo Vol. 23”
Death metal bands Behemoth, Job For a Cowboy and Revocation. Apr 7, 6:45pm, ¥7,500. Club Quattro, Shibuya. Tel: Smash 03-3444-6751.