Behemoth – A Forest

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So, this song does have a previous fucking awesome Black Metal cover done by CARPATHIAN FOREST on their 1998 album Black Shining Leather, it is very close to the original from THE CURE. So, to see that BEHEMOTH are doing a cover with Niklas from SHINING was a surprise, but will they keep it to its original style or to BEHEMOTH’s own style? Let’s hear what these new songs are like.

“A Forest” from the off is building, sounding very much like the original. This is already faster than what CARPATHIAN FOREST gave us, but the melody is still solid enough. Vocal outbursts don’t really go anywhere, therefore a bit unneeded, but the slow vocals from Nergal mixing with the slow vocals from Niklas blend together really well. The pace builds up well, it is a bit faster than I was expecting. There is no real issue with this song, its just, for me, not the best cover of it that I have heard. The two vocalists work really well, and without Niklas I don’t think it would have worked as well. It doesn’t seem like they strayed too far from the original sound, but maybe they should have gone further to rebirth it in their own style?

“A Forest (Live)” this was used as a closer all the way back in 2018. It also has Niklas in this, which after listening to the studio song makes me happier. Live, it almost seems slower, but with more passion, maybe, from Nergal. I bet the fans were not expecting this one. The crowd don’t seem huge, but that maybe just due to low quality recordings of the fans. Its basically a carbon-copy of the studio release, which is good to hear that no edits and supports have been used to up the song on the album.

“Shadows ov Ea Cast Upon Golgotha”, is a slower than usual song, its steady. The melodies work well enough together, but it’s nothing you would not expect from a band so highly-esteemed as BEHEMOTH. The tempo is midrange at best, although it does kick into a decent mini jam section just before the 3-minute mark. However, once vocals kick back in, the tempo reduces again. They repeat the instrumental approach once more, but with less venom. It doesn’t make me want to hear an album full of songs like this, but it does make me think in a new BEHEMOTH album it could sit midway through comfortably.

“Evoe” closes this four-track EP, with a lot more pace, which is great. Seems like this one belongs on The Satanist to start off with, but does lose a bit when vocals kick in. they try to pick it and it does work well, it builds the melodies to levels where I as a fan, am happy. The song is far more technical and goes through the gears really well, certainly a headbanger, this is the best song of the release. This I could listen to an album of songs like. It ends the EP off in style.

So, firstly, the cover of “A Forest” was not bad, it kept a decent pace, but feels like there would have been other songs they could have done more with. Niklas really made the difference. The only issue with the new songs is that one is a mid-card kinda song that I would expect and the other is how I expect an album to be based around, so we will eagerly be awaiting the next move. Good release.

Songwriting: 7
Musicianship: 7
Memorability: 7
Production: 7