'A Forest' Review: Behemoth's EP is a pounding quartet of songs infused with ominous darkness and sonic dread
The deified and controversial Polish death/extreme metal mammoths, Behemoth, are back with an eerie and cinematic EP titled 'A Forest'. The new EP contains four tracks and also features a guest appearance by one of Behemoth's previous collaborators, Niklas Kvarforth, from black metal band Shining.
Following up on the band's full length 2018 album 'I Loved You At Your Darkest' and 2019's 'O Pentagram Ignis' EP, this new offering sees Behemoth explore a modern yet classic death metal sound. 'A Forest' features two cover versions of a goth masterpiece, plus two original tracks that point new directions for Behemoth's guitarist/vocalist Nergal, bassist Orion and drummer Inferno.
The EP opens with the title track 'A Forest' and features vocalist Niklas Kvarforth of Shining. For the uninitiated, Norweigian outfit Shining blend noise, jazz, and heavy metal in a strange brew that is both captivating and morbidly unsettling. This brooding metal cover of the legendary goth-rock band The Cure is intense, visceral, and packs a solid punch, further amping up the darkness present on the original classic.
Niklas and Nergal go back and forth with their throaty, growling rasps in a rendition that reminds one of Attila Csihar on Mayhem's 'De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas'. Nergal was quite happy to include Kvarforth in the project, saying, "For the second time in 2020, I've recruited Niklas Kvarforth from Shining. Niklas' psychotic appearance, attitude, and vibe was a key element to our representation of the music and the only man who could give the performance the same depth as the original."
This chilling studio version of 'A Forest' is followed by a live version of the same song at the Merry Christless Warsaw show in 2018. The live version has Kvarforth in full flow and packs in all the adrenaline of a live performance. The vocalists can also be heard egging the crowd on and it makes for great hearing. Speaking about their decision to cover 'A Forest' by The Cure, Nergal revealed, "Covering music outside of metal is a challenge. Covering legendary music is an even greater challenge... That is what drove us throughout this process. A lot of bands try it and a lot of bands fail. Subjectively, I love the outcome and it ranks amongst my favorite Behemoth covers alongside Killing Joke's 'Total Invasion' and Siekiera's 'Ludzie Wschodu'."
Up next is 'Shadows Ov Ea Cast Upon Golgotha', with the title a nod to the crucifixion site of Jesus Christ. Pulsing bass, galloping drums, and a very punk metal vibe will immediately grab the listener's ears. In Nergal's words, this track and 'Evoe' are a continuation from their previous album 'I Loved You At Your Darkest'. The closing song 'Evoe' opens with classic Behemoth speed motifs and is a heady concoction of punishing technical finesse and unearthly doom. Fans of the Polish giants will be quick to notice that this is an offering that's slightly different from Behemoth's past efforts, so it's nice to hear a fresh sonic take from the band.
As a band, this EP is a minor milestone for Behemoth. They not only deliver some bespoke takes on a classic gothic rock song, but also give fans a glimpse into what's brewing with the next full-length album, if these closing two tracks are anything to go by. 'A Forest' is certainly a Behemoth collectible and will be cherished among extreme death metal fans. In Nergal's own words, "We hope this brings some respite for anyone struggling during these strange times on our planet! Stay safe, stay positive, Hail Satan!"
