Vim Fuego
The story of Entombed is an oft–told one in death metal circles. From the leading band of the genre, bar none, the band changed directions so radically as to alienate a majority of their original fans. Not that Entombed seemed to give a rodent's rectum, merrily playing what they liked.
But if disgruntled deathsters had looked deeper into Entombed's influences, they may not have been so surprised by the change of direction. Alongside Slayer, Venom, MC5 and Repulsion, Entombed never made a secret of their love of old school glam rock, particularly Kiss. This EP provides a mere glimpse at the Entombed psyche.
Believe it or not, Entombed cover Twisted Sister, The Dwarves, Jerry's Kids, and perhaps most unusual, Bob Dylan. Backing the best song off 'To Ride, Shoot Straight And Speak The Truth' in "Wreckage" is a nothing remix of the same song, adding little to the original. Then it's time for a blast through Twisted Sister's "Tear It Loose". Glam rock never sounded so brutal! The soloing is excellent, far surpassing the original, and surprisingly Dee Snider's lyrics are the perfect match for LG Petrov's hardcore shout. "Lost" from Jerry's Kids is fairly straightforward, while "Satan", originally by The Dwarves, is a micro–blast of hardcore fury.
Entombed's rendition of Bob Dylan's "The Ballad Of Hollis Brown" is the most distinctive and memorable track on this EP. Dylan gained fame for his lyrical genius, and infamy for electrifying folk music. While his nasal voice can be irritating to many (like me!), this track shows a good song is a good song, no matter what style you play it in. It is distinctly Dylan and unmistakably Entombed. A strange mix, but it works.