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Holy Lord of Moses... this is Entombed back with a vengeance. I've heard so many of you naysayers out there decrying Entombed as a washed up act, incapable of producing meaningful music. Guess what? You'll have to save such phrases for Metallica. Entombed are back.
Of course, they never really left, but here's a quick history lesson for those of you new to the band or their ever-evolving sound. Left Hand Path (1990) and Clandestine (1991) are widely regarded as foundational albums to the New Wave of Swedish Death Metal (NWOSDM). Wolverine Blues (1993) can be considered their most accessible album to date, going so far as to have had a deal with Marvel Comics to include the titular character on the album cover [on one of two versions of that album]. Can you say crossover appeal? This album sported the Sunlight Studios death metal sound along with some rock-n-roll elements.
And then things went really sour with Earache Records. After some lengthy legal wrangling, Sweden's favorite (or most-hated) sons were free to record again. Now on their own floating imprint, Threeman Recordings, Entombed put out some material that has been called "death-n-roll" and plenty of eyebrows were raised. To Ride, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth received mixed reviews in 1997. Then Nicke Andersson left to concentrate on his band the Hellacopters, and Same Difference was released in 1998. It sounded premature, particularly in light of Andersson's leaving, and uneven. Then came the very-Motorhead sounding Uprising in 2000. Just who were Entombed any more?
Apparently touring with Iron Maiden and Slayer, two bands that have influenced countless others, Entombed got re-energized and regained their focus. The result is Morning Star, a killer album of menacing sounds that could have easily been co-written by Jeff Hanneman or Kerry King. Not unlike Slayer's God Hates Us All, Entombed's latest has reverted to topics of Lucifer, Satan, and 666. The songs sound like they could have been released at the time of any of the first three Entombed albums, perhaps most logically between Clandestine and Wolverine Blues.
I'll save some of the comments that have been written elsewhere and refer you instead to this very well done interview: [www.digitalmetal.com/interviews.asp?iID=2390 ]. Morning Star is a return to form for these well-traveled Death Metal veterans. If you've been put off by the last three Entombed albums, do yourself a favor and get reacquainted with the band. This is metal at its best in 2002. Now if we could only get Metallica and Megadeth to tour with Iron Maiden and Slayer.... [Note: Mention of EP releases was omitted in this article; there have been 6 of them so far.]
| Tracklist |
| 1. Chief Rebel Angel |
| 2. I For An Eye |
| 3. Bringer Of Light |
| 4. Ensemble Of The Restless |
| 5. Out Of Heaven |
| 6. Young Man Nihilist |
| 7. Year One Now |
| 8. Fractures |
| 9. When It Hits Home |
| 10. City Of Ghosts |
| 11. About To Die |
| 12. Mental Twin |
: 37.21
| Buy other Entombed albums |
