Description

Entombed – Hollowman – Cassette

Earache Records

Hollowman is an EP by Entombed, released in 1993 during the peak of the Swedish death metal movement. This release is highly regarded as a significant part of Entombed’s discography and a key example of the development of the death metal genre, especially the distinct Swedish style known for its ‘buzzsaw’ guitar tone and blending of punk influences.
Overview of the EP

Hollowman features a blend of brutal, high-energy death metal with elements of groove and hardcore punk, showcasing Entombed’s ability to push the boundaries of the genre. The EP serves as a crucial link between their earlier, more pure death metal albums and their later experiments with what would become known as ‘death ‘n’ roll,’ a subgenre that incorporates rock ‘n’ roll elements into the traditional death metal framework.

The EP includes several tracks that exemplify the band’s powerful and innovative sound:
‘Hollowman’: The title track, which showcases the band’s classic death metal sound mixed with groovy and mid-tempo passages that hint at their evolving style.
‘Serpent Speech’: A song that features a catchy riff and a somewhat more accessible sound, pointing towards the death ‘n’ roll direction the band would explore more fully on later albums.
‘Wolverine Blues’: Sometimes included as a bonus track in reissues, this song is a definitive death ‘n’ roll track that became one of their most famous songs.

Produced with the distinctive Sunlight Studio sound that was typical of Swedish death metal at the time, Hollowman features the gritty, raw guitar tones and powerful drumming that fans of the genre expect. The production values on this EP balance clarity with the raw energy that is a hallmark of early 90s death metal, allowing the aggression and complexity of the music to shine through.

Hollowman is often cited as a critical influence in the evolution of death metal, particularly in how it showcased the potential for genre blending within extreme metal. Entombed’s experimentation with different sounds and styles in this EP and subsequent releases opened the door for other bands to explore similar fusions, significantly impacting the metal scene both in Sweden and internationally.

Entombed remains a seminal band in the death metal genre, and the Hollowman EP is a key piece of their legacy, reflecting their status as innovators and icons in heavy music. It’s a must-listen for fans wanting to understand the development of death metal and its offshoots during the 1990s.