Three albums whose protagonists faced down death

BEHEMOTH

The Satanist

(2014)

One of the most acclaimed extreme metal albums of all time, this richly evocative journey through the darkest of shadows was inspired primarily by frontman Nergal’s battle with leukaemia. You can almost hear the sickness churning away in the scabrous riffs of Messe Noire and In The Absence Ov Light. Metal has seldom been so vivid or raw. BELPHEGOR Conjuring The Dead (2014)

It took six weeks for Belphegor frontman Helmuth Lehner to recover from a vicious dose of typhoid fever, contracted through drinking from infected water while on tour in South America in 2011. Having survived, he channelled the experience into his band’s 10th album, bellowing ‘Disease and suffering will set you free!’ with madeyed venom.

YOB

Our Raw Heart

(2018)

Surely destined to be one of this year’s most celebrated albums,

Our Raw Heart was written after Yob frontman Mike Scheidt nearly died from an attack of acute diverticulitis, an insanely painful intestinal disease. As a result, every riff, melody and moment of wild, psychedelic madness oozes profound mortal melancholy.