Evangelion is the ninth studio album by Polish extreme metal band Behemoth. The album was released on 7 August 2009 through Nuclear Blast Records, and on 11 August 2009 through Metal Blade Records in the United States.
Background
The album title refers to the Good News in Christianity; the message of Jesus Christ.
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.
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 16 February 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.
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.
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.
In early May, tracking was completed and on 12 May Nergal flew to the United Kingdom to join Colin Richardson to mix the record at Miloco Studios, London. Also in May, Metal Hammer was given the opportunity to listen to three fully completed songs in Miloco Studios. 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.
Track listing All lyrics written by Nergal, except where noted. All music composed by Nergal.
Credits Writing, performance and production credits are adapted from the album liner notes.
Personnel
Behemoth Nergal – guitar, vocals Inferno – drums, backing vocals on "Daimonos" Orion – bass, backing vocals on "Daimonos"
Session musicians Seth – guitar, backing vocals on "Daimonos"
Additional musicians Siegmar – samples, synthesizers 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 Behemoth – production Daniel Bergstrand – co-production Sławomir Wiesławski – co-production Wojciech Wiesławski – co-production Colin Richardson – co-production, mixing Arkadiusz Malczewski – engineering Janusz Bryt – engineering Kuba Mańkowski – engineering Ted Jensen – Audio mastering
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 PeakpositionUS Billboard 200 US Independent Albums Billboard US Top Hard Rock Albums Billboard US Top Rock Albums Billboard US Top Tastemaker Albums Billboard
Certifications
Release history Region Date Label 7 August 2009 United States 11 August 2009 Metal Blade Japan 19 August 2009 Victor South Korea 24 September 2009 Dope Entertainment India 25 September 2009 Demonstealer Records Russia 10 January 2010 Mazzar Records
References