Behemoth a bit Marmite

[Necro Red]

I do quite like the recent albums by the band and they are excellent live, but I cant help but feel that they will become a stadium rock band in the future alienating us older fans as it were. Their amount of merchandise is akin to what Kiss produces and I fear they are treating themselves as a product instead of a metal band. Thoughts, am I wrong?

[Eoin McLove]

Sounds like a description of 99% of bands. I think the only option is to engage on whatever level you personally find satisfying. I'm not against bands printing up cool t-shirt designs as I'll always buy something if I'm a fan, but steering clear of social media will help mitigate the overload of info that bands put out there. It's the way of the world these days, so rather than trying in vain to stem the tide,  you just have to try to reduce your own contact I think. And who knows,  if these current restrictions become the norm, I imagine the online presence of bands might only increase as some sort of compensation for gigs.

[Black Shepherd Carnage]

Their amount of merchandise is akin to what Kiss produces and I fear they are treating themselves as a product instead of a metal band.

 

[Carnage]

They're making hay while the sun shines, given that merchandising is where the revenue is it's hard to argue with that. I can take or leave the majority of their stuff TBH.

[Trev]

I feel most bands, especially on the bigger end, are starting to churn out loads of various merchandise to generate the income lost with the decline of physical album sales and touring this year. If you're so inclined you can buy Meshuggah towels, Iced Earth skateboards, Opeth Christmas tree decorations, Mastodon air fresheners...Behemoth are far from unique in that way

But honestly once the music and gigs are still quality it doesn't bother me in the slightest

[Necro Red]

I suppose once they don't start doing ballads like Metallica l wont feel betrayed. Has to be trve ha ha ha

[warhead]

I suppose once they don't start doing ballads like Metallica l wont feel betrayed. Has to be trve ha ha ha

I remember the only songs I liked on the Black album after the first listening in late '91 were The Unforgiven and Nothing Else Matters.
I grew to tolerate 2 or 3 more songs from the album, but guess my problem with Metallica wasn't them doing ballads, but shit songs in general.
But as this is a Behemoth topic,  I'm not following them in the recent decades, but guess there's nothing wrong with their music.  They are treating the band as
business, it's just what it is.

[pete]

I caught them when they played Vicar St - felt the costume changes and the choreography was a bit silly to watch!

[Circlepit]

I have the last 3 albums but I don't listen to them that often.  The huge production in the vocals take say from it a bit. If they stripped back a bit I think it either serve them better. Their meteoric rise would suggest otherwise.
They bang out a ridiculous amount of merch but if it puts money in the bank then why not. Apparently Nergal is a workaholic so I suppose he constantly keeps the machine going.

[blessed1]

At least they aren't asking for free money like Winterscam

[ldj]

Their music wouldn't be my thing, always felt they were a bit style over substance. I don't hate them or anything though.

I find Nergal an interesting character, sometimes it seems like he wants to live the celebrity lifestyle but he's not afraid to say controversial stuff or have the controversial ties someone in the black metal scene might have.

It's admirable he didn't cower down to the likes of Kim Kelly, even if he was a judge on The Voice  .

[hellfire]

I went off them years ago. Still they left a powerful back catalogue during their less commercial years. They are full time musicians so they have to make a few bob. We all have to do things that aren't cool for money.

[Airneanach]

I have no problem with them showing a bit or arse on the merch front. All that means is that they're simply a commercialising heavy band, which I couldn't give two fucks about.

Musically, though, the current Behemoth don't do much for me. That blackened death metal they do just comes off as very middle of the road. Not glacial enough to be one way, not chugging enough to be the other. Kind of going for the more "Hey, I know that song!" vibe but still brutal. It all kind of blends together to the point where that Eurovision stuff they do live with the costumes takes precedence over the tunes.

[Cailleach]

I assume Nergal's main job is Behemoth. If so it's not hard to understand why he wants to maximize revenue. It's all very well staying trve, but most metal musicians have full time jobs which means it's easier for them to be a purist.

[Paul keohane]

Personally loved their mid period death metal albums,Satanica,Thelema 6 and Zos kia.An animal of a live band back in that period too.

The earlier and later albums dont interest me much,enjoyd them any time ive seen them.They get a lot of hate from the underground,but most bands that become popular usually do.

If you had said to me 20 years ago that they would be playing  Vicar st and St Johns Castle id have laughed at you.

They are what they are,a band making the most of it,id go see them live tomorrow no problem.