It turned out to be their best record yet, as the musicians had completely mastered the mood of their music, combining black and death metal. The main theme of the lyrics (written almost solely by Nergal, with only three pieces authored by Azarewicz) was man's divinity. The inspiration once again came from Crowley, with the addition of references to Egyptian and Sumerian mythologies. A minialbum Slave Shall Serve was the supplement that followed Demigod, and it included pieces which didn't make it onto the 'full-feature' album, as well as covers of Nefilim and Danzig tracks.
After the release of Demigod, Behemoth set off on the longest tour of their career, which lasted sixteen months and comprised nearly 300 concerts! During this period, the musicians travelled across the globe, performing gigs in South America and Australia, and playing in the US at the invitation of two metal giants – Glenn Danzig and King Diamond. In Poland, they performed with Frontside and Pandemonium, and also made an appearance at the Mystic Festival and Hunterfest. Demigod is the band's most popular record in the United States.
The full-length studio album that followed Demigod was the The Apostasy. With it, Behemoth broke through yet another barrier, as the record was listed 149th on the prestigious Billboard list (which compiles the best-selling albums in the US). It was the first album by a Polish rock band to have made to onto the Billboard list. The Apostasy differed from previous albums, as it brought about more spacious music, and developed arrangements – undoubtedly also thanks to the participation of the acclaimed jazz pianist, Leszek Możdżer. It featured the vocalist of Nevermore, Warrel Dane, a seven-person choir, and a section of wind instruments. The minialbum Ezkaton was a supplement to The Apostasy, with covers of the Ramones and Master's Hammer, as well as live recordings and material that wasn't included on the previous record.
The promotional concert tour went on for the next year. Once again, Behemoth travelled across nearly all of the continents, but the most spectacular occasion came with their participation in the 2007 edition of the American Ozzfest travelling festival. One of the performances at the Parisian La Loco club was recorded and later released on Behemoth's first live album, At The Arena ov Aion - Live Apostasy. But after the concert at the Ucho club in Gdańsk, during which Nergal tore up the Bible, a big scandal erupted in Poland. The president of the Polish Committee of Defense Against Sects, Mr. Ryszard Nowak, filed a report with the Prosecutor General's office on the account of a "public insult of religious feelings". The court case went on for the next three years, with Nergal finally declared innocent.
The 2009 Evangelion turned out to be an even bigger event than The Apostasy, as it hit number 55 on the Billboard list. It is the best album in the band's history, with the masterful production by Daniel Bergstrand from Sweden (previously a producer for Meshuggah, In Flames, and others). It is a unique combination of massive riffs, mad percussion rhythms, and Nergal's growling. The lyrics (once again mostly authored by Nergal), draw on the Bible, and Dionysian and Orphean myths. Among their literary inspirations are Jean-Paul Satre, Jean Genet and Marcel Proust. For the piece tited Lucifer, Nergal decided to borrow a poem by an author of the interwar period, Tadeusz Miciński, which is recited in a guest appearance by Maciej Maleńczuk. This majestic piece, which is more than eight minutes long, became the extraordinary highpoint of Evangelion. The record marked the start of Nergal's collaboration with some of the biggest companies in hard rock – the European Nuclear Blast and the American Metal Blade.
The album was promoted with more than a hundred concerts across the world, including a shared tour with Slayer and Marylin Manson, and an appearance alongside Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax at the Warsaw-based Sonisphere festival. The record also enjoyed its biggest commercial success. In Poland, with sales exceeding 15 thousand copies, it was certified gold. Behemoth also received its first Fryderyk award in the heavy metal category.
The album also garnered acclaim in other countries. The British Terrorizer magazine distinguished Behemoth in nine categories. The promotion of Evangelion was interrupted in 2010, when Nergal was diagnosed with leukemia. The musician had to undergo numerous tests, chemotherapy, and a bone marrow transplant. The period of rehabilitation lasted up until mid 2011. During this period, the discography of Behemoth expanded to include a two-volume DVD, Evangelia Heretika, which included the Paris concert from 2008 and a 2009 Warsaw performance, as well as two documentary films about the band, Evangelia Nova and De Arte Heretica, created by Fabryczna Art.
Nergal made guest appearances on many records, including those of Herhm, Damnation, Wolverine, Frontside, Czesław Śpiewa, Vulgar, and Root. From 1998, Inferno recorded with the bands Azarath and Witchmaster, while Orion was member of Black River and also sang with Vader on his live album entitled ...And Blood Was Shed In Warsaw.
