One can make the claim that all Swedish death metal sounds the same, or at the very least eerily similar to one another. To the layman or non-fanatic this might well be true; the under-educated death metal fan won’t be able to differentiate between Grave and Entombed, or Bloodbath and Morbid, which is unfortunate. As a longtime fan of the genre I can spot differences immediately, as can most of the dedicated DM contingency. That said Entrails encompasses the early 90’s death metal sound to an absolutely criminal degree, but it’s oh so good! In fact, it’s perfect!

For a band that pretty much lay dormant for nearly 20-years they came back pretty strong and brought some of the old country’s roots with them. Has this particular sound been done already to near-perfection? Yes, but you might offer a small reprieve for Entrails because, in all seriousness, they’re just insanely heavy and horrifically brutal from start to finish. The Tomb Awaits represents a piece of time when the death metal movement was so underground National Geographic couldn’t have unearthed it. Coming off Tales from the Morgue Entrails embodies the deepest recess of filth and musician degradation that one band can legally offer the public. This might well be a contender for album of the year for me; it’s really that good and that destructive! You can see where bands like Bloodbath found that elite sound. The opening clean tone title track sets the mood for something tempestuous right around the bend; it’s literally the calm before the storm, and it’s implemented so well that one can’t help but be drawn like the Pied Piper’s rats towards the gates of Hell…we all go willingly. From the anguished screams in “End of all Existence” to the chugging guitar riffs in “Unleashed Wrath” this album is the single best death metal album I’ve heard this year. The production is of top notch quality with every note shredded accordingly in my brutalized ears, and the vocals are never buried in the mix, which is much better than a plethora of musical mud. These guys know their death metal and I sincerely hope they garner so much underground accolades that they can’t even sleep without creating more music of this constitution.

Many people might call this a rehash or a blueprint for other albums before it, and they may be right. However, following that train of thought, how many bands are doing this style effectively in this modern era? How many Swedish bands have embraced the sound to such a pinpoint degree and made an album no less viable or entertaining? Have we heard this before? Of course we have, but we can hear it again as long as it’s done to such a high point and Entrails is the second coming of the Swedish death metal movement. Even the mighty Bloodbath didn’t create anything this brutal, and that’s just a fact. Each track on here represents the most violent, disgusting, repugnant metal music available in the best, most defiantly honest delivery possible. The reason I can fully back this band and album is because you can’t recreate that ancient sound without living and breathing it. Here in the U.S. we have so many good death metal bands that are producing some stellar music, but the Swedish scene seems to have given way to nostalgic recollection and downright disgusting embellishment from ne’er do wells. As “Total Death” trudges into my face at full speed I can’t help but imagine myself being in the middle of Sweden back in the early 90’s and imploring these guys not to quit for nearly two decades! I remember well when Grave, Nihilist/Entombed, Convulse and a slew of other great European bands emerged from the death metal underground and it was a fantastic shot in the arm at 18-years of age. Now, at nearly 40, I’m revitalized momentarily with another shot into my fleshy parts with Entrails’ brash attempt to assuage the nay-sayers with some truly punishing music!   

I beg you; find this CD, record, 8-track, reel-to-reel, whatever you can score (just don’t steal it!!) and listen to this majesty with all of your horrible soul. You’ll be taken to places you didn’t think were still simmering below the surface.

TRACK LISTING

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*Comments:

1.  The Tomb Awaits
2.  Unleashed with Wrath
3.  Crawling Death
4.  Eaten by the Dead
5.  To Live Is to Rot
6.  Undead
7.  The Slithering Below
8.  End of All Existence
9.  Collection of Cracked Heads
10.  Remains in Red
11.  Total Death
12.  Unspeakable Obscenities

Total playing time:  43:08

Release Date: September 9, 2011
Label: Dark Descent Records

Entrails - The Tomb Awaits

Reviewer: Chris

September 27, 2011