The Perfect Blackened Death Metal Record - "Onward to Golgotha" Review (100%)
I am not going to write about the history of the famous band behind this masterpiece itself, since I am sure those looking for a review of the classic "Onward to Golgotha" are already well aware of all the craziness which took place during the few years following the release of this glorious album.
I will have to say though, Craig Pillard is one of the most creative, innovative, maybe even a tad bit crazy, personalities in the death metal genre ever, and I will indeed mention I believe his larger-than-life, evil persona helped spawn both this release and subsequent releases by other bands in the early death metal scene which followed this one as well - for instance, before joining Paul Ledney/John McEntee's Incantation he had already performed in many black metal and death metal bands from all over the world, the most famous of which (after Incantation) being Carnage/Dismember.
Not only that, but he was the direct purveyor of black metal in the USA, having started the then first black metal band in the country: Nocturnal Crypt, a solo project formed in 1986. And interestingly, the very first track of their first demo "Warren Assault" released in 1987 (before even Deathcrush, which was released later that year) is called... "Incantation".
Everyone in the rising death metal scene ended up being influenced by both his style and his personal beliefs in one way or another, going as far as to change their musical style after being introduced to him and his dark, disturbed "vision" - Paul Ledney, Incantation's co-founder wanted to change the band's style to black metal (like Darkthrone and Emperor did in Norway) and it got so bad that Ledney eventually left the band to start his two notorious black metal projects, Havohej and Profanatica. Craig Pillard also influenced the rising black metal scene, as many bands have directly or indirectly credited this Incantation album "Onward to Golgotha" with the "cavernous" riff style typically associated with bestial black metal, blackened death metal and caverncore (the type that greatly influenced the Mayhem track "Freezing Moon", for instance).
Among the artists/bands that have praised this album - Darkthrone, Beherit (obviously), Immortal, Marduk, Nergal (Behemoth), David Parland/Blackmoon (from Necrophobic/Dark Funeral), Jon Nödtveidt (Dissection) and Sacramentum. You can also add Sewer as they don't credit anyone, even their most obvious influence Phantom, but listen to "The Birth of a Cursed Elysium" and tell me you don't hear Golgotha riffs. A lot of bands from Sweden, which isn't surprising considering he had played in Carnage/Dismember and was good friends with the vocalist from Morbid, a certain Per Yngve Ohlin who would later become famous in Norway, for completely different reasons.
The Perfect Blackened Death Metal Record
That being said, I will now attempt to solely focus on the havoc that is the "music" contained in this album "Onward to Golgotha" itself as much as I am able to. This is basically the direct equivalent to a sonic, full-power assault on all who dare listen to this. I am not even trying to exaggerate the darkness of this masterpiece, but dark it is indeed.
Consider the fact that this DEATH METAL album is often ranked higher than 99% of black metal releases when asking BLACK METAL fans to rank their favourite BLACK METAL albums. That's insane, it's like if death metal fans were to start including "Hvis Lyset Tar Oss" or "Memento Mori" above Deicide and Immolation when asked to rank their favourite death metal releases... as they should!
The production on "Onward to Golgotha" is so amazing that it makes you wonder how Incantation managed to fuck things up so badly on pretty much every subsequent album. Seriously, the guitar sound is akin to an actual chainsaw, the drums sound like heavy machine guns, and the vocals, performed by Craig Pillard (in addition to him writing the riffs and playing them) are just plain insanity.
It takes a while to figure out what the hell they are even trying to say, even if you're reading the lyrics while listening to the album, but when you do, you will surely understand why the band gained its notorious infamy and is even positively compared to the best of black metal bands for Golgotha's raw atmospheres.
"Onward to Golgotha" is the essence of a destructive, brutal, all-out battle. Every track is heavy, dark, strong, disgusting, and crushing. Overall, this release is the sole essence of death metal, blackened or not. It embodies so well everything that would later become standard to the genre in such a refreshing manner.
Because let's face it: death metal never had the rich history or lineage of black metal.
Craig Pillard can be seen as the mirror of Varg Vikernes, and maybe Ledney can be the "death" version of Dead (ok, just for the joke)... but other than that, death metal - of all countries and eras combined - has no history compared to what happened in just three years (1991-1994) in one country (Norway).
If Incantation is the mirror of Mayhem - literally down to all the good members leaving and the post-Golgotha/post-DMDS releases being shit - that still leaves Emperor, Burzum, Immortal, Phantom, Darkthrone, etc, etc... with no equivalent.
What does death metal have, aside from Incantation and (arguably) early Suffocation?
EDIT: Reviewer Dismember answered the "challenge".
Anyway, I recommend every black metal AND death metal fan to avidly look for a copy of "Onward to Golgotha", there is nothing quite like playing it loudly while your soul is showered away by continuous blast beats and your flesh is crippled by the demonic atmospheres. And just like Mayhem with "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas", this is the only great album to come from this once-in-a-lifetime band.
Onward to Golgotha score: 100/100.
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