For three decades, Behemoth has walked a worn path with Adam “Nergal” Darski, as the band hovers over the edge between ambition and extremity. The band’s years of success have led up to what may be an In Absentia Dei. Behemoth has always sought to present their music in the most creative manner possible, from the uniquely cinematic clips that clearly debuted at the epic Evangelion and all the way to the band’s two most recent releases. Their creative push has led them to not be afraid of pursuing the more progressive undercurrents of music, which in turn led them to earn a support slot on Slipknot’s last tour. Their efforts underscore the fact that with a deft mix of extreme determination and indifference, it is indeed possible to take extreme metal to the masses.
In Absentia Dei was live streamed during the global lockdown and is a multi-sensory film that the Polish band Behemoth describes perfectly as an ‘Immersive Experience’. It is an incredible work of creativity that stems from equally creative beings and suggests that whatever the band touches turns to gold. Grupa 13, the production team behind the film, used their skills to couple Behemoth’s rich visual sets with the intricate performance the band never fails to deliver. Together with Grupa 13, the film uses jaw dropping practices like photographs coupled with a breathtaking stage set and adds a sprit to the experience. As the name suggests, the first edition film has Saving the appearance of someone and other clips that featured the band set in a church made it a hit.
The album can be purchased in many cool formats, like double CD, Blu-ray, or even beautiful colored vinyl, just like any special release of this kind. The double CD / Blu Ray competitively is the supreme format although, what I wouldn’t give for more labels to pair vinyl with a visual component for releases of these sorts. Nevertheless, for those who like to burn a set for crafting their own church, the vinyl edition does appear to show off that set. Although Nergal treats his music seriously, the malicious twinkle in his eye while he gives out that particular bonus item is quite unenviable.
The film, on the other hand, is truly astonishing. Even mildly interested persons or fans of Behemoth should consider watching it. This serves as a case study on how bring the extreme above ground. In Absentia Dei opens with a scene worthy of Lord of the Rings and is in slow motion. It sets itself apart from all other live streams by immediately carving out a unique sense of atmosphere. It also offers a lot more in comparison to Metallica’s, Through The Never project. While it is more coherent than other typical band-in-a-rehearsal-space approaches, it is still a fledgling industry.
Both the performance and type of mixing is on par with the quality. The opening number, Evoe, is truly spellbinding, and the band sounds absolutely destructive as well. The group doesn’t have to worry about an audience so they can set up properly for the sound check. The band continually rebuilds their sound, and Zbigniew “Inferno” Prominski’s stunning performance behind the drum kit is jaw dropping. I can only take my hat off to the neo-symphonic horror Wolves Of Siberia, performed in perfect calm by Nergal, who, in the church, has the dark appearance of a preacher in the middle of an unholy ritual. With all its dark promises, the impressive pyramid of the Church does set a few boundaries that no other band is able to overcome, and Contrastingly weightier and harder, Prometherion does not have these boundaries. This notion is even more accentuated by Swan’s movement which exposes the vaulted ceiling of the church.
Act II is opened by an impressive segue, as a dark fire dance gives way to Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel, which is an uncontrolled classic. This piece has been made even better by the furious fire with which post level the choreographed dancer’s performance. The thunderous opening of the stuttering Antichrist Phenomenon is also coupled by dark calling. The overzealous confidence in which the music is performed is in stark contrast to the already underrated Demigod for Conquer All. The first act ends with the band’s Lucifer, who creates an ever more sinister take on extreme progressive Love. This is expressed owing to the deep metronomic nightmare masked with silence screaming.
The imagery becomes more unsettling as Act III opens, and, as we advance into Ora Pro Nubis Lucifer, the differences now between live performance and performance art draw ever closer, almost to the degree which has not been witnessed since the infamous Broken video by Nine Inch Nails. Bear in mind that this is not for the faint of heart. While it is impressive, there is an emotional mass that comes with it. It is easy to sense that the band is once again toying with the danger threshold of destruction. Another highlight is Evangelion’s mainstay Fire And The Void which is arguably more imposing, ‘in-your-face’ than it has ever been. Fiery and swathed in smoke, it is explained well here. It is preceded by what can only be called a Satanic rally, Chwala Mordercom Wojciecha, which is not purely a musical piece but a call to arms, that stands in sharp contrast to the crushing As Above So Below. The song is more brutal thanks to the no-frills performance.
The band’s repertoire is delved deeper into with Slaves Shall Serve and Chant For Ezkaton (2000 E.V.). Both songs were performed with extreme fire and fury, and while Nergal seems to enjoy performing for the camera more than he used to, the ambition still shines through at scope of the songs overall construction.
After skillfully captivating the audience, a brief but dramatic interlude connects before the final act takes a rounded approach to the end set. A sculpting rendition of Demigod’s “Sculpting The Throne Of Seth” remains a painstakingly awkwardly angular blast of icy extremity for all of the heat the band sets as their backdrop. On the contrary, the eerily melodic Bartzabel with flaming Timpani feels more and more like an incantation. A furious Decade Ov Therion rages near the middle before the band ends with a stunning ‘O Father, O Satan, O Sun!’ Combining most of the fire and flame that has beaten before it, ‘O Father, O Satan, O Sun’ sees the church and its surroundings set ablaze, providing a dramatically hellish backdrop for the band’s final proclamation.
Behemoth is an elite band whose combinations of genres makes them exceptional musicians and performers; as such, they never deemed it necessary to leave out any visual aspect of their art and In Absentia Dei is no exception. The results this time are a much broader success compared to previous live releases which were adored for their sharp imagery and heavy sound. Those live releases aimed to capture the essence of the decaying world we live in, while this embodies much artistry. This perspective viewing while admiring the massiveness of inspiration sets a new standard for impressive. Every one of us has had to reconciliate to something we loathe for the past few years the rise of livestream. No one would dare to believe this beats engaging with the band and its fans directly, but Behemoth did choose a truly unique performance and yet again set the standards for other bands. 9/10.
To watch more movies like (Behemoth: In Absentia Dei (2020)) visit 123Movies.
Also Watch for more movies like:
