You want your music hard? Napalm Death's (ND from now on) 10th (congrats for this!) record kicks your ass and head for sure. Last one 'Enemy of the Music Business' (2000) was a step backwards or rather towards the band's roots, so metallic grindcore is the business now.

The music is fast. It's usually fucking fast. It's so fast you can't mosh it if you try to hit every beat. Maddeningly fast tempo is every now and then, gladly, cut off by slower tempo parts which don't break flow or groove, but bring it in. If the music's fast, it's also heavy. Add cold industrial-like ambience in the background and there you have it. Truly brutal experience. These guys make it heavier once again, rather than getting lighter with an age. ND have created their own style ages ago, but still they manage to expand it somehow. No signs of getting too predictable, even though this is very familiar for those who have been followers of the band. The song material is equally of high standard. Playing is great, but drums tend to get over the top on the fastest parts, but maybe it's in my ears. Simon Efemey and Russ Russell's production is totally in-your-face.

ND's words have always meant something. Politics get battered a lot, but rather than being a political band, ND just comment on politics and those who make it. And they truly deserve some beating... However, I have never been very interested of the band's lyrical way, depends from the way I look at them. After all, usually I'm not into politics at all or at the most, very little. Barney Greenway's throat is in a great shape as he bellows over walls of noise. He's gotten better and more varied with years. "Star Wars no more" definitely stayed in my brain when I heard it first, heh! Mick Kenney's graphics deserve some praising; quite disturbing art.

These twelve songs do not make 44 minutes, not even close. There's this annoying 10 minute or so silence at the ending of the last track and a funny joke is following in the end. I hate this stuff, this "silence and a joke" thing. Otherwise, quality beating. I like ND's more death metal records a lot ('Fear, Emptiness, Despair' from 1994 was my first contact with ND), and most of the band's records actually need a lot of time to grow under my skin, so I can't say this is the best they've put out. Another bloody nosebleeder of a record.

Reviewed by Lane
11/25/2002 12:21

I think this is a solid release as well as line-up. Except for the fact that they don't have Mick Harris (drums) anymore. He seemed to be the driving force when it came to grindcore. But Napalm Death changed into more of a death metal band than grindcore. This is a solid release nevertheless. It's got both elements to it: Grindcore and death metal. The energy is high up there and the riffs are mind boggling. This is another newer generation of ND that I like. A lot of their newer material is OK but I prefer the old. This has a good sound to it and vibe. I think old school Barney Greenway (vocals) is the best but he's doing good on here as well.

The music is the highlight of this album and I did enjoy pretty much all the tracks. Mitch Harris's vocals (also on guitar) are a little annoying though, but it brings back Mick to old ND. I felt that the bulk of the songs had a good structure to them and the guitar tone was appropriate. They were fortunate that Jesse Pintado (RIP) was still with the band at this point. I always liked him with the band. I think after 'Harmony Corruption' (1990) the band experienced a fall in their energy (Mick). They've just changed when he left and turned more towards death metal than grind. Not that that's bad, but maybe change their name, I'm not sure.

The guitars sound like they're tuned pretty low hence their thick sound. Really keeping it underground they are and Danny Herrera has some wicked drum tracks though it sounds like he's using triggers. That's not bad just has to keep up with the rhythms! I guess I just like the old school ND though I do think a lot of their newer stuff is palatable. But yeah, they should've changed their name. However, there are a lot of good moments to this album. Nothing that sticks as well as the old but still, it is quality. Barney isn't as low on the growls as he was on 'Harmony Corruption' or 'Fear, Emptiness, Despair' (1994).

This album is almost 20 years old, but it's still on the good side of ND. The main members were with the band on here (Barney, Jesse, Mitch and Shane Embury). I don't know what happened to the last track on this album but all the songs are pretty strong! I decided to buy the CD after hearing this digitally. It was worth getting, wholeheartedly! The energy and fire is still there on this one it'll just never amount to 'Harmony Corruption'. That one was filled with death/grind glory! Still, an excellent effort on this one. They have shown the metal community fresh new riffs! Check it!

Rating: 8½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Death8699
10/12/2021 19:41