After coming off the successful Gods of Grind tour in 1992 and seeing bassist Johnny Dordevic return to the band, the Swedish heavy metal band
Entombed decided to release a six-song EP as their major-label debut (on Earache/Columbia). When the
Hollowman EP appeared in 1993, it was shocking just how much the band's songwriting and overall sound had improved. The songs remained brutally heavy, but there was also a fresh originality now present. The EP contains a total of six tracks and is a mandatory purchase for
Entombed fanatics, since four of them are exclusive non-album tracks. Highlights include an instrumental version of the classic
Entombed song "Wolverine Blues" (it would become the title track of the band's next full-length album), the fast and furious "Bonehouse," and another instrumental, the
Black Sabbath-like dirge "Hellraiser." Both of the instrumentals use spoken word dialogue to great effect, while showing off
Entombed's talents as musicians in the process. ~ Greg Prato