Black Metal Legends Behemoth Releasing “I, Scvlptor”…“I, Scvlptor” is an exclusive release from Behemoth featuring 8 previously unreleased songs — 7 new studio recordings and one live track. It is an autonomous body of work that bridges the band’s foundational past with their present creative fire. The release features brand-new studio material embodying the full force of Behemoth’s live energy and intensity. Two tracks — “Rise of the Blackstorm of Evil” (from “The Return of the Northern Moon”, 1992) and “In Thy Pandemaeternum” (from “Pandemonic Incantations”, 1998) — are newly re-recorded versions of early Behemoth material, reshaped with modern sonics while preserving their original spirit; a tribute to the bands who had a huge influence on Behemoth: “In League With Satan” (originally by Venom, feat. Shagrath of Dimmu Borgir) and “The Return of Darkness and Evil” (originally by Bathory, feat. Sakis Tolis of Rotting Christ). Available on CD, LP in various colour variants , MC and Limited-Edition Box Set through Massacre Records worldwide.
Nergal, the band’s frontman, describes the release as follows:
“I, Scvlptor is Behemoth’s latest full-length release — an autonomous work that bridges our past with what is new and fresh. It features brand-new, previously unreleased tracks that embody the full force of our live energy, intensity, and the fire that has driven this band for decades. Get ready for 40 minutes of a sonic pilgrimage forged at the highest level!”
Tracklist
- I, Scvlptor
- Lord ov the Horizons
- Rise of the Blackstorm of Evil
- In Thy Pandemaeternum
- Begotten
- In League with Satan
- The Return of Darkness and Evil [Live]
- Lord ov the Horizons [Alt. Version]
Track by Track — Nergal’s Own Words
“I, Sculptor” is a new Behemoth song rooted in the tradition of monumental tracks like “O Father O Satan O Sun!”, “Lucifer” or “Nieboga Czarny Xiądz”, while at the same time opening a new chapter. It carries that epic weight but also takes an unexpected turn that makes it feel fresh and different from the previous pieces. Lyrically, it is a metaphor for the endless process of shaping oneself — an uneven struggle with matter and personal limitations. The paradox is that from the moment we are born we are already destined to die, so perhaps it is not about victory itself, but about the constant act of sculpting who we are
“Lord ov the Horizons” brings back one of Behemoth’s recurring themes — the Luciferian motif. It introduces the figure of a father who rejects his son, leaving him with nothing after the fall, forcing him to rebuild himself or disappear completely. Musically, it shows a more experimental side of Behemoth, with quasi-sung passages rooted in a more rock-oriented tradition. The song is clearly divided into two parts: one more lyrical, the other more direct and militant. It is a very unique piece, and we intentionally held it back for a special occasion, which this album is.
“Rise of the Black Storm of Evil” was one of the earliest Behemoth songs, written back in 1992. At the time it was very much a tribute to bands we were deeply fascinated with — especially Samael, but also Celtic Frost or Hellhammer. It was a primitive, slow-moving and very raw piece. I decided to revisit it and approach it the way I would today. I didn’t change the structure too much, but I reworked the rhythm, guitar arrangements and created two interesting guitar layers that complement each other really well. I also gave the lyrics a slight tune-up, because many of those early Behemoth lyrics were, to put it mildly, rather graphomaniac. The 2026 version of “Rise of the Black Storm of Evil” sounds like present-day Behemoth. Powerful and sophisticated!”
”In Thy Pandematernvum” originally appears on “Pandemonic Incantations”. In my opinion, original recording lost a lot because of its chaotic and rather careless sound and mix. Some people may find that charming, but I always felt there were many truly mature and great riffs hidden underneath. I wanted to give them a new life using our current skills, experience and sound. It is still rooted in the original version, but in the end it almost feels like a completely new song”
”Begotten” didn’t make it onto “The Shit Ov God” because it stood apart stylistically from the rest of the material. It is very catchy and carries a strong new wave feel, with moments that lean into post-gothic territory. It still has plenty of weight, but it is a very different kind of song, which is why it didn’t fit the overall flow of that record. To me, it is definitely a hidden treasure and works perfectly on “I, Scvlptor”.”
“When we were looking for a name for our tour with Dimmu Borgir, I thought it would be great to use a timeless slogan and basically quote the gods of satanic rock’n’roll — Venom and “In League with Satan” perfectly fit my vision. I honestly don’t remember what came first — the idea for the tour name or the idea of recording the song itself. What matters is that we recorded it on seven-string guitars with Shagrath from Dimmu as a guest vocalist. The song gained a massive weight and a completely new dimension. We’re planning to play it live and I think our version turned into something truly powerful.”
“The Return of Darkness and Evil” came together in quite a unique way. We were approached by Mystic Festival with the idea of creating an anthem, but writing a song from scratch specifically to serve as a festival anthem was never really an option. So I asked if we could do a cover instead. I immediately thought of this classic — a song I’ve always loved and one I used to watch with a bit of envy during Blood Fire Death (Bathory tribute band) performances. We wanted to give it our own sound and breathe new life into it. The result turned out great. We played it at every show in the US and the response was amazing. This time we didn’t want to present a polished studio version, so we decided to release the very first live performance from Athens, featuring our brother Sakis Tolis of Rotting Christ on guest vocals. The result is outstanding.”
For more on this album and set, visit: https://www.iscvlptor.com/
