with
Entombed 
The Hobo Review 

Entombed � Inferno 
Label: Koch Records
Rating: 

Entombed have had an extremely tough history. The band first formed in 1987 under the name of Nihilist, this incarnation however was short lived, and they split in 1989. After narrowly missing a record deal with Necrosis, the band reformed as Entombed in late 1989. Entombed�s first demo got signed with Earache Records, and since then have set out to conquer the world.

After their first full-length death metal debut in 1990 (Left Hand Path), Entombed had already conquered the Swedish Underground Metal scene. Their Hollowman EP some three years later, saw them break through into the international scene. Inadequate band members hindered the band to the point of breakup, and stunted the bands� musical growth. 

Constantly wavering, the public was unsure of what was to be the future of Entombed. In 2000 however, the bone crushing album Uprising was released. Entombed was back and ready to reclaim their throne. 

Since then, fighting off a massive collection of old band members (seventeen to be precise) and two bitter pain-in-the-ass labels (Earache & East West), Entombed have managed to pull through hell and pull together the most brutal release of 2003. Loyal to their fans and themselves, the album represents the uncompromising and relentless nature of the band, refusing to budge from their brutal style even for an instant.

From the first track Retaliation, you are engulfed in layers of downtuned guitars (compliments of Uffe Cederlund & AlX Hellid), the deep, dull roar of Jörgen Sandström�s bass and the inexorable pounding of "Flinta" Stjärnvind�s skins. The brutal vocal style of L.G. Petrov has evolved into a powerful, gravel-throated bellow, complimenting the new outfit nicely.

From the deep groove of The Fix Is In to the fury that is That�s When I Became A Satanist. The album hits you in the face like the black, steel capped and spiked Doc Martin boot of Hando (Russell Crowe) in Romper Stomper, and while not maintaining the speed of Morning Star they make up for it in slightly-death metal style brutality. 

This is how metal should be played; the album is dark, deep, brutal, relentless, empowering and persistent. The message seems to be that these boys are gonna be around for a fair while yet, and nothing � come record companies, come lack of media coverage, come the band members themselves, come all hell � is going to be enough to stop the juggernaut.