Entombed is a name that will always be remembered. Through decades they developed themselves often and always found a particular sound that was just them, especially early on with the buzz-saw tone of ‘Left Hand Path’ and ‘Clandestine’, for example, then venturing into a more ‘death ‘n’ roll’ sound.
Multiple line-up changes through the years, and album after album, Entombed eventually met its demise in 2014, but all was not lost. Out of the ashes, four of the last five members rose up and continued on together as a new act with the name Entombed A.D., with its debut release Back to the Front being released the same year.
Two years later, the follow up to that debut has just recently been released, Dead Dawn. Just like the debut, it is built to draw in the fans of the traditional Entombed as well as stay fresh and push forward and attract new fans.
‘Midas in Reverse’ is the album opener, and straight away the assault on the ears is prominent and a great gauge of what to expect from the rest of the album – it’s certainly not written for the weak necked headbanger. Title track ‘Dead Dawn’ brings in more challenges to the listener, thanks to its changes in pace at various stages; all while Lars-Göran Petrov lays waste with his destructive bellow of a voice, the songs, with all their metal intricacy, enough to grab the interest of any metal fan.
The next few tracks follow suit. Not to take credit away from the band, but it is a noticeable writing formula that seems to be used. That said, with thanks to its time changes and hooks, what may not grab you or sound a little stale on the album is extremely likely to grab you live. Entombed A.D. are reliable for that at least.
Halfway through the album comes ‘Total Death’, the shortest track on the album and written at a pace that only seems to want to get faster and with a solo that lives up to that standard, sounding almost as though it wrote itself. ‘The Winner Has Lost’ cries out sounding like a mix of sludge and thrash which, combined with ‘Total Death’, steal the album.
The final tracks play out just as the album started: a blend of time signatures and great writing ability. The whole release is a great listen and something that does enough in its short play through; this 40 minute release may not be enough for all traditional Entombed fans, but Entombed A.D. have shown they are not short on ideas, and are only just getting started.
