Entrails - Grip of Ancient Evil

Angry Metal Guy 60

Rooted in the fertile graveyard turf of the Swedeath golden years, veterans Entrails occupy an interesting place in the revivalist old school Swedish death metal scene. Originally conceived in 1990 by sole original member Jimmy Lundqvist, the band lay dormant until Lundqvist resurrected the outfit with new bandmates in tow, unleashing a couple of long-gestating demos before eventually releasing their impressive debut Tales from the Morgue in 2010. Entrails started out strongly, backing up the debut with gnarled, grisly platters of throwback Swedeath goodness, courtesy of 2011’s The Tomb Awaits, and 2013’s Raging Death. A solid, if unremarkable holding pattern largely ensued during the intervening years, the band not dropping the ball, yet failing to rise to the loftier standards of their early work. Still, when done well, old school death of the Swedish variety is like metal comfort food, and these dudes are consistently reliable. Can eighth opus Grip of Ancient Evil shake off the rust and reinvigorate Entrails to their potent glory days?

Listeners should not expect any drastic reinvention or innovation from these meat & taters brawlers. Influences are tattered and worn, as Grip of Ancient Evil sets the buzzsawing tone early in the piece, essentially a modern continuation of the classic Swedeath sound inspired by scene legends, Grave, Dismember and Entombed. Entrails’ steadfast dedication to their old timey craft has served them well; however, the dreaded Law of Diminishing Returns threatens to derail their reliable track record deep into their career. After an unnecessary though obligatory scene-setting opener, “Untreatable Decay” kicks the album in proper. The song forms the blueprint of the Entrails sound, unleashing thunderous rhythms, tasty leads, and HM-2 armored riffage to bludgeoning effect.

Chunky tones are on point, riffs suitably beefy, while the mix of tempo shifts, thumping grooves, and requisite spooky, horror-themed atmospheres cast a familiar shadow across the album. New vocalist Julian Bellenox (Nazghor, Morphetik) fits the part, providing an authoritatively punchy rhythmic point of difference. His hoarse, throaty growls lend a brutal edge and thickness to the already meaty material. Otherwise, it is largely business as usual in the Entrails camp. The album’s darker, nastier vibes, infectious hooks, and more direct, punchy attack breathe welcome life into this long-standing, rotting entity. Grip of Ancient Evil features many of the expected traits of the classic Swedeath style; however, Entrails sound reinvigorated and urgent. Aptly titled “Skin ’em All” rips you a new one, relentlessly tearing through thrashy soundscapes, headbangable grooves, and gruesome, Bloodbath-esque terrain. Other noteworthy prime cuts include the doom-laden, dynamic shifts and anthemic hooks of “Hunt in the Shadows,” rugged, leaden riffage and punishing grooves on “Fed to the Dead,” and thrashing, urgent pummel of “Wings of Death.”

Not everything is safe and predictable. Barnstorming closer “Consumed by Insects” shifts surprisingly into a brief acoustic break, an odd though refreshing twist. Meanwhile, guest vocalist Per “Hellbutcher” Gustavsson (Friends of Hell, Nifelheim) lends a feral, blackened edge to the brooding “Inner Demon.” Performances are dependably solid from a line-up that remains fairly steady amongst the regular line-up upheavals plaguing the band. Bellenox is a refreshing addition, while band leader Lundqvist remains the pivotal focal point and songwriting chief, unleashing an extra beefy collection of buzzsaw riffs and some genuinely catchy death metal anthems. Packing a hefty wallop, the boisterous rhythms of Arvid Borg (drums) and Benjamin Andersson (bass) form a sturdy rhythmic backbone, coupled with a dynamic, crisp, though appropriately burly production, A solidly engaging listen, featuring a handful of cut above tunes, Grip of Ancient Evil remains a relatively safe listen, a step up from the previous album, but unable to match the band’s superior early work. Meanwhile, extra grime to dirty up their rather sanitary sound profile may have created a rustier edge and grittier sound.

Locking tightly into the confines of their established sound, Entrails refuse to budge from their old school ethos. While a predictability permeates each release, Grip of Ancient Evil features a little more pep and energy, ravenous hooks, and chunky, brutal edge to please longtime listeners and potentially reel in some new devotees. Nothing mind-blowing here, but Entrails reaffirm their status as an endearing, reliable force in the nostalgic old school Swedeath market, with an addictive, bone-crushing collection of grisly gems.



Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 8 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Hammerheart Records
Websites: entrails666.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/entrails666
Releases Worldwide: July 18th, 2025

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