Behemoth has been devastating each and every landscape that they gaze upon for years and sometimes seem to come off as a brutal force of nature more than a group of Extreme Blackened Death Metal artisans. The bands latest studio album was Apostasy and came to us via Century Media Records but now with their signing to Metal Blade Records they deliver a throttling EP release entitled Ezkaton. The band is no stranger to releasing such EP's between their full length and over the years has issued molten releases such as Slaves Shall Serve prior to this one. Ezkaton is a seven track affair which destructively blends new studio tracks, covers and live material all into one blazing infernal soup that is bound to be enjoyed by their legions of fans who anxiously await the bands next studio album. On examination of the new studio tracks one finds that time and success has not found Behemoth choosing to sit comfortable and instead opting to pummel the listener once again. They begin the EP by re-recording their "Chant For Ezkaton 2000 E.V." and this new version offers up a superb production that makes ones speakers rumble when set loud enough. We get a new song in "Qadosh" and this is a blistering track that works well within the framework of what we experienced on The Apostasy and the toured to death Demigod. I am sure if this is a sign to come of the new studio work then all will be impressed. They deliver two covers and the first is Master Hammer's "Jama Pekel" while the second is the Ramones track "I'm Not Jesus". I had no real background in the Czech Black Metal band Master Hammer but do know that the words are all in Czech, which appears to be the same on Behemoth's version. As far as Ramones go, well, it was interesting to hear a Blackened Death Metal band do a song from them, but while good I would have rather heard something different from the group. Ramones to me are best left uncovered unless it's done by a more conventional Metal band or some Punk Rock luminaries.
Ezkaton also features three live tracks which I am sure will incite high levels of energy in anyone who listens to them purely based on the fact that Behemoth is a live band that is second to none. We get the classic "From The Pagan Vastlands" and "Decade Ov Therion" along with the new rendition of "Chant For Ezkaton 2000 E.V." While it's easy to assume just how brutal the band is live from these tracks for those listeners who have not had the luxury of catching a performance yet, I have to say that they still fall short in actually proving just how good and how intense they actually are. Behemoth tours relentlessly for a reason and that reason is because they excel at it and always deliver to their audience and convince the unbeliever. These tracks and selections are indeed killer, but you truly need to attend a performance to understand just how much. Having seen Behemoth lay waste to the venues over the past few years I found Ezkaton a nice sampling of the things that are yet to come and I am sure that those who agree about the bands power and impact will be pleased with this album until the next full length arrives.
Track Listing:
1. Chant For Ezkaton 2000 E.V.
2. Qadosh
3. Jama Pekel
4. I'm Not Jesus
5. From The Pagan Vastlands (live)
6. Decade Ov Therion (live)
7. Chant For Ezkaton 2000 E.V. (live)
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