Behemoth

Behemoth is a Polish extreme metal band formed in Gdańsk in 1991 by guitarist and vocalist Adam "Nergal" Darski, who remains the band's sole constant member. Originally a raw black metal act, the band released early records such as Sventevith (1995) and Grom (1996). With Satanica (1999) and Thelema.6 (2000), the band fully embraced a more technical, aggressive sound fusing black metal atmosphere with death metal precision — a style now described as blackened death metal. The Apostasy (2007) and Evangelion (2009) pushed the band into the international spotlight. In August 2010, Nergal was diagnosed with leukemia; he underwent aggressive treatment and a bone marrow transplant, achieving remission within roughly a year. The experience directly shaped Behemoth's next album, The Satanist (2014), widely regarded as the band's masterpiece and named Album of the Year by several major metal publications. The band continued with I Loved You at Your Darkest (2018) and Opvs Contra Natvram (2022). Behemoth has courted controversy throughout its career, most notably a 2007 incident in which Nergal tore up a Bible onstage, leading to a blasphemy trial in Poland (he was eventually acquitted). Today Behemoth is regarded as one of the most influential and commercially successful extreme metal bands of its generation, headlining major festivals worldwide.