Words by: Barbie Barb
Photos by: Ali Williams
30th Anniversary tour from BEHEMOTH. Band, Nergal (guitar vocals), Seth (lead guitar), Orion (bass), Inferno (drums). The energy at The Tivoli Brisbane is already immense as NIDHOGG (Poland) take the stage as Polish Black Metal sets the heightened vibe for tonight’s anticipation of the BEHEMOTH showcase.
Narcissvs (vocals) brings his own maelstrom of inverted power to the stage, backed by his chosen band, executing extreme provocation within a fierce Black Metal structure. A crushing and worthy opening act with blood rituals and and a solemn oath to the passing of his best friend, His Dog. Sure we’ll be hearing more of NIDHOGG.
As the Darkened Palace, that has become the Tivoli, intuition tells me this BEHEMOTH show will be bigger than my words as the band explodes into a Deity of Light & sound. The Shadow Elite from the 2025 release The Shit ov God is the opening vehicle for frontman Nergal to intently raise the encapsulating lyrics to impress on the horde that ‘We are the Shadow Elite‘ by his conjuring. Nergal’s stage presence is monolithic, and a testament as to (take note Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide) why the venue is ‘SOLD OUT‘.
Ripping into Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer has the blackened horde firmly into The Satanist album. Thy Becoming Eternal and Conquer All raise the rooms energy to receive a crushing rendition of The Shit Ov God. We know who we are! The band is crushing, dense, layered, on point musicianship and intense, with room to breathe between each fist pump by Nergal as we venture into Satanic Hymns from Loved You at Your Darkest, (my personal fave album), Sventevith and onwards into Nomen Barbarum from S.o.G. Seth’s guitar sound is a profound statement as his fingers scorch the fretboard.
Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel brings the masses into rapture. The Chants are congruent to the mood of Nergal as he preaches his Sophisticated Self Made Rites. A pure showman and leader to his enamoured Legion. Amid costume enhancements, blood spraying and cacophony, Orion takes his blood stained face into the front row to bestow his Unholiness on the awaiting fans, while not missing a note on the bass.
Barzabel leads us into the Brutal Death Metal pummelling Of Fire & Void. Nergal commands the fire, introducing The Return of Darkness and Evil, a Ritual to Thomas Borge Forsberg, with a rendition of the ’85 classic, sending the Metal Elite into a Satanic Reverence for departed Quorthorn. Chant of the Eastern Lands harkens back to classic material before we praise Ojcze Nasz to a rapturous ending. Our Father Satan is sure to revel in tonight’s Infernal Gospels from BEHEMOTH. Nergal is the guiding, monolithic portent to ‘Aim for something better.’ Before it’s too late.
Hail BEHEMOTH 🤘
GALLERY
