The difference between the Gothenburg and Stockholm sounds — the dominant streams of 1990s Swedish death metal — comes down to melancholy vs. menacing. While there's definitely some crossover in musical moods, the former tends to be more mourning, while the latter sounds like you should get ready to mourn — something very bad is about to happen.
So it is with Entrails, a band who nail the old-school Swedeath sound because they ARE an old-school Swedeath band; they originally formed in 1990 but broke up without officially releasing anything, only to rise from their premature grave in 2008. Since then, they've released four full-lengths, including their latest, Obliteration. The album embodies the menacing sound so much that its second track, "Epitome of Death," contains a section reminiscent of Star Wars' "The Imperial March." The similarities to the film end there, however, as the guitars don't resemble the hum of a lightsaber so much as the buzz of a chainsaw.
In a parallel universe where Entombed didn't diverge from the Left Hand Path, this might have been the result. Although Entrails occasionally get a little rocky in mid-paced mashers, the eerie melodies that descend upon the chunky riffs ultimately maintain the metal mood and prevent them from veering too far toward death 'n' roll. Obliteration is a worthwhile addition to the Swedish death metal canon, even though, despite its title, it does little to destroy any understood notions about the sound.
(Metal Blade)So it is with Entrails, a band who nail the old-school Swedeath sound because they ARE an old-school Swedeath band; they originally formed in 1990 but broke up without officially releasing anything, only to rise from their premature grave in 2008. Since then, they've released four full-lengths, including their latest, Obliteration. The album embodies the menacing sound so much that its second track, "Epitome of Death," contains a section reminiscent of Star Wars' "The Imperial March." The similarities to the film end there, however, as the guitars don't resemble the hum of a lightsaber so much as the buzz of a chainsaw.
In a parallel universe where Entombed didn't diverge from the Left Hand Path, this might have been the result. Although Entrails occasionally get a little rocky in mid-paced mashers, the eerie melodies that descend upon the chunky riffs ultimately maintain the metal mood and prevent them from veering too far toward death 'n' roll. Obliteration is a worthwhile addition to the Swedish death metal canon, even though, despite its title, it does little to destroy any understood notions about the sound.