Album Review: I Loved You at Your Darkest- Behemoth

Four years after Behemoth released their groundbreaking opus The Satanist, they have returned with a new album entitled I Loved You at Your Darkest, which is a suitable album title…

“It’s a verse from the Bible,” Nergal reveals. “It’s actually a quote from Jesus Christ himself. For Behemoth to use it as the basis of our record, it’s sacrilege to the extreme.”

And to the extreme this album is but not in the usual way you would expect from the band. Sure the lyrical content is there and its enough to make certain people uncomfortable but musically Behemoth have constructed their familiar sound with some rock influences. For the long-time fans this may come as a disappointment but if you listen there are a few hidden gems and some not so hidden.

There are definitely some riffs that could have been left over after the recording of The Satanist but this does not take away from the album by any means. What we have here is a solid release that is sure to satisfy even the toughest of critics. Thunderous guitar work and electric solos that prove Nergal and company were not afraid to just break loose and have a bit of fun, songs like God=Dog and Ecclesia Diabolica Catholica.

There are moments where you will have a choir and Orchestra gracing your ears and then an all out arsenal of Black Metal fury will be unleashed to the masses with the messages conveyed enough to burn holes into the holy book… This is some true art right here and what I would say the perfect medium to spread it with. Lyrically Behemoth do not hold back and looking at the history of the band they are not afraid to be controversial. With this album they are sure to break the shackles of a safe space into pieces, as heard in tracks Sabbath Mater and Wolves Ov Siberia just to name a few.

I Loved You at Your Darkest may not be Behemoth’s most groundbreaking album to date but it is still powerful with a message to carry forth. Metal is not always meant to sugarcoat things.. It can be dark in spirit much like the evils that lurk in the shadows of this world. With this you may be left with an opinion different than my own but Behemoth have certainly once again pushed the boundaries of the extreme and left another mark in metal books.

Rating: 4/5