So without further ado let's get to the reviews and why Left Hand Path owes so much to Entombed. I discovered Entombed I think it was the summer of 1993. I had just bought the Hollowman EP on tape and my family and I were off for a weekend vacation in the Ozarks in a little witchy town called Eureka Springs. I sat in the rear facing seat of our station wagon, popped the tape in my Walkman and slung the foam covered headphones over my shaggy headed ears and listened to Entombed for the first time. You have to understand one thing; before this moment my favorite bands were Metallica, Type O Negative, Slayer, Danzig and Testament. I was 15 and listening to death metal for the first time. My eyes widened, my heart started to pound and my head started to nod. I was a changed man and was never, ever the same again. From that day forward I was walking the left hand path as some would say. It wouldn't be until years later that I discovered their 1990 album fittingly titled Left Hand Path. I have been a die hard fan since and can't get enough of that Death 'n Roll sound. If you haven't discovered this band they are highly worth your time. At the bottom of this discography review will be a link to the LHP YouTube page where you can listen to their entire discography for yourself. But please, find some albums that are your favorites and buy them. Whether that be a physical CD, vinyl or digital download, support this band and buy their merch if you really like them. If your a true fan of the metal, support the metal! And on to the reviews...
But Life Goes On Demo 1989
This demo set the tone (pardon the pun) for the buzzsaw guitar sound Entomed practically invented. Performing as a three piece; Nick, L.G. and Uffe created something that would go on to inspire countless other aspiring guitarists. This demo sold 900 copies on tape and for a demo the quality that is available on YouTube is pretty good! And if you are looking to get that classic Swedish Death Metal sound you'll have to get your hands on an old Boss Heavy Metal HM-2 pedal and crank all the knobs to 11! Kvlt
Left Hand Path 1990
Here we go, Entombed's first full length complete with an unauthorized sample of the theme music from the 1979 film Phantasm. This album does not disappoint. The guitars are in your face, the drums are relentless and the vocals are both brutal and vary in range and style just enough to keep it interesting. A must have for fans. Kvlt, Classic
Crawl EP 1991
This is a no holds barred, in your face, fast and furious, pedal to the metal three song EP. Uffe and Alex's guitars are a powerhouse of brutalizing riffs and the leads are inspired and seem to catch you off guard. And speaking of catching you off guard, there are some brief moments of clean vocals that jump out here and there and fit perfectly. A short and intense piece of rock for breaking the speed limit to in your beat up jalopy. Kvlt, Road Music
Clandestine 1991
I can sum this album up in six words; break downs done the right way. The Clandestine album is considered by most fans as their landmark album. This is the one that most people claim to be the bands best. It's not my personal favorite but it is 100% essential. There are samples that create a lot of interest, doomy break downs, rock groove and the ever present buzzsaw guitars, crust punk D-beat drums and vocals coming at you like Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Full Metal Jacket. Essential. Classic
Stranger Aeons 1992
Yet again more amazing and fitting break downs. These guys know how to do it right with break downs serving the song instead of vice versa which I hear a lot of today. Kvlt
Enjoy this official video for the title track!
Hollowman EP 1993
Here we are my personal favorite and the album that means so much to me. On this EP we hear more grooves and more use of melody and catchy riffs. The Entombed crew travel further down that Death 'n Roll road and continue to shape and create their sound on this one. Kvlt, Classic
Here is another official video for the title track!
Wolverine Blues 1993
Here is my second favorite album! The leads and riffs are memorable and you'll be humming along to the songs in your head hours later. The vocals are brutal and intelligible and overall the album has a great rock vibe about it. This is an essential album that every metal head must hear and eventually should own. Classic
Yet another official video from the Wolverine Blues album!
Wreckage 1997
After a long break Entombed came back with a much dirtier sound and an even heavier rock and roll vibe. This EP really threw fans for a loop. Imagine anticipating the next album for so many years just to have this EP shoved in your face that included lots of strange covers and even a remix. The only original song was even a stretch to appreciate. Avoid this album like the plague and absolutely do not make the mistake of listening to this as your first exposure to the band. Shite
Here's an official video and the only one worth listening to on this E.P. ...
To Ride, Shoot Straight And Speak The Truth 1997
Two words...More Cowbell!! Alright here we can hear a return to form. At least for the most part. On this album the band seem to really put their foot down in the Death 'n Roll soil here. Less Death more Roll though. It's catchy, melodic, a little punk, a little crust, a little death, a little good ole rock 'n roll this is a good album. There is a piano interlude that is sort of haunting but I miss the horror samples. Considering there's no real hits here though I wouldn't call it essential, cult or classic. It just is. I know what your going to say here, it's death metal who needs hits. Well...I do, when I've come to expect such emotional bonding from a band so dear to my heart. Also is that a harmonica I'm hearing on Uffe's Horrorshow?
