And the Forests Dream Eternally

It's often been said that Slayer's music is the "perfect soundtrack for entering hell," and upon hearing one of Behemoth's first-ever releases, And the Forests Dream Eternally (reissued in 2006), the same could be said about this Polish death metal band. When you hear the phrase death metal, you pretty much know what's in store -- growled vocals, metronome drumming, amphetamine-like guitar riffs, horror movie-like lyrics, Satanic song titles, ghoulish make-up and attire. And Behemoth follows the checklist perfectly. No real musical surprises here, but that's how the majority of death metal-heads would prefer it. It's hard not to feel drained just listening to such full-on metallic onslaughts as "Sventevith Storming Near the Baltic" (included here in two different versions), how drummer Inferno doesn't pass out from sheer exhaustion is a miracle. Despite death metal lurking in the depths of the underground for much of the '90s, it still had a heartbeat, as evidenced by And the Forests Dream Eternally. ~ Greg Prato