By Mark Gromen

Backstage at the Mayhem Energy festival (in Camden, NJ on August 7th), having successfully converted hundreds, if not thousands, of new BEHEMOTH fans, old friend Nergal/Adam ran down the latest happenings in the world of Poland's (im)famous black metallers. "Metal Blade just picked it up for the US and it's going to be a double DVD, with a killer booklet in 2010," he says of At The Arena Ov Avion - Live Apostasy, the live CD which came out in Europe, via Regain, a year ago, yet has remained absent from domestic shelves since.

Asked whether he was aware that the promotional video for 'Ov Fire And The Void' was banned by YouTube in about four hours, he pumps his fist, Tiger Woods style, "Yes! All I can say is it's our nature. We can't deny who we are. It was supposed to be on our Myspace but they asked if they could digitize out the tits, or blur the blood? 'Can we change this, or that?' That's like cutting off our limbs! You just need to make some effort to watch it (Metal Blade is hosting the video)."

Asked to correctly pronounce the new album title, Evangelion, he says, "It's Evan gelion. Like the band MARILLION. In America, people have been saying (incorrectly), Evangel-lion. There is no 'lion'."

While NILE are frequently lauded for their in-depth historical perspective (and rightly so), Nergal also takes great care in researching the background for his lyrics (check out the story behind 'Shemhamforash' off Evangelion), yet often is overlooked. Always the diplomat, Nergal defers, "Nile is an encyclopedia of Egypt. I'm not even a drafter. Unlike Nile, we are not about one philosophy, culture or civilization. Our lyrics tell stories, but our goal is to be as sinister and angry emotions. I'm using a lot of metaphors and personal stuff, so when someone says, 'What's that song about?' It's about me, the surroundings, the universe. That's all I can tell you."

That being said, Evangelion closes with 'Lucifer', a simple title, yet one that opts for the religious connotation, not devil, or Satan, but the angel who was banished from Heaven. "The song is inspired by an old Polish poem, about 100 years old. I wanted to do something in Polish. It's not just a song that stands out on the record, it's one of the best Behemoth songs ever. That's how I see it. It came about spontaneously. Two weeks before going into the studio, I was sitting around, playing this melody and the other guys started joining in. It grew to be this monster. I love this song."

On the other hand, there's 'He Who Breeds Pestilence', a song with subtleties heretofore unknown in the Behemoth repertoire. I inform Nergal that my review compared Evangelion to a Hitchcock movie, rather than a slasher film. "I like that comparison," he grins. "That song, I just started playing these chords I've never used before. The guys said, 'Did someone die?' The working title for that one was 'The Funeral Song'. We started working with it, there are such dynamics in the song: up and down. It's the most diverse album I've ever done. To be honest, I wasn't really happy with The Apostasy, Demigod either." It's an album, not just a collection of songs. "Yes, but every song can stand on it's own, like a single. I'm finally relieved now."

Always the workaholic, the end of the Mayhem fest can't be the last we'll see of Behemoth on these shore? "Israel is next," says the enthusiastic figure in front of me. "It's a big thing. Then we do two weeks headlining in Europe with DEVILDRIVER and ARSIS." Returning to North America? "Early 2010. We're weighing two opportunities right now, but I can guarantee you we will do at least THREE tours (of North America) for this album!"

OK, see you on the road!"