Same Difference 1998
Oh my God...if it weren't for a few rocking tunes on here I would be crying. I've heard folks say that "everybody got a free pass in the 90's" but I feel like some of this is inexcusable. Gone are the buzzsaw guitars, gone is L.G.'s drill sergeant vocals, gone are the crust punk drums. If I had heard this album as a stand alone record I might have liked it. I mean I loved the 90's. But this is a prime example that some bands best work is with in it's first few albums. C'mon guys. Shite
Black Juju EP 1999
Alright, now we're getting somewhere. Much more bluesy and L.G. has really honed in on his new vocal style. This EP is four cover songs and one original off the Same Difference album and we know how I feel about that. These covers from Alice Cooper, Captain Beyond and Hey On Glue suit the band much better than the covers on the Wreckage EP. I'm pleasantly surprised. Kvlt
Monkey Puss: Live In London 1999
Released on VHS (the way it was meant to be) this has decent sound and great filming and cinematography. The guys seem to be having a good time and actually move around and have fun instead of staring at their shoes which you find with some death metal bands. This was also a live album but if your like me and you missed all these amazing shows back in the day YouTube is your friend. I recommend this for 420!
Uprising 2000
YEEESSSSS!! Back to form here with their classic guitar sound and I feel like L.G.'s vocals have benefited from the previous change in style. This is driving music if I ever heard it! There's some interesting doomy breakdowns, the crust drums are back, the leads are back and they just generally sound pissed off again which is a very good thing. Their detour off course seems to have been beneficial as you can hear in the fantastic blues riffing and they generally seem to slide into some laid back grooves here and there which lends well to the songs. I wouldn't call it a classic but definitely essential listening. Road Music
Morning Star 2001
Same as above, this is a great album with the best of the classic Entombed sound mixed with the best of the new. There are some interesting vocal moments and some inspired and out of the box guitar moments that hint slightly at Mastadon? Yes I just said that. But of course this was before The Mast even put out their first album. Don't believe me? Listen to When It Hit's Home. Essential listening for sure.
Inferno 2003
Oh you guys want to crank out another quality album that gives us what we want as Entombed fans? I can play that game too...Same as above! Really though, this is another great album. Fantastic break downs and some seriously heavy death/doom moments. There are some surprising twists and turns as usual but over all keeps on rollin' like a steam train. Death 'n Roll forever! Essential listening.
Here's a great video for the track Retaliation!
Unreal Estate Live 2005
To be honest I haven't listened to this album and the only stuff I can find for you is one live clip from the performance. This is crazy stuff indeed and if you ever questioned Entombed's artistic pursuits this gives you more to ponder on. This live appearance was at the Royal Opera Hall in Stockholm with the Royal Ballet. You gotta check this out!
When In Sodom EP 2006
Well this is a heavier affair for sure! L.G.'s vocals are much deeper and fuller. Overall it's more Death than Roll this time around. Uffe does not appear on this EP and you really can get a good listen to Alex's riffs and gain an understanding of how important he is to the Entombed sound. He has brought Entombed back to their early 90's glory days on this one. Also worth noting is the album ender Amen which is a emotive and artsy affair. Essential and possibly a Classic.
Serpent Saints - The Ten Amendments
Oh this one is fantastic! The album opens with a piano segment that checks in at creep factor number 13! More of the serious death vocals that have variety and typical L.G. style. Again no Uffe on this album but the songs have not suffered. If anything they are harder, heavier and overall just meaner. This is undoubtedly essential listening and dare I say will be a Classic.
Amok Single 2012
FanFREAKINtastic! This song gets me excited for the next full album! It has all the core elements along with some new, unique and catchy moments. As usual they hit you hard with their tried and true sound then throw you a curveball that is a home run! As of right now...Kvlt.
When In Sodom Revisited 2012
I haven't been able to get my ears on this entire album yet but I have heard the cover of King Diamonds "Welcome Home". I would have expected better considering this is a cover of a song from one of my favorite metal bands done by one of my favorite metal bands. But overall it just sounds rough and the vocals needed some more production and just generally more practice and reworking before they put this to disc. Overall the cover is good, with spot on guitars but again the vocals could have been better. This is neither cult or essential.
Candlemass vs. Entombed 2013
Since we are talking covers I had to include their cover of Candlemass' "Black Dwarf. I enjoyed this a lot more than the King Diamond cover. It's solid and interesting with great solo work. L.G. does try his best at his Messiah Marcolin impression but fortunately it's only for a second. Nice try but we're ready for the new album. Again, neither essential nor cult.
Ready to listen for yourself? Follow this link to the Left Hand Path YouTube page to listen to the entire discography!
Find me on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Left-Hand-Path/407216532684590
Remember to find me on Etsy for a huge selection of vintage horror VHS and LHP goodies at https://www.etsy.com/shop/LeftHandPath?ref=si_shop.
And remember, no matter what you do...Stay on the Left Hand Path!
/,,/ Rawhead Rowan /,,/
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