Evangelion (album)

Evangelion is the ninth full-length album by Polish extreme metal band Behemoth. The album was released on August 7, 2009 through Nuclear Blast Records, and on August 11, 2009 through Metal Blade Records in the USA.

Evangelion
Studio album by
Behemoth
ReleasedAugust 7, 2009
RecordedFebruary 16, 2009 – May 2009 at Radio Gdańsk in Gdańsk, Poland
GenreBlackened death metal, symphonic black metal
Length41:54
LanguageEnglish, Polish
LabelMetal Blade, Nuclear Blast, Mystic Production, Victor Entertainment, Demonstealer
ProducerDaniel Bergstrand, Wojciech Wiesławski, Sławomir Wiesławski
Behemoth chronology
Ezkaton
(2008)		 Evangelion
(2009)		 Abyssus Abyssum Invocat
(2011)
Singles from Evangelion
  1. "Ov Fire and the Void"
    Released: July 28, 2009[1]
  2. "Alas, Lord Is Upon Me"
    Released: August 11, 2010
  3. "Lucifer"
    Released: October 4, 2011[2]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com[3]
Allmusic[4]
Kerrang! [5]
Terrorizer[6]
Teraz Rock[7]
Sputnikmusic[8]
Interia[9]
Onet[10]
Fearnetfavorable[11]
Exclaim!favorable[12]
Loudwire[13]

Background

The album title refers to the Good News in Christianity; the message of Jesus Christ.

Evangelion comes from a Greek word ‘Spreading the word of God’ or ‘spreading the good news’…oh well, you already know that we love to play with the meanings and symbolism. We’re here to show you our interpretation of what Evangelion really is.

— Nergal[14]

The album's cover artwork is a depiction of The Great Harlot of Babylon, the figures of evil mentioned in the Book of Revelation in the Bible.

The picture is of The Great Harlot of Babylon riding the seven-headed beast. Saints bow before her in worship whilst the tablets of the Ten Commandments lie broken at her feet. It represents our vision and the interpretation of the New Testament parable where the “Whore of Babylon” is a symbol of rebellion and resistance against God.

— Nergal[15]

Recording and production

In January 2009, the band was in the final stages of the songwriting and rehearsal process for the album. Behemoth entered Radio Gdańsk studio in Poland to begin work on the album on February 16, 2009. The band managed to tap Daniel Bergstrand (Meshuggah, In Flames, Dark Funeral) to produce drums on the record. Bergstrand used some unconventional techniques—a big room for the drums to create ambience and 22-channel recording for a more "organic and natural" sound.[16][17]

In March they were close to finish recording the guitars, with help from Wojciech and Sławomir Wiesławski from Studio Hertz. Within five days they completed three songs and laid down three rhythm guitars on each side, after which they worked on the bass, solos and vocals simultaneously.[18][19]

The band also managed to tap Colin Richardson to mix the album. The band had tried to book him before for their previous album, The Apostasy, but he wasn't available then.[20]

In early May, tracking was completed and on May 12 Nergal flew to the United Kingdom to join Colin Richardson to mix the record at Miloco Studios, London.[21] Also in May, Metal Hammer was given the opportunity to listen to three fully completed songs in Miloco Studios.[22] Nergal stated that this was the most relaxing and at the same time the most creative studio session he had ever been a part of.[18]

Track listing

All lyrics written by Nergal, except where noted. All music composed by Nergal.

No.TitleLyricsLength
1."Daimonos" 5:15
2."Shemhamforash" 3:56
3."Ov Fire and the Void" 4:27
4."Transmigrating Beyond Realms ov Amenti"Krzysztof Azarewicz3:27
5."He Who Breeds Pestilence" 5:41
6."The Seed ov I"Nergal, Krzysztof Azarewicz4:58
7."Alas, Lord Is Upon Me" 3:15
8."Defiling Morality ov Black God"Nergal, Krzysztof Azarewicz2:49
9."Lucifer"Tadeusz Miciński8:06
Total length:41:54
Japanese bonus track
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
10."Total Invasion" (Killing Joke cover)Jaz ColemanGeordie Walker, Martin Glover, Andy Gill7:22
Special edition DVD
No.TitleLength
1."The Making of Evangelion" (documentary)44:09
2."Evangelion Photo Session" (documentary)6:40

Credits

Writing, performance and production credits are adapted from the album liner notes.[23]

Personnel

Behemoth

Session musicians

  • Seth – guitars, backing vocals on "Daimonos"

