Behemoth frontman Nergal recently addressed criticism surrounding the title of the band’s latest album, The Shit Ov God, during an interview with Heavy Interviews.
Nergal explained the thought process behind the album title and responded to fans who questioned its depth and meaning. He emphasized that the title, while provocative, holds significant philosophical weight.
“Some people get it, some people didn’t get that. When I gave our latest record that title, they were, like, ‘Uh, Nergal, you can do better than this.’ No, I can’t do better. This is the best I can give you. This is the best I can give you,” Nergal said. “And if you don’t wanna look into that and just see it’s not just a primitive slogan or simple or whatever, it’s something way more than just a provocative title. It’s something way more than that. And you just need to dig into that. It’s not a stupid title. Just get the record, read the lyrics. It’s not a stupid title. And it makes sense. You just need to make an effort as a fan to digest that, to process that, and eventually understand that.”
He further elaborated on the challenges of creating a title that resonates with fans while maintaining artistic integrity. “But it’s up to you. I did my work. Now it’s up to you. And I know it’s a challenging title and it’s a challenging record. It’s not some Satanic chitchats. There’s never been. It’s a very challenging, very demanding album with the title that you may think, ‘Oh, there’s something wrong with those dudes. They didn’t come up with something complex and philosophical.’ And it’s more philosophical than you think it is.”
Nergal also reflected on his past album titles and how they influenced his approach to naming The Shit Ov God. “But with [‘The Shit Ov God’] album title, I kind of zeroed myself, because I remember thinking, ‘F*cking hell.’ I stole this ‘Opvs Contra Natvram’ title from [psychiatrist Carl] Jung, but who knows who Jung is? And then I stole ‘I Loved You At Your Darkest’ from the Bible… It’s inspired by the Bible. And I thought it’s a beautiful title, yet people were b*tching about it. But I thought there’s so much depth there, and let me explain you.”
He concluded by addressing comparisons to previous iconic Behemoth albums. “But they’re, like, ‘You can’t top ‘The Satanist’.’ ‘The Satanist’, that kind of title is one in the world, one in a lifetime. And there’s one ‘Evangelion’ and one ‘The Apostasy’. I mean, trying to top that, you’ll fail. You must do something completely opposite that’s gonna just get people off the guard, like, boom. And they’re, like, ‘What the fuck is that?’ And that’s what ‘The Shit Ov God’ is. So now when I zeroed myself, if you know what I’m trying to explain, now I can again build something way more sophisticated and complex, just to build the dynamics.”
Nergal’s comments shed light on the creative and philosophical depth behind the album, encouraging fans to explore its meaning further.
Behemoth’s “The Shit Ov God” is the title track from their thirteenth studio album, released on May 9, 2025, showcasing the Polish blackened death metal band’s signature blend of brutal riffs, blasphemous themes, and provocative imagery as they continue to push extremes in metal. The song—and the album as a whole—was framed by frontman Nergal as a deliberate, confrontational statement against religious norms, pairing relentless instrumentation with fiercely defiant lyrics that underline their unflinching artistic identity.
