A deeply pessimistic self-titled debut album from Polish Black Metal/Crust quartet Gololedz, (Black Ice) released towards the end of last year on CD by D.I.Y. Koło Records, and given an extra lease of life now via Iron Fist Productions. Gololedz have a bleakness that seeps from every pore and orifice of their music, whether they are creating a pleasingly steady and controlled rhythm or letting loose in a flurry of aggressive riffs and blast beats.
Self-styled as a Black Metal/crust act, to my ear the Crust element is minimal and only really comes out through the gnarly and powerful bass tones which add a cutting abrasiveness to the bands otherwise moderately polished sound (That polish wears off gradually as the album progresses). That said as the album progresses there is a more pronounced harsher tone to the guitar leads that increases as the songs progress, as well as a more simplistic, almost Punk like pattern to certain parts of certain tracks such as ‘Odwet’ that does lend itself to a more fertile Crust influence. On the whole though this album is predominantly aggressive and powerful Black Metal.
For me the stand out track of this impressive and intense sounding album has to be ‘Najgorsza kara’. (Worst Punishment) A more mid-tempo track with the odd spike of feral aggression, there is a really coarse quality to the whole track, from the drums through the bass and into the riffs that strikes just the right tone with me. When set against more thought provoking, melodic interludes later into the track, the contrast is surprising and satisfying, and as an aside the slower, surging riffs are superb!
Gololedz are definitely a band I want to hear more of. This is a remarkably solid debut offering that cuts an corrosive swathe through the air, but features some impressive melodic flourishes.
(7.5/10 Marksson)
https://www.facebook.com/Gololedx
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