Since The Death: Entangled | When Labels Are Not Enough
(2026 – Nordic Mission)
Most of the time, labels are used not to categorize and pigeonhole bands or projects, but rather to identify the style or genre of a particular album or group. It’s a common practice that sometimes degenerates into placing someone in a specific category, but there are also those who escape labeling and are capable of creating something so unique that it’s difficult to define its essence or influence. Something like this happens with Since The Death, as their concept seems to shatter everything we think we know about Extreme Metal, evading any pigeonholing that might be attempted.
But specifically, it’s not that Since The Death has nothing to do with labels; at times, they seem deserving of more than one, and possess a personality that defies the rules.
Since The Death is not new to the Metal scene. It has built its career on persistence and consistency. Nor is it a typical band in the sense of being a group of people, as it is entirely a studio project led by Oscar Rask, who is not only the heart of Since The Death but everything it is. He composes, writes the lyrics, sings, and plays all the instruments, like a one-man band, and judging by what we hear on “Entangled,” the latest marvel from Since The Death, it’s clear that constant work and persistence pay off—though, in this case, Oscar is no longer alone; he’s joined by Rickard Adolfsson, who handles everything related to the six strings.
“Entangled” is an album that serves as a sort of culmination of all the best Since The Death has to offer, distilling into its essence what the band has demonstrated over the years. With three albums and two EPs under their belt, “Entangled” sounds like the boiling point and maturation of a style that resists being labeled—at least under a single label.
There’s a little bit of everything here, but basically we could define Since The Death as a sort of technical Death Metal with certain echoes of the Swedish scene of the genre, featuring clear intersections with Black Metal and Thrash. That’s why, when “When Hatred Is Being Fueled” begins to play, a martial and orchestral atmosphere with heavy riffs at varying speeds sets the tone. Intricate and heavy on guitar sound, that seems to be the core of Since The Death, and this is also highlighted in “Adorable But Treacherous,” which builds bridges to Black Metal and evokes Thrash in its riffs, with some atmospheric passages thrown in.
With a more Hardcore/Punk vibe, “He Keeps Forgetting” showcases the versatility that is one of Since The Death’s defining characteristics, and as a way to affirm their clear place in the extreme metal sphere, “The Wolves Hunting The Pure Hearted” shows its claws, with constant shifts in tempo and gear.
“Hearts Are Getting Darker” navigates the waters of something more melodic in essence. With constant orchestral-style guitar solos at a moderate pace, Since The Death takes us through much more complex and intricate terrain, whereas “As A Beloved Brothers” is a barrage of heavy, cutting riffs, with a mix of varied passages woven into the same track—a hallmark of this album and of Since The Death.
But if we’re talking about heavy riffs with thrash roots, “Late To Anger No Revenge” certainly can’t be overlooked. It’s pure thrash at its core but with that death metal filter that sounds so beautiful and powerful, and in the same vein, though at a moderate pace, we find “Forgive All Of Them,” accelerating at times and partly following a predetermined structure. In contrast, “The Blackest Of Days” seems to follow a logic based on blast beats, stepping on the gas when needed, and that background orchestration, which actually accompanies us through many passages of the album.
“Shine On Me” showcases a kind of evolution in the Death Metal sound, with a perhaps more modern and technical approach in its conception, and toward the end we encounter the instrumental “Eleventh,” leaving a profound melodic, introspective, and climactic impression—sincerely among the best Since The Death has to offer—and a fitting way to close out a strong album, one might say.
Our CD version comes with a bonus track. The song in question is “Beautifully Damaged,” a track that, judging by its sound and characteristics, comes from the same recording sessions as the rest of the album.
Bringing together different styles into a single piece is no easy task. Since The Death’s approach is complicated, one might say. It’s not easy to break down what lies behind each song on “Entangled,” though that is also part of the concept and, presumably, the idea behind the project and this album itself. “Entangled” is a sort of journey through different facets, always within the realm of Extreme Metal, yet somehow blending its own style—intricate and simplistic all at once—while distinguishing itself from any similarities that might be found with other works.
In “Entangled,” there is an important point to highlight regarding previous works, and it has to do with the excellent guitar work by Rickard Adolfsson, who has done an outstanding job and, in fact, serves as the guiding light that sets the pace for every song on the album. It’s not just the riffs and the foundation; it’s also the solos and the orchestration that have given the album a special framework and sound.
And since we’re talking about sound, we could say it isn’t all that surprising, but it’s firmly built on the powerful riffs and foundations provided by Rickard Adolfsson’s guitars, which serve as the backbone upon which the entire mix rests, framed by the background orchestrations—presumably a blend of synthesizers and the guitars themselves—along with some interesting bass lines. As a result, the sound of “Entangled” is massive, strong, and overdriven. Not to mention Oscar Rask’s vocals: raw, gritty, and, overall, very well balanced by the sound as a whole.
The artwork for “Entangled” is the kind that makes you wonder about many things and leaves you pondering. It’s easily recognizable and has that intrinsic quality that makes you stare at the cover for quite some time, searching for its logic. Interesting, to say the least. And the inside of the booklet follows the same vein, with artwork worth highlighting, including the lyrics and a dark photograph of the two men behind Since The Death. And for that, we have to thank Nordic Mission for continuing to release physical editions that are truly worth it, as in this case.
Overall, Since The Death has achieved a significant milestone in their discography with “Entangled.” It is clearly their boldest and best-crafted effort, with a more or less general concept that takes us through different moments and distinct atmospheres. It’s all about thrash riffs and rhythms, but framed by the darkness of death and black metal, all presented in the unique style that Since The Death has developed.
For now, “Entangled” is only available as a physical CD release, but we wouldn’t rule out a vinyl version down the line. Let’s hope so. In the meantime, here’s a taste of this new release from Since The Death, specifically the track “The Blackest Of Days,” and as is our custom, we’ve included the social media links for this interesting project and Nordic Mission below, through whom you can purchase this new album…
https://www.nordicmission.net/en/products/since-the-death-entangled-cd-pre-order
https://www.facebook.com/sincethedeath
