It was about a fucking time! At last a good Entombed recording since the excellent 'Wolverine Blues', which came out in 1993. 'To Ride, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth' (1997) and 'Same Difference' (1999) didn't really interest me: With both of these preceding albums, Entombed went surprisingly lightweight. They admittedly had a couple of excellent songs on them.

Entombed have finally released a convenient continuation for 'Wolverine Blues', and while not similar to that album, it's like 'To Ride...' with quite a lot heavier constitution. 'Uprising' includes twelve songs, one being a cool cover of Dead Horse's 'Scottish Hell' (must check out that band...). Entombed's death metal roots are more audible again, as this is a welcome return (not fully, though) to the death riffs, courtesy of Ulf Cederlund and Alex Hellid, make this weight more than two previous records. Together with doomier approach on a couple of tracks (most audible on the amazing closer 'In the Flesh' with its twisted horror organ), this is more uranium than aluminum. If it is possible to think about, then think of MC5 and Misfits with more death metal approach-

On the 'Uprising' the drummer Peter Stjärnvind gets to show that he's the right person to fill the drummer's stool after Nicke Andersson abandoned the band; the change is, at least to my ears, unnoticeable. He's playing heavy rock beats and some D-beats (guitar solos can get very punky at times), and there's cowbell, too. Clonk clonk clonk! I have always enjoyed L-G Petrov's howling screams and grunts and so this time is no exception.

Entombed have always sounded, well, Entombed. This album is really refreshing after those two previous ones, although I really got frightened when the first riff came through speakers: I thought this was a fucking redneck-rock album... Gladly it soon gets a "bit" heavier. 'Uprising' is D-I-R-T-Y & H-E-A-V-Y and sounds live! Thanks to Nico Elgstrand for the production. Listen loud!

Artwork on 'Uprising' is very simple. With an old logo and a screaming b/w face on the cover from the band's demo days, this still ain't a return so far back in time. To crystallize the feeling I get from 'Uprising': The music does the talking here.

Rating: 8+ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
12/31/2000 22:14