Entombed - When In Sodom
- Released: 2006
- Label: Threeman Recordings
- Rating:
Anyone who is an avid reader of WTD knows that I’ve been a huge Entombed fan since their classic debut, Left Hand Path. WTD even had the honor of hosting their official message board, as well as hosting their official website. I’ve become friends with many bands through WTD, but friendships aside, I have to remain honest in my reviews.
Entombed has been on a long, hard road out of hell (or back into it, if you will) following 1997’s To Ride, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth. The loss of original drummer Nicke Andersson (The Hellacopters) certainly impacted the band’s songwriting at first, but the addition of Jörgen Sandström and Peter Stjärnvind helped steer the band back in the right direction. The albums that followed To Ride… haven’t exactly been able to compare to their earlier efforts, but each one has certainly had its share of stand-out songs.
As if the band hasn’t struggled enough, they have lost several key members. Bassist Sandström left the band in 2004 to pursue other projects, and guitarist Uffe Cederlund, who has played on every Entombed release up until now, left this past September.
I have to admit, I was a bit surprised to hear that L-G Petrov and Alex Hellid would carry on. They announced on their website that a new album, Serpent Saints, would be released on June 6th. It was later announced that the album would be pushed back until September 18th, and a 5-song EP, When In Sodom, would take its 06-06-06 release date. Just weeks prior to the EP’s release, longtime drummer Stjärnvind announced that he too was leaving the band.
Line-up changes and personal drama aside, When In Sodom met its release date, and fans around the globe waited in anticipation to hear what the ‘new’ Entombed would sound like. Much to the surprise of many, myself included, When In Sodom sounds more like Entombed than they have in years.
The opening riff of the first (and title) track had me hooked. It stands out among modern day ‘Tomb classics, such as “Chief Rebel Angel” and “Retaliation.” Musically there’s a hint of 2000’s punk-metal influenced Uprising. It’s very Slayer-iffic, but the choir on the chorus adds a creepy old Celtic Frost vibe.
“Carnage” is very reminiscent of the Clandestine sound. It’s probably one of the heaviest songs they’ve done over the last decade. “Thou Shalt Kill” and “Heresy” are both ridiculously heavy (the latter possessing a heavy Sabbath vibe). They are very much in touch with newer Entombed, but with an aggression they’ve been lacking in recent years. The child-like singing during “Heresy” ups the creep factor once again, making this a true stand-out release for Entombed.
The EP’s closer, “Amen,” is a very strange song. The lyrics are basically spoken over a bed of acoustic guitar and bass. The tempo remains the same throughout the entire 4:23, but it has a hypnotic quality that sucks you in.
The ‘Tomb sound pissed off again, and that’s a good thing. Perhaps Uffe is what’s been holding them back all these years. When In Sodom is a damn fine offering from Entombed. If it’s any indication of what Serpent Saints will be like, I’ll be greatly anticipating September 18th.
Reverend Sick | 06/16/2006