ENTRAILS

With the style of their logo unashamedly ripped from fellow countrymen Entombed, you know you're in for a nostalgic-fuelled serving of old school Swedish death with Entrails. Originally existing as a band between 1990 and 1998, the Swedes recorded not one song. That's quite some feat for eight years in existence (albeit Entrails didn't exist in band form during the last four of those, rather as a writing mechanism for founding member Jimmy Lundqvist). Fast forward ten years, Entrails were resurrected and there's been no stopping 'em since, prolifically releasing material every year from 2009 including two demos, two full-length albums, and a split release with Ominous Crucifix. Now we have 'Raging Death', their third album and first since signing to Metal Blade last year. This newfound prolificacy makes Entrails something of an anachronism - that is, they struggled to record even a demo back in the day when the Swedish death scene they aligned with was thriving although they're now burgeoning twenty years too late. Well, "too late" is maybe a harsh judgement as there's still a listening audience for retro Scandinavian death and when it's as skilfully crafted as it is here, then Entrails are more than welcome [back] in the twenty first century. And at least they were born from the original scene (well, just Lundqvist and his songwriting talents) so carry a degree of authenticity about 'em rather than the plethora of substandard old school death revivalists (or plagiarists if I'm being less polite). A fully resonant sound and fine post-production polish through the mixing/mastering talents of Dan Swanö makes 'Raging Death' a hard-hitting record and with ten cuts of retro-infused, classic Swedish death that are infused with moments of thrash, groove and melancholic melodies thrown into the mix, Lundqvist has proven Entrails rebirth and continued creativity relevant.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Metal Blade

Album

RAGING DEATH

Review by Mark Holmes

RUNNING TIME:

45:55

RELEASE DATE:

13th May 2013

TRACK LISTING

1) In Pieces
2) Carved to the Bone
3) Bloodhammer
4) Headless Dawn
5) Cadaverous Stench
6) Descend to the Beyond
7) Death League
8) Chained and Dragged
9) Defleshed
10) The Cemetary Horrors

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

Sweden

"...ten cuts of retro-infused, classic Swedish death that are infused with moments of thrash, groove and melancholic melodies..."