BEHEMOTH | Announce 12th Studio Album Releasing First Single ‘Opvs Contra Natvram’. Via Nuclear Blast Records.

Opvs Contra Natvram, Behemoth‘s most thought-provoking and arresting collection to date, set for release on 16th September, via Nuclear Blast. The album’s first single, ‘Ov My Herculean Exile’ arrives, alongside a cinematic official video, directed by Zuzanna Plisz.

Chapters of fury that make up Opvs Contra Natvram were written and recorded over the course of a very strange year for the globe – a situation which only heightened the level of craft seen in these 43 minutes and 15 seconds of searing wrath. As with previous studio outings, Opvs… was produced by BEHEMOTH, with mixing by studio legend Joe Barresi (Nine Inch Nails, Tool, QOTSA, Alice in Chains).

Pre-order or pre-save the album HERE.

Renowned for his meticulous attention to detail and absolute creative control of BEHEMOTH’s world, frontman and band visionary, Adam ‘Nergal’ Darski revelled in the depressurised environment afforded by the pandemic. It meant that for nearly the first time since the band’s inception over 30 years ago, there was no deadline to observe, allowing for a nearly unprecedented level of attention to the process of writing and recording. Beyond any confines of genre, BEHEMOTH have grown to become nothing less than the personification of rebellion, individuality and unflinching self-expression informed by a literate worldview and worldliness that’s resulted in a locking of horns with everything from the mainstream press to the Polish Catholic church – most notably manifesting in Nergal’s trial for blasphemy in 2010 that only served to expose the deep-seated hypocrisies that his music seeks to challenge.

“The album title means going against the current. It’s the negative of the values and morals and ethics that I stand against. I’ve seriously been wrestling with destructive tendencies in pop culture – cancel culture, social media, and tools which I feel are very dangerous weapons in the hands of people who are not competent to judge others. That’s something which I find very destructive and disturbing – and extremely limiting coming from an artists’ perspective. This is my middle finger to that. There’s a song on the record called ‘Neo-Spartacvs’. Spartacus was one of the most iconic rebels in history who went against the most powerful empire of all time. In the end, it’s me screaming, ‘I Am Spartacus, and so are you!’ I want to spark that flame of rebellion. If something seems wrong then stand up to it!” Confirms Nergal.

BEHEMOTH‘s North American Siege tour, with touring mates Arch Enemy, Carcass, and Unto Others is currently thundering across the USA. The European leg rolls into Dublin, Ireland on September 27th, ready to set the continent ablaze and culminates at Oslo, Norway’s Sentrum Scene on November 6th. Prior to that, the band will bring their spectacular live show to a number of Summer festivals, including a Friday night headline slot at Bloodstock in the UK. Full itinerary and tour trailer below.

Nergal informs the band’s ‘Legions’;

“BEHEMOTH are coming with new music and new stage shenanigans…a spectacle worth waiting for. We’ll see you there!”

BEHEMOTH are:

Adam ‘Nergal’ Darski – Lead vocals, Guitar

Zbigniew Robert ‘Inferno’ Promiński – Drums, Percussion

Tomasz ‘Orion’ Wróblewski – Bass, Backing vocals

Patryk ‘Seth’ Sztyber — Guitar, Backing Vocals