Entombed - Serpent Saints

Having experienced the highs and also the lows of the music business throughout their 20-year career, i.e. ceaseless line-up turmoil and major label drop-outs among other things, Sweden’s Death Metal legends Entombed survived enough hard knocks that would break the will of ten zillion of other bands. Not Entombed, whose urge to produce some serious Death Metal have just grown stronger, harder, nastier and darker and “Serpent Saints”, which marks the group's first release with drummer Olle Dahlstedt (Alpha Safari, ex-Misery Loves Co.) can clearly testify that.
Following the sterile Motorhead-driven rhythm of track one, "Serpent Saints” and the poorly blackish-“Masters of Death” things officially start to kick ass with the straight-for-the-jugular “Amok”, boasting a straightforward Death-meets-Punk approach and LG Petrov’s deep, throaty roar. Other standout tracks include the sinister,creepy “When In Sodom”, a track that wouldn’t be out of place in “Omen” soundtrack and the catchy-mid tempo grooves of “In The Blood”.
Although, “Serpents Saints” doesn’t rival such masterpieces as “Left Hand Path, “Wolverine Blues” and “Too Ride, Shoot Straight and Speak The Truth”, it is still a fierce and interesting brand of Death ‘n’ Roll that Entombed have managed to pull out of the fire. (7/10)

Band info: www.entombed.org
Label info: www.candlelightrecords.co.uk