And now something you probably wouldn't expect coming from from Oulu, Northern Finland: Hot action grindcore! 'Swallow' is the debut EP for Napalm Ted. 7 own songs plus 2 covers are the menu of the evening.

While this is a debut, two guys behind this are not newcomers in (metal) music circles. Both musicians come from Clock Paradox, so one can expect some swell performing here.

As guessing from the band covering two golden oldies, namely Terrorizer's 'Fear of Napalm' and Macabre's 'McDahmer's', Napalm Ted draw influences from the chest of early grindcore. Surely NT sound like a current band, but never disposable plastic piece of junk. It's like they were an old band recording in 21st century. They mix hardcore punk and death metal here with strong result. If I throw names such as Nasum and Extreme Noise Terror (during their more metal period) here, I think I'm not totally missing the point.

NT's idea was not to invent the wheel, but more like to drive it like crazies. HC and death bits alternate in no even intervals, and the songs can be rather twisting, thanks to non-straight beats utilized. And that's really the band's characteristic here. The sound is heavy, so it makes the HC parts heavier and death metal parts fucking heavy. Tempos vary from insane blast beats to doomy march, and this is most clearly notable on the closer. It ends with old Carcass-esque symphony of eloquent deterioration. In all, the band has some great riffs (be it hammering death metal or open-stringed punk), freaky action and powerhouse drumming.

While the EP starts with a sample, it isn't filled with them. I think that's the right choice from the band. This is about the music. Vocals are shared by the two members, one being barking and aggressive growl, in a few different ways, and the other shouting his tonsils out. It works remarkably well, adding nice contradiction in that department. Some double-vocals can be heard, too.

The sexy pink cassette edition includes 6 bonus tracks, which are demo versions of songs appearing here, but without vocals. I think otherwise they are the same recordings.

This is a bashing that NT give, that's for sure. And they even manage to get something of of their own in it (e.g. weirder beats). However, it's basically still good ol' grindcore. If I was you, a grindcore maniac, I'd put down that kilju-container and would try to type the band's name in that browser, now! Loads (no pun intended) of potential.

Rating: 7½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
11/03/2015 17:38