In Conquered: The Golgotha Chronicles | The Most Beautiful And Most Extreme Story
(2024 – Vision Of God Records)
Obviously, bringing a story like that of Jesus Christ and the cross into Extreme Metal might not be the best combination, at least for those who see this as something completely incompatible. That may or may not be the case, but the reality is that the biblical account of Christ’s crucifixion set to music with the approach In Conquered brings us this time around doesn’t feel disconnected—quite the opposite.
In Conquered is the personal project of Jordan Varela, a warrior who, for several years now, has been releasing albums brutal enough to warrant a look here. With an incredible guttural voice that’s quite personal and original, Varela is the one-man band who does it all. He sings, plays all the instruments, composes, and produces. A true self-managed project, he’s already released two albums and this latest EP.
“The Golgotha Chronicles,” unlike the rest of In Conquered’s releases, is perhaps a much more elaborate and ambitious project. Without straying from his signature style, Jordan Varela presents a conceptual work with In Conquered—featuring just a few tracks, as it is an EP—that immerses us in an atmospheric, orchestral setting, drawing us deep into the story of Golgotha, in a veritable display of aggressive, hard-hitting, powerful riffs and accelerations that lead us to believe we are witnessing one of the best things In Conquered has done so far.
For a moment, I thought it was impossible not to think of that monumental work, Mortification’s “Envision Evangelene.” The parallels are inevitable, but “The Golgotha Chronicles” makes us wonder what that work would have sounded like with the old Death/Grind sound of early Mortification, because that is the key to In Conquered; far from attempting a production closer to classic or orchestral metal, it never turns down the volume; rather, the orchestral and atmospheric elements are merely an addition that lends the songs a majesty they lacked on previous albums, so to speak.
There are just five tracks, which unfold with biblical narratives and in the style we already know from In Conquered, but this time it is bolstered by a much more elaborate production and adorned with keyboard sounds and very well-crafted guitar arrangements.
The first track we encounter is “Trade For Akeldama,” with an unconventional start for In Conquered, but one that, with one of the many biblical narratives set against an atmospheric backdrop, draws us into the song. What follows is a storm of riffs and crushing beats, at a moderate pace and with shifting tempos. The background guitar orchestration gives a different and much more masterful approach to their style, framed as always within that blend of Death Metal and Grindcore.
One thing to keep in mind is that each song flows seamlessly into the next. I mention this for those who only listen to individual tracks online. “The Golgotha Chronicles” demands to be listened to in its entirety, and that’s how “Wolf In The Shepherd’s Garden” follows, a track underpinned by orchestral chords that blend perfectly with the heavy basslines and aggressive riffs. Possibly one of the best tracks on In Conquered. I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s truly a beautiful and versatile composition that gives In Conquered that melodic and masterful element it had been lacking up to this point.
It’s no surprise that “Onward To The Praetorium” continues in the same vein, musically conveying what this part of the narrative describes, with plenty of heavy pounding here and there, in a tremendous display of strength and power, leading into another passage of incidental music and biblical narration with “Jeered, Scourged And Nailed,” a track that continues in a more orchestral vein but with the foundations of Death Metal clearly established.
Finally, “The Tree For Those Who Wept, Wailed And Sinned” serves as the epilogue to this well-told story presented by In Conquered. With certain traces of traditional metal in its conception but with the speed and crushing intensity of their death metal style, here In Conquered takes us through a truly varied and dynamic composition, featuring diverse riffs and constant shifts in tempo and tonality, all underpinned by that orchestral backdrop that gives their music and style a unique flair. The track—and of course this EP—concludes with a new narration and retelling of the biblical account of Christ’s crucifixion, bringing a fitting end to a great work that truly captures the entire story presented. Will there be a sequel? We’ll see….
In the meantime, it can be said that “The Golgotha Chronicles,” despite being just an EP, marks a departure from what In Conquered had previously been presenting. A much more elaborate offering, not as raw and aggressive, with much better handling of production and composition, giving a different feel to their style.
This has a lot to do not only with the production work but also with the mixing and mastering, which strikes a balance between the extreme nature of In Conquered’s music and the orchestral elements present in each track. In every track, you can clearly hear the sounds of the riffs and crushing guitar riffs alongside the bass, and the percussion that unleashes each beat in a rather brutal way. There is a fundamental difference from previous works here, although perhaps that is why the guitars don’t sound as overwhelming as they once did. In any case, it’s a great sonic achievement, it must be said.
The artwork for “The Golgotha Chronicles” isn’t entirely original, especially the cover, though the truth is that the art featured on the album isn’t just adequate—it’s impressive. And even if some might find it off-putting, it starkly depicts what the biblical text describes, which is ultimately the theme of this conceptual work.
In Conquered took a risk, setting aside what they had been doing in previous works and venturing into a much more sublime production. For Death Metal purists, this might be a step down. For us, it’s an evolution—a positive one, at that—that broadens the scope of Jordan Varela’s project into other areas and perhaps refreshes his musical approach in some way.
There are no official music videos for In Conquered, let alone for this EP, but we’re sharing a lyric video for the track “Wolf In The Shepherd’s Garden”—one of the best songs on this release—and we’re also providing the links to find In Conquered on social media, follow them, and support this project, as well as the contacts where you can get this EP in physical format…..
https://visionofgodrecords.com
https://www.extremerecords.com.br
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100033144493550
