It doesnt get more blasphemous than this. Thats BEHEMOTH mastermind Nergal talking about the title of the bands 11th album >>I Loved You At Your Darkest<<. While it certainly seems an unlikely title for a black metal bandespecially one that called their last album >>The Satanist<

Obviously, stuff like that can piss you off. But I think its good to be pissed off, Nergal says with a laugh. Anger can be a massive driving force, especially when you make extreme music. But politically and socially, Poland is a very disparate country. You can never feel totally safe here. That makes it easier for me to get inspiration. If I lived in Holland or Australia, I dont think Id be doing what I do now. You can do or be anything you want there. Im a huge fan of that kind of freedom, but I dont really have it here. Struggling with that on a daily basis makes me who I am, and fuels my passion for this music.

Nergal and his bandmatesOrion (bass) and Inferno (drums)have channeled that passion into >>I Loved You At Your Darkest<<. A crushing salvo of black metal majesty replete with hellish riffs, thundering drum cannonades and soaring liturgical choirs reminiscent of classic horror cinema, the album is also bejeweled with nimble-fingered rock guitar solos on songs like God=Dog, Ecclesia Diabolica Catholica and Sabbath Mater. I really wanted to redefine ourselves with this record, Nergal explains. >>I Loved You At Your Darkest<< is a more dynamic record. Its extreme and radical on one hand, but its also more rock-oriented than any other BEHEMOTH record.

Lyrically, >>I Loved You At Your Darkest<< revels in the kind of religious provocation that BEHEMOTH do best. Its very religion-driven, maybe more than anything weve done before, Nergal offers. But its not just cheap goading. I believe this is some deeper metal language. Its art.

Unlike >>The Satanist<<, which was primarily recorded in one studio, >>I Loved You At Your Darkest<< saw its production spread across Poland and the United States. It was produced by the band members themselves, with drum co-production by Daniel Bergstrand (MESHUGGAH, IN FLAMES), mixing by Matt Hyde (SLAYER, CHILDEN OF BODOM) and mastering by Tom Baker (NINE INCH NAILS, MARILYN MANSON). Which is to say nothing of the 17-piece Polish orchestra arranged by Jan Stoklosa and engineered by Tomasz Budkiewicz. Or as Nergal sums it up: Pretty much every instrument was recorded in a different studio, and a lot of amazing people were involved. All of whom came together to help realize BEHEMOTHS most exciting record yet. Although our origin is black metal, BEHEMOTH is something bigger, Nergal ventures. We know our legacy - but, with this record, we look to advance to higher ground!