A review of Harrowed „The Eternal Hunger”

 

Harrowed

“The Eternal Hunger”

Dying Victims Prod. 2026

 

Harrowed come from Stockholm and they play death metal. Old school death metal. However, anyone who assumes that this is just another derivative of Entombed or Dismember is mistaken. Mainly because Tobias and Adam have mixed the essence of this genre with punk influences. And they have done so in proportions that clearly highlight the presence of both genres. So, yes, typical Swedish melodies are definitely present here. Just listen to the rocking riff in “The Cold of a Thousand Snows,” which really has a taste of Andersson's band. There is also a lot of typical d-beat here, which, although of punk origin, has also proven itself perfectly in death metal, mainly that from the north of the continent. There are also many melodies here that can be considered cheerful at times, or at least very lively. However, they are dressed in a heavy sound, thanks to which their “danceability” has gained the appropriate power. Apart from these two most important ingredients, Harrowed have thrown in a few riffs here and there that have a different origin. For example, in “Ultra Terrene Phantasmagoria” or “Formaldehyde Dreaming” there are almost stoner-like melodies. The musicians usually maintain a moderate tempo, without pushing the pedal to the metal, placing greater emphasis on the aforementioned groove and good melody. And sometimes the guys can also come up with an awesome solo. There is nothing forced on this album. Everything here blends together perfectly, creating a mixture that makes you want to open another bottle of amber nectar and raise it high in the air. The undeniable advantage of these recordings is their natural flow, thanks to which, even if the music is not particularly groundbreaking, you can listen to these tracks practically in one breath. Or maybe with a break to bang your head, because at times it's hard to stand still. Take “The Reins” as an example, with its great riff and sudden acceleration in the middle section. The whole thing lasts thirty-six minutes, and I guarantee you that if you play “The Eternal Hunger,” it won't be wasted thirty-six minutes of your life. A very cool album.

- jesusatan