NERGAL, guitarist/vocalist of Polish blackened/death metal warriors BEHEMOTH has posted this statement on his recent trip to INDIA.
BEHEMOTH unleashed "THE SATANIST",
2/3/2014 (EU and UK) and 2/4/2016 (NORTH AMERICA) via METAL BLADE RECORDS.
BEHEMOTH released "XIĄDZ" (EP), unleashed 11/1/2014 (self released).
FROM NERGAL (BEHEMOTH):
What a trip! I'm on the plane from Varanasi where I spent last 2 days
and my brain is still processing this massive culture shock.
It was
INTENSE in every sense of that word. Reading "Shantaram" novel made me
approach this country with a deeper understanding tho. India is wild.
India is raw. India is EVERYTHING the western culture is not. Sometimes
it felt like they skipped the renaissance era and just remained in the
middle ages or something… and I bet I'm not far from the truth
seeing MANY people living their lives the old way… or I'd rather say
the ancient way. Coming from Europe into this part of the globe may feel
somehow confusing...disturbing and uncomfortable for numerous reasons.
First of all, it aint easy to deal with the famous Indian traffic.
People using ALL kinds of vehicles, children taking bath in the street
pools along with dogs, cows, goats or even pigs (!). Each one is moving
in opposite directions simultaneously accompanied by unstoppable sonic
overkill! If you are looking for a definition of chaos and anarchy,
that's where you find it! It ain't easy to cope with omnipresent dirt,
poverty and suffocating dust biting your eyes and throat. Someone asked
me WHY Varanasi? 'Coz it always feels liberating to get out of your safe
European comfort zone to experience all of this in its mighty
unpredictable nature! It feels kinda enlightening to see where we are
all coming from as Varanasi must be one of the most ancient cities in
the world, a place that Buddha made divine with his foot prints. It's
MYSTICAL and SPIRITUAL and you can literally FEEL it. However immensely
disturbing on many fronts I quickly learned a way to deal with it: One
must leave behind his "civilized" standards and take a deep dive into
this chaotic stream of life so it may carry you with its crazy currents!
There is a way to start enjoying it massively if you only stop using
your brain too much for analysing and comparing. India is ONE OF A KIND!
And It feels good just to be in this situation to truly EXPERIENCE the
unknown and learn from it. It's been two hyper intense days where
billions of impulses were feeding on my senses permanently. The taste,
the smell, the sound, the touch… huh… it's been A LOT to handle for my
lil brain but I am HAPPY and fulfilled. I would also like to thank bunch
of individuals who kept the level of entertainment pretty high during
these ecstatic peregrinations! Two days in Varanasi is an ultimate dose
of Indian culture in the most traditional way. Namaste!
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-