Customer Reviews

To Ride Shoot Straight & Speak the Truth

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Let's get the bad stuff over with first. I feel an unnerving duty to warn you that, at first, this CD will sound like White Zombie. It has to be said, and although these first impressions certainly DON'T last, the first song sounds like a crunchier, MUCH heavier take on Electric Head. Now let's get down to the rest of this, Entombed's 4th full-length CD. The band have established themselves as one of the world's premier death metal bands, and no doubt many people will be worried that this album has gone the same way as Death's 'Symbolic' or Morgoth's 'Feel Sorry For The Fanatic'. Well, over the past few releases Entombed have pioneered the use of Rock guitars in death metal, the unmistakable Sunlight Studios sound, and this is no exception, as Sweden's first and foremost deathsters pile on the grooves and create a swinging masterpiece of bitter 90's metal. Yes, 90's metal. Not death metal. There's still the death metal power, but the riffs are not, and nor are the vocals. Thiswill undoubtedly disappoint many. That's just the way it is. But hey, give metal a chance.

Amazing record i just dug out of the crates and am currently rediscovering. I'm not really that well versed in death metal and don't even own Entombed's two first records. But as many reviewers before me have pointed out the genuine death metal-schtick is not really present on this record or the previous Wolverine Blues. For me, the greatest thing about Wolverine Blues and this record is the production. The thick, bludgeoing riffs and the excellent drumming is killer. Nicke Andersson clearly commands the songwriting on this record, and in retrospect it should have come as no suprise that he left Entombed to concentrate on the more straight rock n' roll-oriented band Hellacopters. The greatest tune, among a lot of great ones (To Ride, Shoot straight..., Like this with the devil, Damn deal done etc.) is, for my money, Wreckage. It's a screaming loud, feedback-drenched monster of a song. To me, portions of it echoes a bit of Sonic's Rendezvous Band's mighty City Slang (especially the coda where Hellid and Cederlund before my inner eye raise their guitars in a classic Fred "Sonic" Smith-like pose), albeit much heavier and complemented with Petrov's beautiful howling. There are some filler song, but as an album this holds together brilliantly. In spirit I find it reminds me of MC5's Kick out the jams, although in a more extreme, metal way. There is a certain delicious sloppiness that gives this record a unique charm. If you like loud guitars, loud vocals, loud bass, loud drums and loud feedback, this is for you.

This album rocks. Stay away form Same Difference, and get this. Guaranteed to get the head banging.

Making a shift from the typical deathy grind, Entombed first crushed the music world with a blast of fiery death that was "Clandestine", then came the follow up "Wolverine Blues", which was simply incredible. "To Ride..." is different, yet still rages with intensity. "Like This With The Devil" is a crushing tune. Other standout tracks include the grinding title track, "Lights Out", and "Wound". Yes, its not typical death metal, grindcore/blastbeat fans should look elsewhere. This album isn't typical growling sludge, but much more mature and well rounded. Long bloody live Entombed.

...As a matter of fact, I first listened to "To Ride, Shoot Straight, and Speak The Truth" because, well, I was a curious Hellacopters fan. I didn't know what to expect, but I wasn't disappointed. In many respects, this is a harsher, darker, angrier, violent take on the 'Copters "Payin' The Dues." It's sludgy, discordant, but full of huge riffs and hooks. Whoever said "To Ride..." is "The best rock and roll album ever recorded by a death metal band" hit it right on the head. Aside from a couple of unfortunate filler tracks on side two, this entire album rocks you like a gee dee hurricane from start to finish. This thing SWINGS where most bands of this genre are content to merely pummel, and the dirty garage-punk feel makes the death metal tendencies hit even harder.

Did anyone else notice that "Wound" is a really good Unsane impersonation? Or that "Parasight" (dig the Cheap Trick sample!) is a rather blatant riff-copping of Rocket From The Crypt's "Boychucker?"...

