A more experimental Napalm though I still like it. It's kind of the same way I like 'Chaos A.D.' by Sepultura in 1993, though they're in a whole different genre. But the same idea. I think that they had a lot of good ideas in the songwriting but they totally abandoned their grind roots on here. Surprised that Jesse Pintado (RIP) did go through and play on this alongside Mitch Harris. I supposed "slowed down" doesn't even come close to this one. I like it, but it's way not ND. If they wanted to abolish their metal roots (as I say), then they've done that here. It's kind of like ND meets Lamb Of God or Killswitch Engage. I'm surprised that I like this!

I can see an alternative metal approach on 'Diatribes' it's closest to that genre far away what ND fans are really into. But since I value just about all genres I can appreciate this and give it a "B" rating. They probably wanted to do something they've never done and well that's what they sure as hell did. I like the guitar riffs on a lot of their songs here but you would think it's not Mitch and Jesse doing this. And Barney Greenway sounds the same just not like on 'Harmony Corruption', 'Utopia Banished' or 'Fear, Emptiness, Despair' (through 1990 to 1994). This is the newer Barney not as low in pitch nor as likeable (to me) as on earlier releases the ones I just mentioned.

I think if this were a different band then grind, death/grind or straight death metal you'd probably be OK with it. I suppose that they did see the negative press so they changed their tune. I'm still in favor of people getting the album but just expect something different. Those blast beats are nonexistent and the intensity is a lot less. They probably don't really play much of the material on this live (they didn't when I saw them in 2012), so it's not well received. There are a lot of changes on here and the distortion on the heavy riffs are there but not on every song the whole way through.

It's hit or miss if you'll like this or not. Since I'm a big ND fan, I accepted that it was something different here so I thought it palatable for me. But if you're looking to the utmost intense ND search into the earlier releases I mentioned or with the old lineup. Don't expect ND of the old this is the new generation. Though on here, it's pretty alternative metal sounding. They abdicated their roots but a lot of songs are still pretty strong! I ordered the CD because I didn't get it when it came out in '96. I've been a ND fan since the late 80's. I've heard a big change in sound and this is a product of the new.

Rating: 8½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Death8699
10/12/2021 19:15