Adam ‘Nergal’ Darski explained that metal as a genre is not built for mainstream audiences, speaking on Radio Rock. He emphasized that Behemoth’s refusal to compromise reflects the uncompromising nature that defines metal itself.
Nergal discussed why it took time for Behemoth to reach their current level. He also addressed how major metal acts like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, despite their success, still receive limited radio play compared to mainstream artists.
“Never. And I think it’s also good that it took a little bit of time to go the steps [and grow the band], because you look at artists that get big overnight for whatever reason,” Nergal said.
“This music is not meant to be for the masses anyway. Metal in general is not. You look at [Iron] Maiden and [Judas] Priest and all the big ones, still they’re not played on mainstream radio. So I think it’s good that it is the way it is, with our kind of music and metal in general.”
Nergal pointed to Behemoth’s provocative album title as proof of his commitment to an uncompromising vision.
“All I gotta say is that, just look at [Behemoth’s] last album’s title [‘The Shit Ov God’]. And that says it all. That’s how unapologetic I’ve always been and how much I cared about what other people think of what I do. I actually reach out to have this title, because I knew there’s no bigger middle finger out there. And I know it’s gonna be so talked about.”
“Then I’m, like, ‘Okay, this is it.’ And so that says how uncompromising I can be. No matter if people like it or not, or they think it’s stupid, it’s this or that, I know what it is. And I stand behind it, period.”
Darski made these comments during a discussion about Behemoth’s artistic direction and the role of compromise in metal music. His remarks highlight how major bands in the genre have built their identities through a refusal to appeal to mainstream tastes.
Behemoth released “The Shit Ov God” on May 9, 2025, as their 13th studio album through Nuclear Blast Records. The album features eight tracks that explore humanity, divinity, and rebellion, continuing the band’s decades-long commitment to pushing artistic boundaries at extreme levels.
Nergal’s uncompromising vision has defined his career since recovering from leukemia in 2010, when a bone marrow transplant saved his life. He returned to music with “The Satanist” in 2014, an album that received critical acclaim for its raw intensity and conceptual depth. This commitment to unapologetic artistic expression has shaped Behemoth’s entire trajectory as a band.
Earlier in 2026, Nergal performed a special live show at Beyond the Gates in Bergen, Norway, from July 29 to August 1, where he played the 30th anniversary performance of Behemoth’s 1995 debut album “Sventevith (Storming Near the Baltic)” with Icelandic black metal group Misþyrming. In October 2026, Nergal took Behemoth on a 16-date headlining tour with Dimmu Borgir and Dark Funeral. Before the autumn tour, Behemoth released “I, Scvlptor,” a 40-minute EP of eight previously unreleased tracks.
