Behemoth - Horns Ov Baphomet

Pivotal in the establishment of the Polish extreme metal underground, Behemoth is both a popular and controversial band in their native Poland and around the world. Until the late 1990s, the band played traditional black metal with heathen lyrical content. However with the 1999 release of their fourth studio album Satanica, the band showed their presence in the blackened death metal scene by mixing their own signature style characterized by the drum work of Zbigniew Robert Prominski, multi-layered vocals and Nile-style Middle-Eastern influences with occult and thelemic themes. While the band has been categorized into many sub-genres the band's vocalist, Adam Michal Darski, has expressed displeasure in people trying to label the band. Behemoth formed in 1991 as a trio, starting with raw black metal rehearsal tapes with the most significant one being From the Pagan Vastlands showing the growing potential of the then teenage Adam Darski. From the Pagan Vastlands was released by Pagan Records in 1993 and lead to the composition and recording of Sventevith (Storming Near the Baltic) the first studio album by Behemoth in 1995 by Pagan Records. Their second studio album Grom has been the most discussed release thus far, due to its many different influences and musical styles, using female vocals as well as acoustic guitars and synthesizers. Two years later, the band recorded a third album, titled Pandemonic Incantations. The reactions of their ever-increasing fanbase and metal media set a new standard for them which lead to the successful album Satanica, on which their black metal sound had evolved into blackened death metal. Following albums releases have proven to be high successful and greatly increased their popularity. Behemoth however may at some point become banned from playing in their native country, Poland. In July 2007 the All-Polish Committee for Defense Against Sects distributed a list of bands that allegedly promote Satanism and murder that should be banned to many Polish officials which Behemoth is on. As of present, the list has not gone into effect, and Behemoth is still allowed to play in Poland freely. However in February 2008 the committee, which cited a bible-tearing incident at a concert in September 2007, had registered an official complaint.