Behemoth - "Making Of Evangelion"

Evangelion is the ninth full-length album by Polish extreme metal band Behemoth. The album was released on August 7, 2009 through Nuclear Blast Records and on August 11, 2009, through Metal Blade Records in the USA.

The album title refers to the Good News in Christianity; the message of Jesus Christ.

“ Evangelion comes from a Greek word ‘Spreading the word of God’ or ‘spreading the good news’…oh well, you already know that we love to play with the meanings and symbolism. We’re here to show you our interpretation of what Evangelion really is. ”
— Nergal[14]
The album's cover artwork is a depiction of The Great Harlot of Babylon, the figuress of evil mentioned in the Book of Revelation in the Bible.

“ The picture is of The Great Harlot of Babylon riding the seven-headed beast. Saints bow before her in worship whilst the tablets of the Ten Commandments lie broken at her feet. It represents our vision and the interpretation of the New Testament parable where the “Whore of Babylon” is a symbol of rebellion and resistance against God. ”
— Nergal Recording and production
In January 2009, the band was in the final stages of the songwriting and rehearsal process for the album. Behemoth entered Radio Gdańsk studio in Poland to begin work on the album on February 16, 2009. The band managed to tap Daniel Bergstrand (Meshuggah, In Flames, Dark Funeral) to produce drums on the record. Bergstrand used some unconventional techniques—a big room for the drums to create ambience and 22-channel recording for a more "organic and natural" sound.

In March they were close to finish recording the guitars, with help from Wojciech and Sławomir Wiesławski from Studio Hertz. Within five days they completed three songs and laid down three rhythm guitars on each side, after which they worked on the bass, solos and vocals simultaneously.

The band also managed to tap Colin Richardson to mix the album. The band had tried to book him before for their previous album, The Apostasy, but he wasn't available then.

In early May, tracking was completed and on May 12 Nergal flew to the United Kingdom to join Colin Richardson to mix the record at Miloco Studios, London.[21] Also in May, Metal Hammer was given the opportunity to listen to three fully completed songs in Miloco Studios.[22] Nergal stated that this was the most relaxing and at the same time the most creative studio session he had ever been a part of.

Track listing
All music composed by Nergal.

No. Title Lyrics Length
1. "Daimonos" Nergal 5:15
2. "Shemhamforash" Nergal 3:56
3. "Ov Fire and the Void" Nergal 4:27
4. "Transmigrating Beyond Realms ov Amenti" Krzysztof Azarewicz 3:27
5. "He Who Breeds Pestilence" Nergal 5:41
6. "The Seed ov I" Nergal, Krzysztof Azarewicz 4:58
7. "Alas, Lord Is Upon Me" Nergal 3:15
8. "Defiling Morality ov Black God" Nergal, Krzysztof Azarewicz 2:49
9. "Lucifer" Tadeusz Miciński 8:06
Total length:
41:54
Japanese bonus track
No. Title Lyrics Music Length
10. "Total Invasion" (Killing Joke cover) Jaz Coleman Geordie Walker, Martin Glover, Andy Gill 7:22
[show]Special edition DVD
Personnel[edit]
Behemoth
Adam "Nergal" Darski – lead vocals, lead guitar
Tomasz "Orion" Wróblewski – bass guitar, samples arrangement, additional vocals
Zbigniew Robert "Inferno" Promiński – drums and percussion, backing vocals

Additional musicians
Patryk Dominik "Seth" Sztyber – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Krzysztof "Siegmar" Oloś (Vesania) – keyboards, arrangements
Maciej Maleńczuk – spoken word
Tomasz "Ragaboy" Osiecki – sitar
Pawel Hulisz (Hevelius Brass quintet) – trumpet
Piotr Kowalkowski (Hevelius Brass quintet) – trumpet
Michal Szczerba (Hevelius Brass quintet) – horn
Bogdan Kwiatek (Hevelius Brass quintet) – trombone
Lukasz Gruba (Hevelius Brass quintet) – tuba
Boris "Hatefrost" Kalyuzhnyy – backing vocals
Maciej "Manticore" Gruszka – backing vocals
Production
Daniel Bergstrand – drums producing
Colin Richardson – audio mixing
Arkadiusz "Malta" Malczewski – sound engineering, backing vocals
Kuba Mańkowski – sound engineering
Wojciech Wiesławski – guitars co-producing
Sławomir Wiesławski – guitars co-producing
Jan Bryt – solos and vocals tracking
Tomasz "Graal" Daniłowicz – cover design and artwork
Ted Jensen – mastering
Note
Recorded at RG Studios, January 2009 E.V. - May 2009
Mixed at Musikbox, Miloco Studios, London, May 2009
Mastered in Sterling Studio, New York, May 2009