Germany's Golem have been one of those bands who've managed to stick underground until 'Dreamweaver', which was kindly licensed from Ars Metalli Records by Nuclear Blast. The only experience with the band's older material is a few songs I found online.

It sounds like Golem have transformed into a massive beast. 'Dreamweaver' manage to sound fresh even today. The basis of Golem's extreme metal lie in Morbid Angel-esque death metal, which the band have twisted into something ingenious. Ludicrously fast parts collide with doomy sturdiness. Twisted melodies sound perversely beautiful, in an inexplicable, alien way, and only rarely do the band paint epic soundscapes in more usual, joyous wont. Now and then disharmonious, but this only ekes out the amount of tentacles which reach towards a listener from the turbid protoplasm. Just like the violent, massive forces of the universe, also this one entices the bravest of the brave explorers. But, an explorer should, maybe even must be receptive, and not step back. There's a fine, fitting metaphor lifted from the lyrics: "A harsh storm". That's what Golem are about! Another band, by the way also influenced by Morbid Angel, Mithras is what Golem remind me of at times, but still not too much. And to stir it a bit more, I'd like to mention Gojira... Vocals are varying, at times sounding like taken from a Nordic black metal album, at times more death metal (pretty much reminding me of Carcass's vocals). At first I thought this was a theme album, but no it's not. The best way to describe lyrics is, that they are inspired by dreams. The only drawback about the album's musical offering is the Igor Stravinsky cover, which sounds all too machinelike as a whole, and while being musically an audacious attempt, it just does not work.

The production job is both admirable and appalling. Worst things first: The cover as mentioned, and triggered drums which happen to sound shite, especially the tom drums. They stick out as too mechanical in the otherwise warm, heavy, organic soundscape. I mean this is fucking heavy! Not too many albums can make my apartment's walls vibrate at such low volume levels. Also, the beautiful Niklas Sundin cover artwork deserves to be mentioned, just for being so alien.

In Jewish folklore, golem means an animated being created entirely from inanimate matter. Unlike the name of the band suggests, 'Dreamweaver' is a very lively world of its own. It is impossible to picture it with words, so all you bravest of the brave explorers, pack your socks and get ready for a journey to unknown.

Rating: 7½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
11/16/2007 12:07