Clandestine
Clandestine gives Entombed's heavy death metal more room to move. The rough guitars remain, but the songs rely less on a continuous sprint. Slower riffs, changing structures and unsettling details give the music a broader shape without reducing its force.
Living Dead starts immediately and hits hard. Riffs follow one another quickly while the drums add enough accents to make the movement understandable. The transition into Sinners Bleed feels natural. Together, these songs show how well the band can connect busy playing with a clear underlying rhythm.
Evilyn makes the heavier, more engaging side of the music especially important. The guitars do not need to play at their fastest to remain convincing. A lower pace gives the riffs more weight and makes their shapes easier to recognise. Nicke Andersson's drums meanwhile keep enough activity in the music to prevent it from becoming static.
Crawl works in a similar way, combining a firm marching rhythm with an unpleasant atmosphere. Later, Through the Collonades broadens the sound through a softer opening before the heavy passages take over. The contrast belongs inside the song, allowing tension to build rather than merely changing direction without warning.
The album is not equally strong everywhere. Some turns make the songs more complicated without making them immediately memorable. There is also enough similarity between riffs for individual tracks to blur together. The somewhat clearer production helps in following the instruments, although it cannot solve every issue of distinction.
Clandestine nevertheless succeeds as a complete record. Its guitars sound full, the drums keep responding to the surrounding parts, and the rough vocals suit the restless mood. Entombed use greater variety to make their death metal heavier and more atmospheric. Alongside the force, the album provides plenty of detail to discover.
