Over 40 years of metal’s biological urge (and a hefty lack of restraint) has resulted in some incomprehensibly large catalogs. No one should have to listen to anywhere from 13 to 15 [Luca Turilli’s] Rhapsody [of Fire] albums just to get caught up for a new release. So each week (as required and/or able), we’re offering a selection of prime(r)(er) cuts to get you up to speed. Without further ado, welcome to…
“I first heard Entombed on Earache’s invaluable Metal: A Headbanger’s Compilation CD set, a way of discovering music I truly miss in the modern age. Naturally, I was greeted with “Left Hand Path,” which opened my eyes to the melodic possibilities of Swedish death metal with the legendary Phantasm coda. I had no idea that was a horror theme at the time but figuring that out made me enjoy Entombed more. They were like me, I thought—dudes who liked spooky movies and death metal. Their first three records (Left Hand Path, Clandestine, and Wolverine Blues) have zero bad songs, and while I’ve stuck largely with that trio over their less consistent but still overall worthwhile later output, there’s been a fair share of highlights across their post-Wolverine career. The coming of Entombed A.D. was a treat to my nostalgic ears, as Back to the Front was effectively a better Serpent Saints, an album I enjoyed when it dropped back in 2007. I think everyone who considers themselves a death metal fan has one or more Entombed memories—a favorite song, moment, riff, or what have you—and this playlist involves some of mine.1 From the awesomely ridiculous (LG’s vocal “fill” at the beginning of “Demon”) to the ridiculously awesome (the massive start-stop riff in “Stranger Aeons”), here’s a collection of the songs that come to mind when I hear the name Entombed.”
– Diabolus in Muzaka
- Entombed, Left Hand Path, 1990
– “Left Hand Path”
– “Drowned”
– “But Life Goes On” - Clandestine, 1991
– “Living Dead”
– “Stranger Aeons”
– “Chaos Breed” - Wolverine Blues, 1993
– “Wolverine Blues”
– “Demon”
– “Full of Hell” - To Ride, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth, 1997
– “To Ride, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth” - Uprising, 2000
– “Seeing Red”
– “Say It in Slugs” - Morning Star, 2001
– “Chief Rebel Angel”
– “Fractures”
– “About to Die” - Inferno, 2003
– “That’s When I Became a Satanist” - Serpent Saints – The Ten Amendments, 2007
– “Serpent Saints”
– “Amok”
– “The Dead, the Dying and the Dying to Be Dead” - Entombed A.D., Back to the Front, 2014
– “Kill to Live”
– “Pandemic Rage”
– “Eternal Woe” - Dead Dawn, 2016
– “Total Death”
– “Silent Assassin”
Entombed A.D.’s 3rd album Bowels of Earth will be released on August 30th worldwide via Century Media.
We’re all about equality at AMG Inc. Our legal department says we have to be, and it keeps the bowels of this place running smoothly. One person gets a playlist, then everyone wants a one, and soon there’s blood in the water cooler. So have it your way, animals. Everyone gets a playlist. An oh so brief playlist. Trust me, it’s for the best.
Today’s chapter: Brothers from Another Mother
- Angry Metal Guy
– Rage – “The Edge of Darkness”
– Iron Maiden – “The Edge of Darkness” - Steel Druhm
– Trouble – “Rain”
– Novembers Doom – “Rain” - Dr. Wvrm
– Blind Guardian – “Mirror Mirror”
– Candlemass – “Mirror Mirror” - Sentynel
– Black Sites – “Monochrome”
– Collide – “Monochrome” - Grymm
– Madonna – “Rain”
– Samael – “Rain” - Kronos
– Ulcerate – “Beneath”
– Meshuggah – “Beneath” - El Cuervo
– Iron Maiden – “Heaven Can Wait”
– Meat Loaf – “Heaven Can Wait” - Mark Z.
– Counterparts – “Collapse”
– Cruciamentum – “Collapse” - Diabolus in Muzaka
– Rage Against the Machine – “Wake Up”
– Suicide Silence – “Wake Up” - L. Saunders
– Porcupine Tree – “Hatesong”
– The Haunted – “Hate Song” - Eldritch Elitist
– Paladin – “Awakening”
– Unleash the Archers – “Awakening” - GardensTale
– Devin Townsend – “Genesis”
– Paladin – “Genesis” - Master of Muppets
– Altars of Grief – “Iris”
– Goo Goo Dolls – “Iris” - TheKenWord
– The Black Dahlia Murder– “Jars”
– Chevelle – “Jars” - Cherd
– Khemmis – “Isolation”
– Altars of Grief – “Isolation” - Holdeneye
– Testament – “Burnt Offerings”
– Iced Earth – “Burnt Offerings” - Carcharodon
– Cult of Luna – “Eternal Kingdom”
– Evnen – “Eternal Kingdom” - Twelve
– October Falls – “III”
– Theia – “III” - Emya
– Sylvaine – “Abeyance”
– Be’lakor – “Abeyance”
