J-Man
The Opposition is the latest dish of blasphemy and brutality from Mexico's Evil Entourage. This twenty minute EP is not the first release from these guys, but it is my first venture into their music - and if this release is reflective of their other work, it seems like we're dealing with an act that wears their old school influences on their sleeves, but does so with plenty of class and style. The Opposition is not a revelation for death metal by any stretch, though it is an enjoyable release for fans of the nineties' American scene.
Evil Entourage plays a style of fast-paced, raw, and mildly technical death metal that was originally pioneered by American acts in the early nineties'. Those familiar with Morbid Angel, Deicide, Cannibal Corpse, and even Suffocation should know exactly what to expect from The Opposition, and while this familiarity is a setback in many regards, the EP is a successful homage to these classic acts. Solid musicianship, suffocating production, and some really devastating riffage (just listen to something like "From Inside I Burn"!) makes this an enjoyable listen, even if it is on the unadventurous side. There are simply a ton of bands playing this style of music these days, and there's not much here to set Evil Entourage apart from the rest of the horde.
Still, The Opposition is a very competent release from start to finish, and Evil Entourage have demonstrated on this EP that they have a solid grasp on creating punishing old school US death metal. Fans of Morbid Angel, Deicide, and Cannibal Corpse should definitely give it a listen!