These days, a Behemoth live set is as precisely structured (and elaborately costumed!) as a Cirque Du Soleil performance, so if you’ve seen the band at any point over the last few years, you’ve heard frontman Nergal “banter”: “[Insert name of city], it feels good to be back! It feels even better … TO BE ALIVE!” That may seem a counterintuitive statement coming from the frontman of a, y’know, death-metal band, but when you’re in the room with the guy, the words will hit you like a hard wind, and if you know the context, they’ll knock you down. In 2010 Nergal was diagnosed with advanced-stage leukemia, and over the next two years, battled and beat the disease. The Satanist is his first post-cancer album (and Behemoth’s first since 2009, and their best, period) and it feels like the work of a man who bested death. It’s an album of experience, confidence, vision, wisdom, and depth — not to mention hugely dynamic performances and ridiculous hooks. It’s an album of tremendous bombast, yes, but that bombast is earned; every song bellows great gusts of life, and they will all knock you down. –Michael [LISTEN]