Golem, an Italian melodic death metal band, was formed in 1999 as a five-piece. At the end of 2003 one of the members decided to leave the band and Golem decided to go on as a four-piece, and it worked. They showed that with their promo in 2004, “Death in Progress”. With this first full-length, “Black Era”, they show it still works.

With the first track, you immediately step into the world of this album. The second track lets us hear a quote from the film “Pulp Fiction”. For me, there is nothing added with that quote. True, it ís a brilliant quote, but I don’t understand what it has to do with this album. Through the other tracks, the guitar solos and duos alternate each other.

I have to say, I was impressed by the great guitar riffs and leads, I didn’t expect them to be that good. The lyrics are well written, but it’s all about the same: hell and death. Maybe it’s an idea for them to be a bit more surprising the next time, and write lyrics about other things too. The last point I have to make is that I think the vocals are a bit monotonous, but… in some way it fits the music!

Altogether it’s an album you have to listen by yourself. When you listen to bands like Daylight Dies, Lunarsea, Neaera and Wintersun, this album is worth listening for sure.