INTERVIEW: BEHEMOTH IN CONVERSATION WITH NERGAL
Interview by Cecilia Pattison-Levi
Polish blackened death metal titans Behemoth are returning to Australia in February 2026 for their “Chant Of The Eastern Lands” tour. The band is celebrating their 30 years together with their biggest headline show at the Tivoli in Brisbane. On this tour, they are going to be supported by Poland's death metal band Nidhogg.
Behemoth (Adam "Nergal" Darski, Inferno, Seth and Orion) straddle the line between the sacred and profane with their intense musical and lyrical depth about the forces that drive humans. With albums like ‘In Absentia Dei’, ‘Demigod’ and ‘The Shit Ov God’ to name a few, Behemoth has risen to become extreme metal’s most revered and provocative band, steeped in anti-authoritarian fire. Renowned for their elaborate live performances, the band continues to push boundaries with their fearless artistry and vision.
“We're coming to Australia to set stages ablaze and leave no soul unscathed,” said a resolute frontman Nergal. “We love coming to Australia to play. The country has a special place in my heart. Australians are always so well-mannered, there is great coffee, and fans have been so good to us every time we have come to play. I always remember the time when we were stuck in Brisbane because of the Iceland volcano – everyone was so good to us”.
“We can’t wait to play our new album. We will also have some new music that we have never played live that will be debuted in Brisbane,” explained Nergal. He stresses this 2026 concert might be one of those gigs that people may regret missing. “We are coming at our prime. The band is in amazing shape. We’ve just released one of our strongest records. We’re playing new songs, old songs, mid-era Behemoth – all of it. Tomorrow may never come, so come see us now”.
I asked Nergal about the stresses of those high-octane extreme performances. “Extreme metal,” Nergal explains, “Well. It is heavy metal on steroids: harder on the body, lungs and mind. I was lucky to survive leukemia and I had to redefine how I play, but I think we are truly at our peak”.
“Australia has been so great to us,” he stated. “We have slowly built our fan base from the first tour that we did in Australia to the next one, it just grew by a few per cent. But every time it was bigger and bigger crowds. We even did some like big festival appearances – I loved playing those – we have worked hard and we really want to know what our fans think of the new record and how it’s going over there in Australia. It’s always a test”.
The album ‘The Shit Ov God’ is a real winner. Nergal has the most sensational, authentic and raw voice. He has a lot to say about the things we believe. The album is strong and direct, but it is accessible black metal with all those trappings but it has an infectious energy. The conversation explored Nergal’s songwriting process that he described as organic in the studio like putting together a puzzle, and he explained making ‘Christ Of The Aura Borealis’.
He emphasized the need to capture his fleeting ideas through notes to avoid losing creative opportunities and the challenges that come with longevity in the music scene.
“We have been a band for 35 years now. But with each record, we really want to challenge fans and ourselves,” stated Nergal. “I love exploring the contradictions in what we think is sacred and profane. It’s important to me to commune with fans about the problems life brings and how you face it. I guess I have always been rebellious and the music is a way of releasing that spirit. I hope fans get that same feeling”.
“This tour is a celebration of Behemoth’s legacy and a testament to the unbreakable spirit of our fans,” explained Nergal. “Fans can expect: the new and the old. There will be chaos, fire, and a ritual like no other. I want to celebrate all the music since I started writing and playing it in my teenage years until now. I really want to connect with our Australian fans and I am not worried about the heat”.
Tour Dates & Venues:
Wednesday, 18 February 2026: The Tivoli, Brisbane
Friday, 20 February 2026: The Metro, Sydney
Saturday, 21 February 2026: The Forum, Melbourne
Sunday, 22 February 2026: The Gov, Adelaide
