Behemoth are out supporting Slipknot on the Knotfest Roadshow currently, which means the bands are going to be doing a good amount of press. While the tour kicked off on the west coast, Nergal spoke to Riverside, California radio station 96.7 KCAL-FM DJ RadioactiveMike Z. Nergal went into detail about a bunch of topics, but the one most interesting note was his schedule for the next few years.
Nergal confirmed his side project Me And That Man would be releasing a new album next year and then the following year is devoted 100% to Behemoth.
"I'm inspired, and I'm going to surprise you — we're already making new music. It's never been that way [before]. For some reason, I'm just… first of all, there's some unreleased music from [the 'I Loved You At Your Darkest'] session. I'm proud of the songs; we just need to find the right place, the right time, the right occasion to [release them]. It's happening eventually. We start jamming and demoing later this year, and in the meantime, I'm putting the final touches to the second Me And That Man album as well. There's work on several levels simultaneously. I'm very creative and very productive lately. v is going to be [released during] the first half of 2020, and Behemoth is going to be 2021, one hundred percent.
'I Loved You At Your Darkest' is still a very fresh record, but when I get back to that, I'm, like, [sighs]. You need time to process that if you really want to match that quality, and eventually overcome that and deliver quality that is different to that so you're not really copying yourself. You're delivering something that is fresh, and every time, it's a higher and higher challenge. I think that's the main reason why I'm around, because if it stopped being a challenge and we can just, 'Oh, let's just cash [in].' I'm not just trying to be nice saying that, but it really feels good [now]. For all those kids today when we played, there's a chunk of the audience that is probably familiar with what we do, but I bet that, like, two-thirds maybe never heard of us. That is the most exciting moments in our career. You have 11 records and countless tours and almost [a] 30-year career going, and there's still people who don't know you. That's the point — to convert these kids, to push and don't get too spoiled. It's good to be [a] newcomer. It's good to be first on the bill. It's a good experience."
Also, interestingly enough, while asked about his initial impression of Behemoth, Nergal mentioned how he uses Slipknot's Iowa and Slayer's God Has Us All as reference points for mixing:
"I think I just saw some videos. I wasn't hooked right away. I remember there was hype for Slipknot right after the first album. I heard 'Iowa' and I was [sold] — I was like, 'Okay. Wow.' I did get back to the first record, but I'm, like, 'Nah. It's not [for] me,' but ever since 'Iowa', I've [heard] every album and I pretty much have favorite songs on every record — 'Psychosocial', the title song of 'All Hope Is Gone'. The title song is one of my favorite Slipknot  songs ever. [It's] kind of [a] pity that they are not playing this one [on the 'Roadshow' tour]. 'Before I Forget', 'Devil In I'. There's, like, three singles now off the new record. The second is my favorite, and they are playing that song. I'm not really the best when it comes to titles, but they are playing this one and it's amazing. The album comes out [soon], and I'm really, really psyched to hear the whole of it… Let me put it that way — every time I get to meet the mixing guy or production guy for the next Behemoth album, I bring either 'Iowa'or [Slayer's] 'God Hates Us All'. These two are my most referred albums when it comes to Behemoth productions on so many levels. I'm not saying that we want to copy that, [but] there's a vibe — there's something absolutely untamed on both records. It's awesome."
Here are the remaining tour dates for the Knotfest Roadshow with Behemoth, Volbeat and Gojira.
Sun Aug 4 – Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion
Tue Aug 6 – Denver, CO – Pepsi Center
Thu Aug 8 – Lincoln, NE – Pinnacle Bank Arena
Sat Aug 10 – Des Moines, IA – Iowa State Fairgrounds*
Sun Aug 11 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Mon Aug 12 – Clarkston, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre
Wed Aug 14 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
Fri Aug 16 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
Sat Aug 17 – Bonner Springs, KS – Providence Medical Center Amphitheater
Sun Aug 18 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Tue Aug 20 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
Wed Aug 21 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Fri Aug 23 – Burgettstown, PA – KeyBank Pavilion
Sat Aug 24 – Scranton, PA – The Pavilion at Montage Mountain
Sun Aug 25 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater
Tue Aug 27 – Mansfield, MA – The Xfinity Center
Wed Aug 28 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
Fri Aug 30 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
Sat Aug 31 – Camden, NJ – BB&T Pavilion
Sun Sep 1 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
Tue Sep 3 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Wed Sep 4 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Fri Sep 6 – Austin, TX – Austin360 Amphitheater at Circuit of The Americas
Sat Sep 7 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
Sun Sep 8 – The Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
*Iowa State Fair – Slipknot & Gojira only
[via Blabbermouth]
