### Behemoth: Slaves shall serve

#### 15/11/07 || theProphet

Releasing an EP between every album is indeed a form of musical cockteasing, especially when the EP consists of only three new songs. However, a tease is undoubtedly better than nothing and in Behemoth’s case, there is a very strong tradition of in-between EPs (“Antichristian Phenomenon” and “Conjuration”).

“Slaves Shall Serve” is made in the same vein as the two aforementioned EP’s and contains one song from the (then) most recent album “Demigod”. This serves as the title track for the EP and is followed up by a song that didn’t quite fit on the album, namely “Entering the Pylon ov Light”. Then there are two covers, “Penetration” by Nefilim and “When You Call On the Dark” by Danzig. The album closes with two live recordings, “Demigod” and “Slaves Shall Serve” both performed at the Sweden Rock Festival.

So is this really worth your hard earned cash?

My answer would be yes, but only if you (like me) are a die-hard fan. The reasons? Well, actually the live recording of “Slaves Shall Serve” is pretty much worth the album price. The album version of this song is really intense, but live it reaches a whole new dimension of brutality. Just listen to the drumming…fuck me and strap me to a Christmas tree, that’s some real ace shit right there. “Demigod” doesn’t disappoint either, and if you haven’t attended a Behemoth gig before hearing these live tracks, you will undoubtedly re-evaluate your concert priorities, and you should.

The rest of the material doesn’t really live up to the high Behemoth standards, most of all in the material’s consistency. The songs don’t really fit together, but then again, that was probably never the idea. Everything is well performed and well produced, but it doesn’t quite make you want to pull on the ol’ trouser snake, to say the very least. And you’d have thought that with a title like “Penetration” this would be standard procedure.

Summan av kardemumman is that if you are a fan this is a pretty obvious buy. The amazing live tracks and the fact that this is a special edition of only 8,000 copies (3,000 in Europe and 5,000 in the US) should be enough for you to open your wallet. However, if you’ve just heard your cool friend talk about this awesome Polish band called Behemoth and are thinking about checking them out, this is not the way to start, buy “Demigod” or “Thelema .6” instead.

As an extra reason for buying this, the artwork is real classy.

6 dubious reasons for purchase out of 10.

- Information
- Released: 2005
- Label: Regain Records
- Website: www.behemoth.pl
- Band
- Nergal: guitars, vocals
- Seth: guitars, backup vocals
- Orion: bass, backup vocals
- Inferno: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Slaves Shall Serve
- 02. Entering the Pylon ov Light
- 03. Penetration (Nefilim Cover)
- 04. When You Call On the Dark (Danzig Cover)
- 05. Demigod (Live)
- 06. Slaves Shall Serve (Live)