Review by Felix on January 4, 2021.

May I speak openly? It's hard for me to take a band seriously that mutates from death metal of the identity-creating kind to ultra-boring death 'n' roll, only to eventually come to their senses. Listen boys, ride and shoot straight, but let me speak the truth: this is how you kill your own integrity. But well, with When in Sodom Entombed once again show their deadly side after their spiritual return to the early nineties. Both the title track and 'Carnage' are the acoustic reflection of a band blowing off steam. 'When in Sodom' makes for a lasting malaise, 'Carnage' actually sounds like a song that didn't end up on Left Hand Path only due to a chain of unfortunate circumstances. L-G's voice sounds angry, domineering and antisocial, the guitars create genre-typical harmonies without ceasing and the average speed would be clearly too high in inner-city traffic. This double strike definitely enriches the catalogue of the formation. But unfortunately Entombed also show another face on this EP.

The first tones of 'Thou Shalt Kill' indicate that the EP is going to derail. Senseless lyrics (“Thou shalt kill, you got blood to spill”) match with a lukewarm mix of voluminous guitars and wannabe-gloomy lines. This is neither an atmospheric track nor a death metal milestone, because it lacks strong guitars and memorable elements, although the band creates an intensive ending. The song is saved by the gloomy, deep and powerful sound that characterizes the whole release. More or less the same goes for 'Heresy'. Here I readily concede that the transition to the children's choir intermezzo in this piece is very well done and there really is an eerie mood here. Unfortunately, there is also a dull section with a narrator at the end, which is why this song is not fully convincing either. It's nice that Entombed were getting better, but they still weren't immune against bad ideas. What remains is a half-baked conclusion, which ends the EP in a boring, uninspired and phlegmatic way with half the volume.

In a nutshell, When in Sodom begins very well, but before reaching the halfway point, the EP starts to stagger. However, the first two songs were worth the money. I just wish they would have been more loyal to their roots during their career, because I always listen to Entombed releases after Clandestine with a tear in the eye.

Rating: 6.8 out of 10

Review by JD on April 16, 2011.

It makes me break out into a huge smile, when I am charged with reviewing a classic band, or given a classic album. When I have to do both in one... makes me feel as if I was in bed with a supermodel who owns her own brewery and allows me unlimited drinks. And now, boys and girls of metal - I am reviewing Death Metal royalty... Entombed.

You cannot express what it is that makes Entombed so damned good of a band, when it has been written and said so many times before. It is a testament to how good a band is, when they release a EP of only five songs like this, and have it still kick major ass. These Swedish metallers have done that with the EP called "When In Sodom" which was a perfect precursor for their "Serpent Saints - The Ten Amendments" release a year later.

Strong riffs and horrific lyrics are exactly what every song on this album are, Entombeddo not disappoint often. It is like the nastiest horror movie put to a metallic soundtrack, and the adding in a whole shit load of attitude to glue it all togther into one monster that is unstoppable. I love every song here, but I have to say that if I did have to pick one that stood out the most - the title song is my favorite simply because it is nasty as hell... but you need to hear it again and again.

As fucking cliche as it sounds: if you don’t own this album already, go and buy it. This album is the reason I live and breath and eat metal, because it shows the sheer ferocity and unmistakable power that it holds in its gauntleted hand. This EP needed to be a album... my only complaint.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship:9
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 9
Originality: 9
Overall: 9

Rating: 9.0 out of 10