Golgotha – Mors Diligentis

Golgotha
Mors Diligentis
Label: Xtreem Music
Out: October 25^th, 2022
Playing time: 48:52

When you hear Palma de Mallorca, you often think of alcohol-heavy parties at the Ballermann. But the Germans’ favourite holiday island also has a Heavy Metal scene. Here is an example. Golgotha are a Doom Metal band. And they have a special feature. Two female singers, one for the clear vocals and one for the angry growls. Golgotha was already founded in 1992 by guitarist Vicente J. Payá. The band was then active with a changing line-up until 2005. During this time, two EPs and three albums were released. Then the band obviously ran out of steam. After a nine-year break, the band continued, again with a new line-up. In 2018, the EP “Arise” was released. The album “Erasing The Past” followed in 2019. After original singer Amón left the band in 2022, the band treated themselves to a female double lead on the microphone. The result can be heard on “Mors Diligentis”.

“My Burden” starts as expected, calm powerful riffs with lower-tuned guitars. At first you can enjoy the clear vocals of María J. Lladó. She sings in lower pitches. And the growls of Miriam Vallés are absolutely evil. A sound that doesn’t fit at all to the sunny island in the Mediterranean. And that’s exactly what I find extremely impressive. “Our Trust Betrayed” sounds a bit more upbeat, but no less powerful. María’s singing seems even clearer than before. But then Miriam pulls the melodic sound down a bit. All accompanied by dark riffs. But also the actual guitar melody sounds dark. But already with “Farewell Humanity” it’s over with all cheerfulness. The tempo slows down again, to the limit of Funeral Doom. Only the elf-like vocals provide the one or other ray of hope. And the change between slowed down and faster played Epic Doom continues with “Waiting For My Death”. “Unconditional Love” starts with piano sounds. What follows later would be the ballad on other Metal albums. “Alone In The Dark” then tends towards Epic Doom again. With beautiful guitar melodies. Acoustic guitars at the beginning of “Viper Tongue” initially create a slightly contemplative atmosphere. Later, the song is calm, but also epic. In the closing song “We the Demons”, dominated by strings, big choruses can be heard.

“Mors Diligentis” is an album very much to my taste. Doom Metal is often combined with a lot of epic. At times, the sound even sounds bombastic. However, without reducing the Doom character. And the double female vocal sound (clear vocals and growls) mentioned at the beginning fits very well. For me, one of the great new surprises of this year.

Golgotha – Waiting For My Death (Official Lyric-Video): https://youtu.be/AhNc8qHVZ2Q

Lineup:

María J. Lladó – clean Vocals
Miriam Vallés – Guttural Vocals
Vicente J. Payá – Guitars
Andrew Spinosa – Bass
Tomeu Crespí – Drums

Label: Xtreem Music

Out: October 25^th, 2022

Playing time: 48:52

Track list:

• My Burden
• Our Trust Betrayed
• Farewell Humanity
• Waiting For My Death
• Unconditional Love
• Alone in the Dark
• Viper Tongue
• We the Demons