This week’s edition of Black Metal Friday is a tribute to our friends Belphegor for carrying the torch of black metal in the face of religious zealotry. You see, while on tour in Russia recently, Belphegor frontman Helmuth was accosted by a fanatic from the Russian Orthodox Church who spat in his face and attempted to incite a physical confrontation. You can see the complete video of the incident here below.

Helmuth responded by returning the favor, spitting back in the lunatic’s face. However, much to the Austrian singer/guitarist’s credit, he turned and began to walk away from the attacker, taking the higher road and probably averting an international incident and possible imprisonment.

South Carolina death metal titan Nile has just released its eighth studio album What Should Not Be Unearthed. The album eschews the complex technicality of the band’s past few albums, marking a return to straight forward death metal on which the band first rose to fame.

Egyptology has always been the core theme of Nile’s lyrical approach and little has changed in that department. Listening to a Nile album is like taking a very brutal trip through history. If you like traditional death metal, I highly recommend picking up a copy of What Should Not Be Unearthed. It is one of the best death metal offerings that you will hear this or any year.