Left Hand Path
Over the years, Sweden's Entombed has evolved into one of the most original and uncompromising metal outfits, incorporating elements of hardcore and garage rock into its brutal wall of sound. But when it first started its trail of terror in 1990, Entombed was just another poorly produced death metal band.Left Hand Pathfeatures some startling tempo shifts and daunting lacerated throat howls, but it only hints at the brilliance the band would later discover on albums likeWolverine BluesandTo Ride, Shoot Straight, and Speak the Truth. That said, tracks like "When Life Has Ceased," "Morbid Devourment," and "Abnormally Deceased" are as good as most anything by Morbid Angel, Death, or Dissection, and will surely appeal to ravenous fans of all things fetid and depraved.--Jon Wiederhorn