ENTOMBED “Left Hand Path” /CD/

Re-release of the third full-length album by the legendary Swedish Death Metal/Death 'n' Roll band.
Entombed, one of the premier Death Metal bands of the early '90s, boldly ventured into new musical territory with "Wolverine Blues", the band's third excellent album in a row. The album marked a move away from band's Death Metal roots to the more traditional Hard Rock and Metal style onward called Death 'n' Roll which they would continue to explore with future albums. "Wolverine Blues" is such a departure from past efforts, in fact, it's debatable whether this music even qualifies as Death Metal, given its standard Rock characteristics: comprehensible vocals, steady tempos, and verse-chorus-verse songwriting. None of these characteristics is associated with Death Metal, and indeed, purists might perceive Entombed's development on "Wolverine Blues" as an abandonment of the very principles that won the band such underground acclaim in the first place. Some purists might even go so far as to consider the album a sellout. Most reasonable listeners, however - including even the most impassioned Death Metal purists - will likely find much to appreciate on "Wolverine Blues". It's that impressive.
Album also worth mentioning that it features L-G Petrov back on vocals.
For sure, Entombed's previous albums, "Left Hand Path" (1990) and "Clandestine" (1991), were excellent, among the finest Death Metal efforts of their time, but their stylistic trappings were well evident. The growled vocals, breakneck tempo shifts, and amorphous song structures, to cite a few key characteristics, were fairly inaccessible to the type of mainstream Metal listener. "Wolverine Blues", on the other hand, is that rare album brutal enough for the Death Metal crowd yet at the same time accessible enough for the Metal mainstream. For instance, the vocals of Lars-Göran Petrov are mostly comprehensible; however, they're delivered with such ferocity, they're as powerful as, if not more so than, the most guttural Death-growl. Likewise, the guitars of Uffe Cederlund and Alex Hellid riff along at a steady tempo, but they're so heavy, they cut like a buzzsaw (as on "Heavens Die") and pummel away like a jackhammer ("Demon"). Along with the drumming of Nicke Andersson, which is hard-hitting yet never to the point of blastbeat, it's the songwriting of "Wolverine Blues" that is most removed from the confines of Death Metal.
These are especially distinctive songs by Entombed, every single one each unique in its own way and graced with a memorable hook, particularly the album standouts "Wolverine Blues", "Hollowman" and "Out of Hand." Clearly, a lot can be made of Entombed's bold venture into new musical territory with "Wolverine Blues", and you can bet Metalheads will debate the album's stylistic merits for years to come. What's beyond argument, though, is that "Wolverine Blues" is the third impressive effort in a row by one of the best Metal bands of the early '90s, and as impressive as the past two albums were, this one is by far the most inviting and most deserving of widespread recognition!!
Guitar World Magazine labeled "Wolverine Blues" as "1994’s best Death Metal effort and quite possibly the finest Death Metal album of this decade". In 2005, "Wolverine Blues" was ranked number 494 in Rock Hard magazine's book of "The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time".
Earache Records, 1993/1999 (MOSH 082CDL). Made in UK.


Tracklist:
1. Eyemaster     3:18 
2. Rotten Soil     3:25 
3. Wolverine Blues     2:13 
4. Demon     3:17 
5. Contempt     4:32 
6. Full Of Hell     3:20 
7. Blood Song     3:23 
8. Hollowman     4:25 
9. Heavens Die     4:14 
10. Out Of Hand     3:08
Total playing time: 35:15


Samples:  http://earache.bandcamp.com