Released by: Century Media
Release Date: Grind/Death
Links: http://www.napalmdeath.org/
Line Up:
Shane Embury – bass
Mark “Barney” Greenway – vocals
Mitch Harris – guitar, backing vocals
Danny Herrera – drums
Tracklist:
01. Apex Predator – Easy Meat
02. Smash A Single Digit
03. Metaphorically Screw You
04. How The Years Condemn
05. Stubborn Stains
06. Timeless Flogging
07. Dear Slum Landlord…
08. Cesspits
09. Bloodless Coup
10. Beyond The Pale
11. Stunt Your Growth
12. Hierarchies
13. One-Eyed
14. Adversarial / Copulating Snakes
Napalm Death are one of the most consistent and unrelenting bands to ever grace a stage or indeed spill from a set of speakers. Forming way back in the mists of time in 1985 and seeing through their ranks such illustrious characters as Justin Broadrick, Mick Harris, Bill Steer and Jesse Pintado. From their Anarcho punk beginnings, through bringing grind to the masses before cross pollinating it with Death Metal and taking on some modern industrial influences; before being accused of selling out. This was all before bringing it back full circle and taking smatterings of all these eras and mixing it all together to bring us to this point 30 years later.
Another year and another ND record, always welcomed with open ears, rarely disappointing in a long career and always staying true to their principles and mission. The record opens with an industrial styled song with a vocal that can only be described as demented. Then we get down to the business, flat out grinding blast with vocals being screamed by Barney with Mitch providing those animal howls and squeals. The tracks have equal parts grind, breakdowns and catchy groove riffs which are all present and correct. “Timeless flogging” brings an upbeat thrashing riff which is one that will grab you by the ankles before taking off into whirlwind blasting. The real odd man out on this record is “Dear Slum Landlord” which has a slow repetitive picked riff with a chanting style vocal with big bass undercurrent slides being punctuated with the familiar Greenway growls and part spoken vocals. Again ND have delivered in buckets and leave you feeling breathless and drained after listening, its quick fire rounds giving you only a second to compose your grey matter before the next round is pumped out.
The production is huge and gives the bass and drums centre stage for the vocals and guitars to cut through with the killer blows. Its Napalm, get out and buy this and support one of the hardest working bands in the world that are still passionate about their causes and music and still delivering relevant music with an urgency when so many of their peers are long since creatively spent. ND are not ready to be usurped yet.
Written by David Mcallum
Rating David 10/10
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