When I heard the debut full length of Brussels-based act Cult Of Erinyes, called A Place To Call My Unknown (released in spring 2011 via Les Acteurs de l’Ombre Productions, a French label that never disappoints; for the review on that first studio full album, check the update on June 2nd 2011 in the Archive-tab on this superior webzine…), I was completely blown away (still there are some fleshy leftovers and bloody spots on the wall behind me). That album must have been one of the strongest, most surprising albums from 2011! One year earlier, however, this Belgian trio (vocalist Mastema, drummer Baal, and bassist / guitarist / keyboardist Corvus, all formerly involved with another excellent act, Psalm) recorded and released a mini-album, called Golgotha, which was originally released on cassette via Portuguese Caverna Abismal, though in a very limited edition of 100 copies only. That’s why Dunkelkunst, a sub-division of Kunsthauch, were so kind (and intelligent) to have it re-released on CD (in an edition of 500 copies).
Golgotha is a three-track recording you need to have. So, here you have my opinion. You are mostly welcome!
No, seriously, in case you did adore the debut album just like I did, then you cannot ignore this Ep either. The recording starts with a weird yet mostly creepy and bizarre instrumental introduction, called Anima, which is just splendid, despite standing miles away from the band’s core business (though, with that grim sound…). The Glowing Embers is the first ‘real’ song, clocking five minutes, and bringing a dirty, speedy and sludgy form of Post-oriented Black Metal. It’s a sonic expression of terror and anger, going much further than the average without being progressive, modernistic or post-shoegazed (ever heard about this definition? I did not either…). The Year All Light Collapsed, which lasts for about seven minutes, is another unusual, somewhat bizarre piece of Post-Old School (???) rituals, which includes elements from semi-proggy experimentalism at the one hand, and melodic, traditionalised power at the other. And it works, oh yes, it does…
[note: why a review on an ‘old’ release? Actually, Kunsthauch, Dunkelkunst and 99 Screams Series, all acting under the same banner, did send us, and therefore I am truly thankful, quite some releases, both new and old; since all of them, or at least the majority, are worth being known / listened, I have no reason not to promote this excellent stuff!]