Archives of the Dead part XXXVII – Afflicted – Ingrained

Archives of the Dead part XXXVII – Afflicted – Ingrained (7”EP 1990)  

Line up: Joakim Bröms (vocals), Jesper Thorsson (guitars), Joacim Carlsson (guitars), Fredrik Ling (bass), Yasin Hillborg (drums) 

Recorded at Studio Sunlight in October / November 1990. Produced and mixed by Tomas Skogsberg and Afflicted. 

Few words now about one of the best Swedish death metal EPs ever, in my opinion. Originally called Afflicted Convulsion, Afflicted belonged to the most promising and original death metal bands in Sweden in the first half of the 90’s. Right from the beginning they were showing their great worth with 1990 demo “The Odious Reflection” and then with “Ingrained” 7”EP. And the high peak of the greatness came with the full length album called “Prodigal Sun”. “Ingrained” was recorded exactly at the same time as the demo, also in the Sunlight Studio, but this EP sounds better than the songs the band recorded and used for the demo. I guess they putted more effort into mixing and producing these two tracks as they knew they’re gonna be released on 7” vinyl. This is why the difference is so hearable. 

All in all, this EP is far superior to the demo. First of all, both tracks are fast and aggressive as hell. They’re no compromise Swedish death metal, but with some more twisted and harmonious riffs spread all over them! There's a brilliant songwriting in both songs with killer ideas and arrangements, from fast, grinding death metal to slower and more melodic stuff. There’s even a bit of more progressive stuff. Both tracks are very diverse, they have many tempo changes, various sickening guitar solos, I love that slow and melodic ending part in “The Empty Word”... It’s all there. I absolutely love how it all sounds, I really do. 

More so, you can easily notice how original was their music. It's Swedish death metal, with all its characteristics, but just not the same as Entombed or Dismember. Of these two songs I prefer “The Empty World”, especially that ending part sounds wonderfully epic. But “Viewing the Obscene”, which is opening the EP with furious and rather simple riffage, also has some fantastic melodies in its instrumental middle part. And more so, sounds damn angry and vicious. Only two songs, but I can assure you that there’s so much going on here, there’s such a great diversity in this music... I am literally obsessed with its sound. Perfect stuff. Also Joakim Broms’ vocals were great, so you should not be surprised if I say that “Ingrained” belongs to my favourite recordings ever. 

Verdict: 100/100