I admit that I wrote this review a while ago, in close conjunction with the release of the album, and realized that I completely neglected to post it. Late might be better than never, so enjoy and give it a listen if you haven't already.
Track Listing:
- No Cross Left Unturned
- Epitome Of Death
- Beyond The Flesh
- The Grotesque
- Obliterate
- Skulls
- Midnight Coffin
- Bonestorm
- Abyss Of Corpses
- Re-Animation Of The Dead
The ominous bells of ‘No Cross Left Unturned’ set the tone for a great death metal album. Every track on “Obliteration” exemplifies a modern take on the classic Swedish death sound. There is no straying away from the murderous and horror-flavored themes on this album, which is exactly what I love about Entrails. It’s undeniably catchy, which isn’t necessarily a phrase that can be associated with death metal (and which I’m reluctant to do, since it’s usually associated with radio-friendly, pop-ish junk). But to this death metal fan, the choruses are such that I feel like growling along with each one and headbanging in between. ‘Epitome Of Death’ and ‘Bonestorm’ are perfect examples of this. ‘Midnight Coffin’ may very well be my pick as one of the top tracks from the album due to the ominous atmosphere induced in the intro which then breaks into something more horrific. There is a nice blend of slower-paced and more upbeat tempos within “Obliteration”, providing a respite and a bit of an adrenaline rush at the right times.
Furthermore, this is an album that makes me unknowingly break speed limits while cruising on the highway. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the tempo and forget to glance at the speedometer, headbanging the entire trip. (Perhaps not objective, but I find this as a way in which I often judge albums). A word to the wise: keep your eyes out for police or speed traps if you listen to “Obliteration” in your vehicle. Unless you have the cash to fork over for speeding tickets.
I struggle to find a weak point within “Obliteration”. It may be a bit more polished than some of the previous Entrails albums, but this is to be expected with progression over the years. “Obliteration” still contains enough of that rawness that it can get away with being slightly more polished as the roots of the band are still obvious and remain strong. It’s no secret that I have immensely enjoyed each album that Entrails has released to date, and this one is no exception. While I doubt “Obliteration” will become my favorite album by these Swedes, it will definitely be in contention for my favorite album this year.
