Behemoth Frontman Formally Charged For Insulting Roman Catholics

Nergal (aka Adam Darski), lead vocalist of the Polish Metal band Behemoth, has been formally charged by Polish authorities for "offending religious feelings."

Hey. What the fuck is up with that? All the guy did was stand up on a stage and proclaim that the Catholic Church is "the most murderous cult on the planet," and then to emphasize his point he took a Bible and tore it to shreds, flinging the pieces out to the audience (which he then asked them to burn).

I think I'm in love.

So far the mainstream international media isn't touching this story. I found out about it from fellow blogger Kullervo (please check out his always fascinating Songs From The Wood blog), who first alerted me to this.

The following are excerpts from an article at metaltalk.net:

Apparently, in the first hearing Darski [lead vocalist for Behemoth] stated under cross examination that what he does on stage is part of artistic license and it wasn't supposed to offend religious feelings. However, an expert on religious history and studies from Jagellonian University in Krakow stated that every copy of a bible could be considered a religious icon.

There was no judgment ruled against Darski in the first hearing, but now that a second complaint has been filed, the matter will be heard by the courts.

If found guilty, Darski faces up to two years in prison.

In a 2009 interview with Decibel magazine, Behemoth bass player Tomasz 'Orion' Wróblewski made the following comments on the Bible-tearing incident.

"We'd been doing that for two years on tour before it happened in Poland, so we had discussed it many times before. A Behemoth show is a Behemoth show, and Behemoth fans are coming to a Behemoth show. Behemoth fans know what Behemoth is about, know what the lyrics are about, and know at least a little of the philosophy behind the band."

Will someone please remind me what year this is again, or even what freaking century?

This case is an excellent and very timely reminder of the fact that Islam is only one of the Big Three totalitarian ideologies currently threatening everyone's freedom. Poland appears to have thrown off one totalitarian ideology, Communism, only to fall prey to another, Christianity.

Click here for official Behemoth merchandise, including their "Youth Against Christ" t-shirts! And here is the band's official website (there are both Polish and English versions).

The charges against Nergal are quite real. In July of 2003, Polish feminist and artist Dorota Nieznalska was found guilty under the same law, article 196 of the Polish Criminal Code, which makes it a crime to "offend religious feelings." She was sentenced to six months of "restricted freedom", was forced by the court to close her gallery, and was also required to pay all trial expenses. Her trial received little or no attention in the English language press, but here is a page in English with information about her case.

Daimonos

[Music and lyrics by Nergal]

Honour me!
Chaldean priests
Bow to me, in adoration
Evangelize
Prophets ov the boundless joy
Sanctify the sin ov indulgence

We worship the sun
We worship the moon
Spreading like rats
Exalted above the stars ov god

All hail slain and risen god!
All hail Dionysus!

"Come, blessed Dionysius, various nam'd, bull-fac'd
Begot from Thunder, Bacchus fam'd
Bassarian God, of universal might
Whom swords, and blood, and sacred rage delight"

War be sustained!
My godless phoenix rise
Ne'er to lifeless shall I submit
Offering solely the sword not peace
Mercy and cowardice extinct within

We worship the sun
We worship the moon
Spreading like rats
Exalted above the stars ov god

All hail slain and risen god!
All hail Dionysus!