Review: “Bearer of Light, Matriarch of Death” by Golgothan Remains

“It is a wrought, and evil love story about two centuries old creatures trying to find companionship but due to their strong evil spirit are unable to exist with another powerful figure by their side. Early in the writing process, the EP’s lyrical themes were, just like the music, created as one flowing and entwined story. This collection of songs was written at a certain time and expanded upon the more atmospheric side of the band. The songs are very much connected and the first time we see the release as a single piece if you will. The journey through time and space which is relayed in the EP’s four tracks has been beautifully expressed in Chris’ [Christian Kiesling of Misanthropic Art] painting. The piece amazingly captures the story’s setting, landscapes and aura. It was a great collaboration, and we are extremely pleased with the result!” ~ Matthieu Van den Brande, vocals

Creating a pair of critically acclaimed albums in 2018’s “Perverse Offerings to the Void” and 2022’s “Adorned In Ruin” has seen the rise to prominence of Australian Death Metal quartet Golgothan Remains. A collection of seasoned musicians known for their prior works in Horrisonous, Sarcophagum, Tenebrific and Poseydon to name but a few, they have toiled at the grindstone and conjured a concept EP recounting a journey across a mystical, barren world cloaked in darkness. Production courtesy of Greg Chandler (Esoteric, Suffer Yourself, Infested Angel) at Priory Recording Studios and artwork by Christian Kiesling of Misanthropic Art add to the picture they have painted ahead of a 10th anniversary they wish to celebrate in style.

Having relocated to Australia in 2015, Belgian vocalist Matthieu Van den Brande joined Golgothan Remains in 2017 and filled the big shoes of their original frontman C in sublime fashion. His harsh, demonic throat splitting tendencies are intertwined with a few spoken word moments as the distinctively blackened opening magnum opus “Methuselah” plays out. A wonderfully atmospheric piece that is laced with blast beats and dissonant chord progressions it finds the quartet sonically painting in dark textures to offer something that will have audiences swaying like marionettes in awe. One suffocating, oppressive and yet spellbinding and trance inducing cut of unyielding intensity leads into another as “Tribulation” unfolds, the restless and relentless percussive battery providing a spine upon which everything else hangs. If you’ve had the pleasure of David Twohy’s Pitch Black, then it’s the barren desert wasteland beneath the giant skeletons of ancient beings that is where everything is set. If you were expecting a face melting solo then clearly you haven’t heard Golgothan Remains work before because the band specialise in atmospheric pieces that are brightened only by fleeting leads like those heard as “Necropoles” takes shape. Each cut has been cleverly constructed to work well in isolation but to come into its own when listened to in context, the EP structured almost like classical music with each track being a movement of the wider piece. Another spoken word about the madness within enhances this one as Matthieu Van den Brande descends into feral insanity burning in the flood of shriller moments before evil death growls send a signal to medics to bring a straightjacket as he is bound for a padded cell. Soul stirring throughout, the record is masterful even before reaching the glorious finale that is “Andromeda“, the Black Metal undertones and Doom laden intent casting a shadow over the Death Metal like the Grimm Reaper on a hot day in the Australian outback. An unstoppable force of nature, Golgothan Remains have offered up a tour de force as bleak as it is blistering and as captivating as it is enthralling [8.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Methuselah
2. Tribulation
3. Necropoles
4. Andromeda

“Bearer of Light, Matriarch of Death” by Golgothan Remains is out 22nd November 2024 via Dark Descent Records and is available over at bandcamp