Oi oi, front-row heathens! The Polish blackened death overlords Behemoth have returned with a brand-new slab of blasphemy titled The Shit Ov God. Brutal? Yep. Controversial? Always. But the question shaking the crypts of the metal underground right now is: is it actually any good, or is it just, well… shit? 💀
Let’s dive in headfirst — corpsepaint smudged, pint in hand, and volume cranked.
⚡ What the Critics Are Screaming
Like any Behemoth release, this one’s divided the metal masses quicker than you can say “hail Satan.”
🔥 High-Energy Praise
- Blabbermouth slapped it with a 9/10, calling it “their finest album in a decade.”
- Kerrang! gave it 4/5, praising its “transcendental darkness.”
- Distorted Sound cheered a mighty 8/10, calling it “rich, opulent, and irresistibly catchy.”
- Ghost Cult Mag lost their minds, throwing down a 9/10 and declaring it Behemoth’s strongest since Evangelion.
😶 Lukewarm & Meh
- Angry Metal Guy wasn’t exactly headbanging — 3/5, noting “nothing interesting happens until the last couple of tracks.”
- Soundboard Reviews found the mix “cluttered and overwhelming,” though admitted there was still black magic lurking within.
- Sonic Perspectives liked the riffs but said the lyrics felt “more blunt than poetic.”
💩 Full-On Hate Train
- Toilet Ov Hell went nuclear: 1/5. They called it a tired rehash of The Satanist and accused the band of self-plagiarism. Brutal.
- Sputnikmusic users dragged it with a 2.3/5, calling it “indistinguishable from their past work.”
🤘 What the Fans Are Saying
On Reddit and forums, the chaos continues:
“Title track is weak… rest was surprisingly good.”
“Lyrics? Abysmal.”
“Honestly a lot better than I expected…”
“This album is cringe as shit.”
“It blasts ass.”
So yeah — about as divided as the mosh pit when someone drops a pint. 🍺
🩸 The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
The Good:
- Lean and mean at just 8 tracks, under 40 mins — no filler.
- Massive riffs, especially on “Nomen Barbarvm” and “O Venvs, Come!”
- Energy and darkness that feels like classic Behemoth.
The Bad:
- Lyrics that sometimes read like edgelord fan-fic.
- Overproduction that leaves some riffs buried.
- If you wanted groundbreaking innovation, this ain’t it.
The Ugly:
- That album title. Imagine telling your mam you’re off to listen to The Shit Ov God. She’s gonna be tamping, mun. 😂
🎤 Final Riff Report Verdict
So, is The Shit Ov God really that bad? Nah.
It’s not a flawless masterpiece, but it’s not the catastrophic turd some haters are calling it either. At its best, it’s ferocious, concise, and fun as hell (literally). At its worst, it’s a little self-indulgent and lyrically cringe.
Think of it like a festival pint — not always cold, sometimes a bit flat, but still gets the job done when you’re screaming at the stage. 🍻
🕶️ TL;DR Tidy Takeaway
| Your Vibe | Album Verdict |
|---|---|
| Crave blackened death fury, lean tracklists & riffs sharp enough to cut steel? | You’ll love it. 🤘 |
| Want another The Satanist or lyrical genius? | Prepare to roll your eyes. 🙄 |
At the end of the day, Behemoth still sound like Behemoth — loud, dark, and unapologetically sacrilegious. Love it or loathe it, The Shit Ov God proves one thing: Nergal’s still not here to make friends. 🖤
C’mon butt, give it a spin and decide for yourself!
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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