Is it possible to have two breakthrough records in a row? Probably not. This one comes close, though. With "Wolverine Blues" Entombed kept their heavier-than-anyone sound, but switched from slapping together riffs to writing songs. "To Ride..." takes them further towards their new Death n' Roll sound. Think of hardcore punk played by a group of angry monsters. This was drummer/songwriter Nicke Andersson's last record with the band, and he knocks himself out with odd rhythms that crawl into your gut and kick like a mother. Dual guitars provide all the crunch you'd ever need, but there's also a big fat bass in case of emergency. L-G Petrov steps up with some nice "If I can't sing I'll yell real loud" vocals. Many songs sound like a groovier Unsane, or just a really nasty garage band. And the song "Parasight" is a dead rip-off of Big Black's "Texas". But we'll forgive it because we love them - and if you're going to rip someone off, rip off a good'un. There's hundreds of bands out there wishing they were as good as Entombed.

this album is great and it also marks the exit of entombed main song writer and drummer, leaving for the also great hellacopters. yes, this is as far from true death metal as possible, but as far as i'm concerned, that is all fine - entombed have saved metal into the nineties (and beyond for that matter) taking death metal, old school motörhead, mc5 (covered on the original released "family favorites) and all blends of punk rock to fuse them into something much more mature. maybe not as ground breaking as wolverine blues but still far from anything that the usual idiotic swedish death metal bands churn out. be sure to also check out: hellacopters, backyard babies, gluecifer and the awesome the hives (all from scandinavia) this is the future of metal, not some clown faced satan worshippers posing in the snow with swords and skulls.

Of all the Entombed albums (9 full length albums in all) I enjoyed this on the most. The "Death 'n Roll" sound of Entombed is my favorite and To Ride, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth is one of my all time favorite metal songs. The rest of the album has the same Death Rock vibe, with just a few classic death metal speedsters to remind us of their roots. If you love pure Death Metal, then try Left Hand Path or Clandestine. Personally, I enjoy this different sound of theirs much more.

If there is one thing that I will agree with, is that Entombed is nothing like the Entombed of old, yet I still kinda like the new style. To say its Death Metal is kinda reaching, yet its still Heavy Metal. But its more just straight up Metal then anything else. Its not really anything special or that stands out, but they are some good cruncy riffs and some good screaming, yet its not done Nu Metal style which is GOOD. Give it a chance as it might grow on you. Why emtombed decided to stop performing Pure Death Metal is beyond me, but since the release of "Wolverine Blues" (which in my opinion is their worst album)they have moved farther away from their Death Metal roots, and I believe they call thier new style Death Rock and Roll. Its not a Great effort, but there are some really good songs on this album, and I will take it over most of the New Rock and Metal of today.

This, i believe, is more Hard Rock/Heavy Metal, rather than Death Metal. The whole album, and especially the fantastic opener "To Ride, Shoot Straight And Speak The Truth"..is just a great big ball of energy. The riffs are bouncy, and energetic, and overall it's a pretty fun, rocking, album. I don't know how anyone could be disappointed in it.

I think this is probably the album everyone new to Entombed should try out first. This is easily their most accessable, with songs like the aforementioned "To Ride, Shoot Straight And Speak The Truth", "Like This With The Devil", "Lights Out", "They", the awesome "Damn Deal Done" and "Wreckage". Which i think "Wreckage" was the single for this album, but i'm not entirely sure.

This whole album is very listenable. It changes tempo alot of the time, with fast songs like "Parasight", "Just As Sad" and "Uffe's Horrorshow". The other songs i haven't mentioned are mostly Hard Rock, with a bit of Swedish Thrash Metal mixed in with it. It pays off most of the time, but there are some 'filler' songs on this CD. Such as "Wound", "Put Me Out" and "Boats" i think.

The song "DcIXVI" is a 1:46 minute song that could easily be on some sort of movie. It's a short piano song, that surprisingly fits with the mood of the album. In a way it could be looked at as a 'filler' song, but it's not bad to listen to. It adds a sort of mini-break in the middle of the album, before "Parasight" comes on and pummels you with it's groovy, fast, riffs and faster drumming.

Above all..if you're into Entombed, no doubt you'd already have this by now. If you haven't, you should pick it up immediately, as it's a great buy and a great addition to your collection. And to fans who want to check Entombed out, this is the best way to start, i think.