Zos Kia Cultus: Here and Beyond

Behemoth: Nergal (vocals, guitar); Havok (guitar); Novy (bass); Inferno (drums, percussion).
When Behemoth really gets going, it truly sounds like World War III. Some of the most menacingly heavy and jaw-droppingly fast metal to ever be committed to tape, Zos Kia Cultus carves a swath of sonic violence that pulverizes everything in its path. That said, the sheer volume and velocity are a bit overwhelming to absorb at times, but the execution is exhilarating, and if you want to explore the limits of heaviness, this one is definitely pushing the envelope. It doesn't hurt that the band knows how to throw an effective slow part into the mix once in a while to make the fast parts seem even faster, or to use the occasional dash of fleeting melody to offset the disharmonious atonality. One listen to "Horns of Baphomet," the album's staggering opener, provides a harrowing glimpse of the band's terrifying heaviness that is sure to either reel you in or send you screaming. ~ Andy Hinds