There were a couple of bands called Entrails in Sweden back in the early 90s during the days when the ‘Swedeath’ sound was craved for and opposed the more clinical cleaner sound that was emanating from Morrisound Studios around the same time. However, most of us will only know this current Entrails when they released their first full lengths in 2009 and 2010 (no I’m not naming them you can look them up) both of which helped to completely rejuvenate the so called Swedeath scene with a massive injection of rancid vitality and to some extent spearheaded the scenes revival as hundreds of acts have emerged since, not necessarily on the back of Entrails, but certainly influenced by them, even if obliquely or loosely.

The band has changed labels for this seventh scourging sonic purulence and immediately you hit play you know the band has retained their core putrid deathliness but also inserted a more technical and at times even more brutalising approach. This scene isn’t known for its technical prowess which is ridiculous because the musicians are some of the finest death metal has offered in the last few decades. Faultless and brimming with ideas ‘An Eternal Time Of Decay’ is as near a perfect old school death metal album as you’re ever likely to hear as the title intro piece sets the album down a gruesome path of sublime decayed ferocity. ‘Die To Death’ emits their trademark buzzsaw, chainsaw, whatever saw you care to mention guitar sound that cleaves limbs, disembowels and thoroughly guts you. The speed variations are awesome, effectively driving you through rabidity and slithering groove effortlessly on ‘Fear The End’. You cannot help but be hooked with their infectious double kick assaults, possessing deluges of melody to give those unexercised neck muscles a going over to.

This album teems with riffs, one after the other, each retaining corrosive power and dexterity as the bands technical prowess emerges via apocalyptic transitions. That apocalyptic descriptor fits the album cover too, which is fantastic by Henrik Ågren and not an artist I’ve heard of. After this piece I am sure he will be deluged with commissions, he certainly should be. ‘Slayed To A Pile Of Flesh’ has some fine screaming lead work, highly focused and piercingly effective, and wherever they appear you take notice immediately.

Ominous and with resplendent grisliness ‘Open Casket Feast’ is what you’d expect with a title like this, slow, pervasive riffing offering a unhinged bombardment that is followed by the slightly longer ‘Dead By Evil’ complete with a sample from the Army Of Darkness flick, if you’ve ever seen it, which you should if you haven’t. The song has an eerie atmospheric toning, the dirge like riff grinds you to a pulp before the excellent riff change and the gruesome power that ensues.

Top tune for me is ‘Inverted Graveyard’, though there are tons of highlights on this album, that buzzsaw guitar really mauls the listener and when that isolated guitar opening transforms to the riff change, I was totally hooked by it. Ugly as fuck ‘Autopsy’ is fractionally slower with splintering riffs and copious deluges in drum work, a facet that really enhances the albums overall power as the release closes with the doublet of ‘Reborn In Worms’ and ‘Possessed’ returning the album to the more speedy style on both tracks. The latter has a slightly punky feel or even crust due to its pacing and style but is absolutely old school to the rotten bone, making this seventh beast of an album an absolutely essential purchase if you like the Swedeath style.

(9.5/10 Martin Harris)

https://www.facebook.com/Entrails666

https://hammerheart.bandcamp.com/album/an-eternal-time-of-decay