The stench of decay has its way to get into people's minds, maybe in the most sickening way, there is something that could be deemed as miraculous hidden behind it. Gladly that we are talking about a music and not the actual things, good for us then. I think that being honest is the opposite side of being trendy, follow the herd to the slaughter other than stick to one's inner truth. The Swedish trio ENTRENCH didn't enter the business yesterday, also they have been noticing what has been happening around them. For the sake of the old school vibe, and their personal dedication on what they grew up on, the solid base of the band was to refrain themselves from current trends, being in touch with the market, to choose their own path without looking sideways. This is the real thing guys, and every now and then to stumble upon an artist that is true to his own ideas, that is excellent, no matter the quality of the material presented.

Taking their time between releases, returned after almost three years with their third album, "Through The Walls Of Flesh", delivered by the local label I Hate Records, which the band recently signed with. The album is one of the many variations of the coming annihilation; mankind's doom is at hand, whether from within or from the outside, make your pick. It is going to happen sooner or later. It can be said that the theme is somewhat of a cliché', yet I personally think that each to his own perception of how the end feels and looks like. As for the music, it features grime brutality and the mixed tradition of the late 70s and 80s entwined in a deadly moshpit manifestation.

"Through The Walls Of Flesh" demonstrated the underground of Thrash Metal, which has been the band's direction since day one. Icons such as early SODOM / MINOTAUR / POSSESSED / SADUS / AT WAR came to mind with the band's deliverance of merciless speed with fast paced riffing and the known type of blackened evilized vocals. Though their style could be repetitive, and it showed on various parts of each of the songs, ENTRENCH, without being technical, were able to make subtle arrangements in order to spin themselves off regularity. Songs such as "The Coming Storm / Dawn of War" and "The Warmonger Sacrament" attributed to the band's malignant Thrash Metal foundation and its true essence of skull crushing evil. Virtually the band's version of the bestial invasion came to light with the administration of traditional Doom Metal oriented elements of the BLACK SABBATH and CANDLEMASS universes, and implementation of decorative melodic licks to the various adaptations of riffs. This fine unification could be noticed in "Fragments / Shadow of Death" and "Enter the Fray". Not that of an overly common mixture of Black and Thrash Metal, and it sure made the songs much appealing. Furthermore, I can't say that the vocal line is over the top, yet it I got used to it being there after a short while.

Essentially, ENTRENCH conveyed the old school vibe with conviction and motivation to pursue the dark arts of Thrash Metal's brutal sense. Even with a sort divergent nature musically, there is a repetitive sense in the mix, sometimes a bit weary to listen to but with enough vigor to keep you going. "Through The Walls Of Flesh" is a solid fortitude of a band that holds nothing back.