BEHEMOTH, Poland’s overlords of extreme metal have revealed another track taken from their forthcoming 12th studio album, Opvs Contra Natvram, which is set to arrive via Nuclear Blast on 16th September 2022. Latest single, ‘Off To War!’ is a mission statement, accompanied by yet another evocative official video, the type that BEHEMOTH excel at, directed by Påhl Sundström & Erik Sundström.
BEHEMOTH are non-conformists through and through, swimming against the tide. The new collection reflects this attitude: Opvs Contra Natvram is the sheer embodiment of rebellion, individuality and unflinching self-expression, shaped by a literary worldview. It also reflects a musical evolution, there’s little doubt that Opvs Contra Natvram is BEHEMOTH‘s strongest and most sophisticated project to date.
Frontman and BEHEMOTH visionary, Adam ‘Nergal’ Darski, comments:
“Militant times bring militant music… we’re increasing the tempo with our new single, “Off To War!” – one of my personal favourites from the new record. This song has a killer punk section, one of the greatest Behemoth leads of all time, and a nice extreme metal twist at the end. A true sonic tornado in times of confrontation, enjoy it legions!!”
BEHEMOTH are not only the creators of Poland’s extreme metal scene, but they are masters of their vision and showcasing what a band can achieve when hard work is put in. With Opvs Contra Natvram they have created 10 fresh chapters, created at a very strange time for the world. Their goal to create something new, something that doesn’t sound like anything that has gone before, is an ambitious one.
As with previous studio outings, Opvs… was produced by BEHEMOTH, with mixing by studio legend Joe Barresi (Nine Inch Nails, Tool, QOTSA, Alice in Chains).
Pre-order or pre-save the album here, and check out the video for ‘Off To War!’ below.
Renowned for his meticulous attention to detail and absolute creative control of BEHEMOTH’s world, frontman and band visionary, Adam ‘Nergal’ Darski revelled in the depressurised environment afforded by the pandemic. It meant that for nearly the first time since the band’s inception over 30 years ago, there was no deadline to observe, allowing for a nearly unprecedented level of attention to the process of writing and recording. Beyond any confines of genre, BEHEMOTH have grown to become nothing less than the personification of rebellion, individuality and unflinching self-expression informed by a literate worldview and worldliness that’s resulted in a locking of horns with everything from the mainstream press to the Polish Catholic church – most notably manifesting in Nergal’s trial for blasphemy in 2010 that only served to expose the deep-seated hypocrisies that his music seeks to challenge.
Stay tuned for more in the Opvs Contra Natvram story soon.
Opvs Contra Natvram tracklist:
- POST-GOD NIRVANA
- MALARIA VVLGATA
- THE DEATHLESS SUN
- OV MY HERCULEAN EXILE
- NEO-SPARTACVS
- DISINHERITANCE
- OFF TO WAR!
- ONCE UPON A PALE HORSE
- THY BECOMING ETERNAL
- VERSVS CHRISTVS
Opvs Contra Natvram features twin cover art available in both black and white and will be released in the following array of physical formats, certain to thrill collectors of limited editions:
- Jewelcase CD (Black Cover)
- Digibook (Black Cover) [limited to 8500 pieces]
- Digibook (White Cover) [limited to 8500 pieces]
- Earbook Black/Gold Inkspot Vinyl (White Cover) [limited to 500 pieces]
- Earbook Gold/Black Corona Vinyl (White Cover) [limited to 500 pieces]
- Black Vinyl (Black Cover)
- Picture Vinyl (Black Cover) [limited to 3500 pieces]
- White/Gold Split Vinyl (White Cover) [limited to 650 pieces]
- Vinylbox Mailorder Edition (White Cover) [limited to 1000 pieces]
- Earbook (Black Cover) [band exclusive, limited to 1167 pieces] – LAST FEW
- Gold Vinyl (Black Cover) [US Indie exclusive, limited to 350 pieces]
- Crystal Clear/Silver/Gold Inkspot Vinyl (White Cover) [band exclusive, limited to 666 pieces] – SOLD OUT!
- White/Black/Gold Splatter Vinyl (White Cover) [band exclusive, limited to 1167 pieces] – SOLD OUT
- Transparent Red Vinyl (Black Cover) [EMP exclusive, limited to 300 pieces]
- White Vinyl (White Cover) [Nordics exclusive, limited to 300 pieces]
- Clear/Black Splatter Vinyl (Black Cover) [Kings Road Management exclusive, limited to 500 pieces]
- Gold/Black Marbled Vinyl (Black Cover) [UK Eyesore exclusive, limited to 300 pieces]
- White/Gold Marbled Vinyl (White Cover) [UK Recordstore exclusive, limited to 300 pieces]
- Clear/Black Marbled Vinyl (Black Cover) [HMV exclusive, limited to 450 exclusive]
BEHEMOTH‘s North American Siege tour, with touring mates Arch Enemy, Carcass, and Unto Others recently thundered across the USA to huge acclaim. The European leg rolls into Dublin, Ireland on September 27th, ready to set the continent ablaze and culminates at Oslo, Norway’s Sentrum Scene on November 6th. Prior to that, the band will bring their spectacular live show to a number of Summer festivals, including a Friday night headline slot at Bloodstock in the UK. Full itinerary and tour trailer below.
Nergal informs the band’s ‘Legions’;
“BEHEMOTH are coming with new music and new stage shenanigans…a spectacle worth waiting for. We’ll see you there!”
BEHEMOTH EU Summer Festivals
24.06. DE Hockenheim – Hockenheimring – Download Germany
22.07. BU Plovdiv – Hills Of Rock
07.08. RO Rasnov – Rockstadt Extreme Fest
12.08. UK Walton on Trent – Bloodstock Open Air
13.08. BE Kortrijk – Alcatraz
21.08. FR Saint Nolff – Motorcultor
BEHEMOTH, ARCH ENEMY + CARCASS + UNTO OTHERS
The European Siege Tour
27.09. UK Dublin – 3 Olympia Theatre
29.09. UK Glasgow – O2 Academy
30.09. UK Manchester – O2 Apollo
01.10. UK Birmingham – O2 Academy
02.10. UK London – O2 Academy Brixton
04.10. FR Paris – Zenith
05.10. FR Ramonville-St-Agne, Le Bikini
07.10. PT Lisboa – Coliseu dos Recreios
08.10. ES Madrid – Palacio Vistalegre
09.10. ES Barcelona – Palau Sant Jordi
11.10. FR Caluire-Et-Cuire – Radiant-Bellevue
12.10. IT Milan – Alcatraz
14.10. DE Berlin – Columbiahalle
15.10 CZ Prague – Tipsport Arena
16.10. HU Budapest – Barba Negra
18.10. AT Wien – Gasometer
19.10. PL Katowice – Spodek
21.10. DE Ludwigsburg – MHP Arena
22.10. NL Den Bosch – Mainstage Brabanthallen
25.10. CH Zürich – Samsung Hall
26.10. DE Frankfurt am Main – Jahrhunderthalle
28.10. DE Munich – Zenith
29.10. DE Düsseldorf – Mitsubishi Electric Halle
30.10. DE Hamburg – edel-optics.de Arena
31.10. SE Partille – Partille Arena
02.11. FI Helsinki – Helsinki Ice Hall
04.11. SE Stockholm – Annexet
05.11. DK Frederiksberg – Forum Black Box
06.11. NO Oslo – Sentrum Scene
UK tour tickets are available here, with Dublin tickets here. Tickets for their Bloodstock Festival Friday night headline set are available here.
