Septa, the self-proclaimed “alternative” band from Odessa, Ukraine, released their
single, “Golem”, five years ago on November 15, 2019. Since then, their country has been rattled first by the COVID-19 pandemic, and then by the escalation of the Crimean War of 2016 into the Russo-Ukrainian War that rages on today. Yet the powerful message of this song still rings true. Instrumentation and Arrangement:
is song’s message is tragic but not soul-crushing, but the same cannot be said about the instrumentals. A chord and a simple six-note arpeggio make up the brief intro of two seconds before Eugene’s voice comes in. e first stanza is delivered with a lot of sonic space: the guitar chords and cymbals ring out for measures and the bass is slow. Immediately aterwards, as the people singing begin their journey, a strong, driving rhythm takes hold, with the gritty bass tone and incessant cymbals standing out. e beat soon intensifies to the point where it sounds almost like a machine. Towards the end of the section, the sound once again opens up, set against the piercing lyrics: “Coming undone/One last time/In these lames we’re coming undone/Redeeming ourselves for one last time/is is the truth they won’t understand.” en, another driving beat, this one slower and heavier, begins. Ater yet another reverb-filled guitar-based underpins the next stanza, the first driving rhythm comes in to conclude the song. Vocals:
Eugene Tymchyck augments his already powerful voice by tracking three or more harmonies for his melody. Using his wide vocal range, he creates a sound that is not only

immensely evocative and strong, but also a reminder of the mass of oppressed humans who need to deliver this message.
Lyrics:
On the topic of the message, “Golem” has a very dire but eerily hopeful one. I think that this mentality is best encapsulated in this stanza: “I would ofer my life instead of yours/If there was a chance.” Humanity has not given up on each other, and loving hearts still beat, following Jesus’ example and putting themselves out for others. Yet the world has come to a point where even they must struggle to retain hope