By Tom Godfrey

Behemoth, the Polish extreme metal band that has been destroying the souls of its followers since 1991, is coming to a venue near you as part of the Summer Slaughter Tour. If you are easily startled, offended, or have a heart condition, now would be a good time to lock your doors and wait for the fall.

While their parents know them as Adam Michal Darski (guitar/vox), Tomasz Wroblewski (bass), and Zbigniew Robert Prominski (percussion), their fans know them as Nergal, Orion, and Inferno. While the band has been around awhile in various incarnations, Nergal alone has remained from the beginning. He has become a god in the genre to which he is so dedicated.

“It gives purpose to my life,” says Nergal, who doesn’t seem as terrifying as one might imagine. “I’m addicted to [metal’s] adrenaline! I am still a fan and I still have a massive passion for what I do, and it is present in every activity I do.”

Nergal was introduced to heavy metal by his brother, and that spiraled into his fascination with more extreme subgenres like death metal. He was a part of the extreme metal scene in its prime and is part of its recent boom.

“I see more and more youngsters at our shows, which is a great sign,” says Nergal. “I am pretty sure it will do well in the next few years. Heavy metal is highly demanded; it’s REAL music.”

Nergal is a candid and down to earth guy, a fact that might catch you off guard if you’ve ever seen a photo of him. He admits that the early days of Behemoth consisted of a bunch of guys who couldn’t handle their instruments, but their passion led the way to success. This passion also helps keep the energy up during the band’s furious live shows.

“Sometimes it really is hard,” Nergal confesses, “when you have to wear a few kilos of uncomfortable [costumes]. But hey, that’s who we are, I never complain.”

Behemoth hits the stage August 4 at the Comcast Center with other genre heavyweights including Job for a Cowboy, Cannibal Corpse, Marilyn Manson, and Slayer.

“Touring with Slayer is one of the biggest rewards of being in this business for so long,” says Nergal.

The band’s ninth studio album, Evangelion, is due August 11.

Check out the band at www.behemoth.pl.