Liar of Golgotha
Ancient Wars

Sinister rustles of a moonless night.

The Liar Of Golgotha, a little-known band often overlooked here on DeBaser, was a Dutch group dedicated to Black metal that disbanded in 2005; "Ancient Wars" (2000), their last work (excluding the "Proliferation" EP), is a hidden gem of malevolence and a farewell certainly more than dignified.

When discussing the Dutch Black metal scene, one cannot fail to mention Funeral Winds as a benchmark; well, compared to the band of Hellchrist Xul, Liar Of Golgotha presents a more melodic, less harsh sound, and a decidedly looser connection with Satanism. "Ancient Wars" is a record in which sweetness and violence merge effectively, as is evident from the very first two tracks ("Ghost Of The Ancient Siberian Wolfcult" and the splendid "Night Of The Falling Stars"). The work continues on these coordinates, presenting us with four more tracks, each introduced to the listener by a soft and caressing intro. In short, "Ancient Wars" manages to create a bizarre, mystical, dark, and ineffable atmosphere.

From an instrumental point of view, drummer Y. Xul delivers a truly commendable performance, embellishing the tracks with his tempo changes and making them fluid and smooth. A special mention also goes to keyboardist Marco, who, with the honey of his notes, sweetens the bitter blend. And so? So, Liar Of Golgotha sadly screw everything up right at the end: the last song, "Piranha" (a cover of Exodus), ruins all the magic that the preceding 41 minutes had created. A pity. Nevertheless, "Ancient Wars" remains a praiseworthy work, one of the best-kept secrets of Symphonic Black metal, which enthusiasts of the genre will surely appreciate.