Long regarded the simple cousin of the Extreme Metal family, Death Metal has been undergoing something of a late-stage renaissance recently, with bands developing in more abstract and avant-garde directions, bringing in influences from Noise, Dark Ambient and more dissonant styles of music.

Entrails want it to be known that they have absolutely nothing to do with that at all.

Just in case the album title and artwork don’t make it clear enough, the music on Obliteration (Metal Blade) wastes absolutely no time in punching you repeatedly in the face. Despite what you might imagine from their rather… ah… shameless logo, Entrails are not a straight tribute to one band, but rather a mix of highlights from the more straightforwardly aggressive American and Swedish Death Metal bands of the last twenty-odd years.

Riffs are the main currency here – big, gnarly, ever-so-slightly-Motorhead-y riffs backed by thunderous blasts and that growled but audible style of Death Metal vocals that seems less popular these days than the gurgling-sewage type. The song-writing is simplistic but effective, and often more varied than you might expect, exploring tempo and pace without ever softening up their attack. A sharp, powerful modern production helps greatly, wisely eschewing the muddiness many “old school” Death Metal bands feel that they’re obligated to stick with because the bands that influenced them couldn’t afford any better.

There’s nothing on Obliteration you haven’t already heard before – no envelopes are pushed, no boundaries are broken, all expectations are left firmly unchallenged – but it’s delivered with sufficient skill, power and intent that if you’ve got any interest at all in defiantly non-progressive Death Metal that’s not interested in anything other than punching you repeatedly in the face you’ll welcome the experience.

 

7.0/10

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RICHIE HR