Behemoth frontman Nergal has responded to religious protesters at the band’s recent Wrocław concert through his Instagram.
“Those Catholic groupies never cease to amaze,” Nergal stated about the protesters outside the venue.
“Catholics are protesting against the Behemoth concert in Wrocław,” he had said in his previous response to the planned protests. “[They say] ‘We will not allow the Centennial Hall to become a nest of evil.’ You, of all people, don’t have a f*cking say here.”
The incident adds another chapter to the ongoing tension between religious groups and the band’s performances in Poland. This pattern of confrontations has marked their career throughout the years.
A report from Metal Stuff revealed similar opposition in 2016. Bogdan Freytag, chairman of ‘Faithful Poland,’ attempted to prevent their concert in Poznań by petitioning the city’s mayor. The band faced another setback in 2014 when a scheduled show in Poznań was cancelled due to alleged ‘safety concerns.’ Nergal attributed this cancellation to political pressure from religious groups.
The frontman’s conflicts with religious authorities have moved beyond concert protests. Notes from Poland documented Nergal’s 2021 conviction for posting an image that allegedly offended religious feelings. He contested this ruling.
Metal Underground chronicled an earlier legal challenge from 2007. Nergal faced charges for insulting the Roman Catholic Church after tearing a Bible on stage. This act could have resulted in up to two years of imprisonment.
The persistent tension between artistic expression and religious sensitivities continues in Poland. Behemoth faces ongoing opposition from religious groups in their home country.
