For 35 years, Poland's unholy giants Behemoth have flown the flag for blackened death metal not only in their home country, but in all corners of the world. Along with Vader and Hate, Behemoth have played an important role in establishing the Polish extreme metal underground with an uncompromisingly brutal attitude that burns brighter with each passing year.
Fresh from releasing their most recent album – The Shit Ov God - in May this year on Nuclear Blast, Behemoth have set their sights on Australia in February 2026 to perform tracks from their storied discography alongside new material. Straddling the line between the sacred and profane, Behemoth has risen to become extreme metal’s most revered and provocative band, steeped in anti-authoritarian fire. Renowned for their elaborate live performances, the band continues to push boundaries with their fearless artistry and vision, and have vowed to bring their menacing glory to Australian fans on the upcoming tour.
To celebrate the momentous occasion, HEAVY recently sat down with guitarist/vocalist Nergal to journey through the sordid world of Behemoth. We ask if his excitement levels remain as high despite touring most countries multiple times.
"Yes," he smiled warmly. "I don't want to sound arrogant here, because the fact is that from the first tour that we did in Australia to the next one, it just grew by a few per cent. But every time it was bigger and bigger crowds. We even did some like big festival appearances, so we played in front of really big crowds there as well. Mostly, it's club tours, but still, I don't want to be like, oh, Behemoth is coming back, everyone is just fucking bowing. No, no, you always have to earn that. You have to work hard. We have a new record called The Shit Ov God, and I don't know how it's going over there in Australia. So it's always a test.
It's always a question of how many people would like to go and check it out again if they've seen us before? And I hope they will. And how many of the newcomers are going to show up? So it's always a question mark, you know. I don't want to sound too full of myself, like it's a royal return of Behemoth. No, no. We do work hard; we do care about it, and we would love to have the biggest run yet in Australia."
In the full interview, Nergal discussed Behemoth's upcoming tour in Australia in greater detail, highlighting the band's strong connections and positive experiences in the country. Nergal expressed enthusiasm for returning to Australia, noting the growth of their audience and the importance of continually earning their place in the music scene. He shared personal reflections on his career, emphasizing the gradual success of Behemoth over 34 years and the evolution of their live performances into elaborate spectacles.
He also mentioned the financial challenges of live show production, drawing inspiration from other bands like Rammstein while remaining committed to enhancing their stage presence. The conversation further explored Nergal's creative process, which he described as organic and akin to piecing together a puzzle. He emphasized the need to capture fleeting ideas through notes to avoid losing creative opportunities and the challenges that come with longevity in the music scene.
Nergal also discussed Behemoth's latest album, The Shit Ov God, acknowledging its potential for mixed reactions while highlighting its philosophical significance. He talked about the themes of the album and the title, expressing his thoughts going into an album cycle and more.
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