ALBUM REVIEW: Entrails – Rise Of The Reaper

Swedish Death Metal titans ENTRAILS are back with a brand new album of HM-2 heavy Entombed worship. With some killer records preceding this release, I am sure this will be devastating. Could the artwork be a hint that the band are going to be bringing back the stellar sounds on “The Tomb Awaits”?

Starting with a cinematic introduction, this album could be something different to any precursor with a much more traditional Heavy Metal beginning, but we shall see what lies ahead. Of course the first thing we hear is a Boss HM-2 riddled guitar riff grooving into existence over upbeat drums with a classic “Ugh” bellowed over them, soaring leads meeting this rhythmic juggernaut beautifully. There is definite jump towards the more melodic bands like At The Gates which becomes clear very quickly, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as long as the dancing melodic riffs are met with plenty of meaty groove. Songs like “Miscreation” continue in the more epic feel of the introduction, that almost feels like it’s more suited to a Power Metal album but the savage guitars that follow this introduction are definitely what I was hoping for on this album as the band chug out filthy carnage with unending catchy instrumental hooks and snarled vocals. The record is pretty well balanced with some melodic songs giving an upbeat and easily accessible touch to the album for newcomers while still offering plenty of gruesome bangers for the old school Death Metal fans which I think is the bigger part of their audience. With a classic Metal Blade Death Metal release production that has certainly been present on the later releases of Entrails, this album entwines quite a few elements from both the Stockholm and Gothenburg sound while keeping their own sound intact rather than feeling like pure worship material. I think “The Tomb Awaits” and “Raging Death” are both vastly superior albums but this is still a really enjoyable record with plenty of violence, grisly riffs, vomited LG Petrov style vocals and pounding drums to keep you entranced by pure Swedish Death Metal obliteration. For a taste of the better parts of this album definitely check out “The Pyre” which is a veritable Swedeath banger of the highest order. Excellent work guys, while imperfect this is still a brilliant album and definitely will be a highlight for fans of the more melodic Swedeath, which did sacrifice some of the bite Entrails had, but of course they are entitled to evolve. -7.5/10