Additional musicians

  • Siegmar – samples, synthesizer
  • Hevelius Brass quintet
    • Pawel Hulisz – trumpet
    • Piotr Kowalkowski – trumpet
    • Michal Szczerba – horn
    • Bogdan Kwiatek – trombone
    • Lukasz Gruba – tuba
  • Boris "Hatefrost" Kalyuzhnyy – backing vocals on "Daimonos"
  • Maciej "Manticore" Gruszka – backing vocals "Daimonos"
  • Arkadiusz Malczewski – backing vocals "Daimonos"
  • Tomasz "Ragaboy" Osiecki – sitar on "Shemhamforash"
  • Maciej Maleńczuk – spoken word on "Lucifer"

Production

Visual art

  • Nergal – cover concept
  • Tomasz Daniłowicz – cover concept, cover design, artwork, mask design
  • Macifj Boryna – photography
  • Grupa13 – photography
  • Kasjopea Michorowska – costume design
  • Behemoth – make up
  • Gellaturo – mask

Studios
  • RG Studios, January 2009 E.V. - May 2009 – recording
  • Musikbox, Miloco Studios, London, May 2009 – mixing
  • Mastered in Sterling Studio, New York, May 2009 – mastering

Charts
Chart Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[24] 45
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[25] 17
French Albums (SNEP)[26] 111
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[27] 59
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[28] 1
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[29] 88
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[30] 25
US Billboard 200[31] 55
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[32] 5
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[33] 5
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[34] 17
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[35] 7

Release history
Region Date Label
Europe, Poland, Australia August 7, 2009 Nuclear Blast/Mystic Production/Riot Entertainment
United States August 11, 2009 Metal Blade
Japan August 19, 2009 Victor Entertainment
South Korea September 24, 2009 Dope Entertainment
India September 25, 2009 Demonstealer Records
Russia January 10, 2010 Mazzar Records

References
  1. "Ov Fire and the Void - Single Behemoth". itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  2. http://www.nocleansinging.com/2011/10/05/behemoth-the-lucifer-video/
  3. Marsicano, Dan. "Review: Evangelion". About.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
  4. Freeman, Phil. "Review: Evangelion". Allmusic. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
  5. Slessor, Dan. "Review: Evangelion". Kerrang!. Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
  6. Ellis, Graham. "Review: Evangelion". Terrorizer. Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
  7. Świrkowicz, Marek. "Behemoth "Evangelion" review" (in Polish). Teraz Rock. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  8. Munro, Tyler. "Behemoth - "Evangelion" review". www.sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 2014-02-05.
  9. Donarski, Bartosz. "Behemoth - "Evangelion" review" (in Polish). muzyka.interia.pl. Archived from the original on 2014-10-16. Retrieved 2014-02-06.
  10. Kapuściarz, Michał. "Behemoth - "Evangelion" review" (in Polish). muzyka.onet.pl. Retrieved 2014-02-06.
  11. Burkart, Gregory. "Behemoth - "Evangelion" review". www.fearnet.com. Retrieved 2014-02-05.
  12. Falzon, Denise. "Behemoth - "Evangelion" review". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2014-03-01.
  13. DiVita, Joe. "Behemoth - "Evangelion" review". loudwire.com. Retrieved 2014-03-01.
  14. "Behemoth Completes Recording New Album". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. 11 May 2009. Archived from the original on 3 December 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
  15. "Behemoth Reveal New Album Details". Metal Hammer. Future Publishing. 18 May 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
  16. "Studio entrance and Daniel Bergstrand will produce drums". Archived from the original on January 5, 2006. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
  17. "Second video report online". Archived from the original on September 18, 2007. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
  18. "Wieslawscy Bros. will be co-producing guitars". Archived from the original on September 18, 2007. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
  19. "Third video report online". Archived from the original on September 18, 2007. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
  20. "Behemoth announces Colin Richardson will be mixing the album". Archived from the original on August 24, 2007. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
  21. "Album tracking finished". Archived from the original on January 24, 2006. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
  22. "World Exclusive Listen To New Behemoth Tracks!". Retrieved 2009-05-20.
  23. Evangelion (booklet). Behemoth. Mystic Production. 2009. MYSTCD 101.CS1 maint: others (link)
  24. "Austriancharts.at – Behemoth – Evangelion" (in German). Hung Medien.
  25. "Behemoth: Evangelion" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  26. "Lescharts.com – Behemoth – Evangelion". Hung Medien.
  27. "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH.
  28. "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry.
  29. "Swisscharts.com – Behemoth – Evangelion". Hung Medien.
  30. "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  31. "Behemoth Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  32. "Behemoth Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard.
  33. "Behemoth Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard.
  34. "Behemoth Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard.
  35. "Behemoth Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard.
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