Customer Reviews

Zos Kia Cultus

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

...P>One thing's for certain: Nergal & company's newest release is unmistakably BEHEMOTH. It's also like nothing they've ever done before. Gone, or at least pushed way into the background, are the simpler rhythms and beats most prevalent on their last release, Thelema.6. The Polish death metallers' latest offering is brutal with a capital `B.' Nergal's vocal vomiting seems even more angry this go-round, and sprinkles of heretofore unheard technical lead guitar work and choppy, headbanging riffage abound. Most traces of this band's previous black metal sound are gone, having opted for the "we dare you to be more brutal than us" route that's apparently all the rage in Eastern Europe these days.

One of things that I particularly enjoy about BEHEMOTH and their current direction is that unlike many a brutal band these days, not everything is hyperspeed blasting and riffing. In fact, quite the contrary. Nergal knows when to turn the speed dial to 11 - listen to the not-so-subtle riff intro to "Blackest Ov The Black" or the speedfest that is "No Sympathy For Fools" for good examples - but other times the band is complacent and happy (well, alright, I'm not sure if they're ever happy) enough ripping mid-paced technical death metal designed to pulverize your skull as opposed to exploding your heart. Listen to the outro riff of "As Above So Below" for some serious neck-snapping fun. Now if only they had extended that riff and expanded upon it for a few more moments...And then there's always the absolutely punishing riff monster Nergal unleashes on his unsuspecting fans in the middle of "The Harlot Ov The Saints," helping transform this mid-album gem into one of the strongest BEHEMOTH tracks I've ever heard. Special kudos needs to go out to the drummer, Inferno. After his performance on this record, death metal fans will be hard-pressed to find a more technically proficient or skilled drummer. I couldn't find anything in the liner notes to the contrary, but if everything he plays is real and not machine-enhanced, well color me impressed.

For a band that sits comfortably atop the heap of quality death metal that's currently available, BEHEMOTH has very few peers to compare them to. Which is a good thing. It's all too easy to say the latest melodic death metal band sounds like mid-1990s IN FLAMES (I've been guilty of this and will be again), but BEHEMOTH isn't very easy to pigeonhole. Let it suffice to say that they're somewhere near the best of MORBID ANGEL with the technicality of later-era DEATH, and alongside peers like DECAPITATED and VADER, especially the latter's penchant for inserting a healthy dose of groove into their brutality. Lastly, I want to make special note of the production and packaging. Even with all the modern, state-of-art technology that's available to bands these days, it's rare to hear an album that is so perfectly produced. Every snare crash, every double-bass fill, every riff, every plunk of a bass string is pristinely captured and crystal clear. As for the packaging, I opted for the limited edition special gatefold digipack. It's far sturdier than other digipacks and when fully opened up, is in the shape of an upside-down cross (of course it is!), and adorned with multiple gorgeous renderings of naturally blasphemous artwork. Special kudos goes out to Avantgarde Music, the art team and everyone who worked on capturing this sound. Highly, highly recommended album.

Death metal is a staff of life, and one of the only things that could possibly be more heavenly than brutal metal is brutal metal which is equally as technical. And if that's what you look for in great metal, Behemoth are a godsend. The members of this band are clearly much more mature and better musicians on this, their sixth full length album, than they were five or ten years ago. In fact, the guitarists (Nergal & Frost) and drummer (Ravenlock) almost deserve their own, separate review. The riffs are ultra precise and heavy, and the drum work is head spinning, mind jumbling and complex. To top it all off, Nergal's vocals fluctuate. But whether sounding somewhat high pitched (as in the first track), or low, and unintelligible, his barking is always very violent and mean. Songs like "Blackest Ov The Black," "Harlot Ov The Saints," and "Typhonian Soul Zodiack" are driven by absolutely ridiculous drumming, and "Here and Beyond" is backed by an insanely fast and skilled blast beat. Other highlights are the jackhammer guitars and machine gun drumming on "As Above So Below," the punching, almost thunderous riffs on "Hekau 718," the title track, which has catchy, pounding riffs and more great drumming, and (my personal favorite) the album opener, "Horns Ov Baphomet." Here, the guitarists play rhythmic, heavy chugging, cascading riffs over a blast beat and Nergal's shrieking vocals, and the song ends with a brief acoustic breakdown. All things considered, this is a great album. If you like death metal (even a little bit), make sure you pick this up and enjoy one of the finer things in life. Cryptopsy, Nile, Necrophagist, and Behemoth's 2005 album, "Demigod," are also highly recommended.

Let me start off by saying this is a very Brutal and down tuned Metal album. Most of this album is played at a slower grinding pace, but picks up some wicked speed at the perfect times. I love this group's intensity and Satanica, Thelema 6 and this album are all top-notch Death Metal albums. I truly don't believe there is a band that is more brutal than Behemoth. The bass and drums just destroy my speakers and I'm sure my neighbors just love it! Critics say that Behemoth sound too much like Morbid Angel and being a big Morbid fan, I have to say that's bogus. These guys have a sound of their own. Nergal's vocals are absolutely the best Death Metal vocals I've ever heard and the lyrics are written extremely well. They have a new album set to be released soon and I can't wait! What a treat for any Extreme Metal Fan!

Wow, this record is awesome!!! What a totally unique, aggressive, and powerful record! Dang, this cd starts with a bang and never lets up. I love the first song "Horns of Baphomet". It starts with a brutal Morbid Angel/Slayer chug that just hits you in the gut and the record never lets up. I love the middle eastern style lead work on this record, very catchy and totally epic.
Alot of people are comparing these guys to Nile, but i dont think they sound anything like Nile. Where Nile just give you a huge wall of super distorted riffs at hyper speed, Behemoth give you alot more space and clarity at a more controlled plodding speed.
The Drums are brutal, more tribal sounding. They kind of remind me of Lamb of God's newest record, very natural sounding.
The guitars are very thick, but really dry and not overly distored. The bass is there, but doesnt stand out at all, just fits right in with the guitars. The Vocals are brutal low shouts, very aggressive and in your face.

I really have no complaints about this record, everything is awesome about this record. The lyrics seem to be satanic, anti religion themed, but they dont bother me. You cant really understand what he is saying anyways.

If you like older Morbid Angel, the slower "Raining Blood" Slayer riffs, Epic Death Metal, and Arise/Chaos AD style Sepultura, than you have to buy this recod now!!!!!!!

This album is excellent! I hadn't bought anything made by them 'till now and i sure am glad i did... giving it 5 stars for its sweet double kick-drum action, devestating voice, rockin' guitar beats, original songs, and they work well as a death metal group. Understanding the vocals is kind of hard but that's death metal for you lol. I also sing for a death metal group, Criptic Souls (local band), and i think this would go well in your collection along with some other bands like Morbid Angel, Immortal, Old Man's Child, Dimmu Borgir, and Lamb of God. If you plan on getting this, then you have picked an album that you won't be dissapointed with...

Largely considered to be a breakthrough album, Zos Kia Cultus is a monster of a release. The behemoth is noted in the biblical book of Job as one of the mightiest creatures that God created to roam the earth. Poland's Behemoth live up their massive name with this 2002 release by Olympic/Century Media records.

The blasphemous opener 'Horns of Baphomet' takes the listener by storm with this ultra groovy metal assault. There are also great acoustic middle eastern chords at the end of the song. Lead vocalist Nergal gives his harsh screams throughout the album and drummer Inferno makes his voice heard well on 'Modern Iconoclasts' and 'No Sympathy for Fools.' 'Blackest of the Black' is an evil onslaught of blackened death metal.

Along with Vader, Behemoth are leaders in the Polish death metal scene. They have toured relentlessly and made a big name for themselves in the past couple of years, especially after the release of 'Demigod.' Zos Kia Cultus is regarded as many to be their best release and it does make a good case for that. The lyrics are not really regarded as great, as they are unoriginal and blatently anti-Christian. Do not let the lyrics keep you from getting this album. It is great! Crank it in front of your preppy rap/pop friends!! I have seen Behemoth live twice, and they put on a killer show, complete with spikes and face paint. Great polish blackened death metal.

While i did enjoy behemoth's laters work demigod and i think their previous albums are quite good? None of them impressed me more then behemoth's "zos kia cultus" for the simple fact that behemoth's production is truly good and their drummer & guitars are oustanding and makes me proud to support such great musicians... Highly recommended.

The Polish death metal scene truly is remarkable, bands like Vader, Decapitated and Behemoth are just undeniably amazing. This album sounds nothing like Vader or Decapitated though. This band takes more of a typical death metal approach to their music with the typical growled death vocals etc. The musicians in this band definitely show plenty of technical proficiency on this album with plenty of complicated guitar riffs and excellent fast drumming. The best song on this album would definitely be "As Above So Below", it reminds me a lot of Morbid Angel, but it is definitely an original song. If you like satanic death metal you can't go wrong with Zos Kia Cultus. I will be seeing Behemoth live soon with Deicide, Amon Amarth, Revenge, and Vehemence I know they will destroy.

I realy didn't hear about this band untill two weeks ago after a friend let me borrow "satanica" then i had to hear their amazing and yet epic "zos kia cultus" and let me tel you ? If you love pure, real,inspering deathmetal...You'll not be let down at all. Satanic lirycs, brutality,originality and most of all? Crystal clear production as well. Don't pass behemoth's "zos kia cultus" up!

Being my first Behemoth cd and not hearing anything from the band but only the reviews on amazon I had sort of a clue of what to expect but this is far beyond my expectations.....Amazing Polish death/black metal (more so death than anything). Extremely well written songs , tight and very polished sounding and of course extremely talented/technical. Impecable guitar/basswork, drums that sound too fast and perfect to be human, and evil, in your face vocals and intelligent lyrics, this cd is quite frankly amazing. One of the best of 2002, I can't wait to hear more from these guys in the near future. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED