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They are the universally recognized godfathers of Grindcore; born in the early eighties as a Hardcore-Punk band, taking the Crass and especially the Discharge as references, they are still, after more than three decades, the undisputed leaders when it comes to extremism and sonic ferocity.
This is an EP released at the end of 1995 that served as a forerunner to the subsequent full-length album "Diatribes" published in the early months of 1996; a handful of tracks, once again produced by Colin Richardson, that together create a leaden wall, at times sinister, drawing near to industrial moods, with a sound that has become less chaotic, much more calculated but no less powerful and belligerent.
The title track opens the work; a track that lasts just over three minutes which could almost be described as commercial (a term to be taken with the right caution as we are still talking about Napalm Death). The execution speed is much more restrained compared to their first works, with Barney's psychotic screams setting the standard as always; Jesse's (R.I.P.) and Mitch's saturated guitars are a feature of all the tracks, supported by Danny's incredible drumming, for me one of the best drummers in all of extreme Metal.
In fact, in the first part of the third track, "Self Betrayal," Barney's voice becomes clean and understandable as never before in the group's history; a truce that lasts a handful of minutes and seeks to be an attempt by the guys to broaden their musical scope. "Antibody" comes to set things straight: it returns to Grind-Death paths and the deadly execution speed reminds us once again that Napalm are the unsurpassable masters and when they push the accelerator, they fear no rivals. We quickly reach the last track "Plague Rages," recorded live at one of their concerts: another atypical track, taken from that "Fear, Emptiness, Despair" which saw them for the first time slow down and incorporate Industrial Metal into their sound; a track that annihilates and shatters you with an apocalyptic finale where all the instruments are tormented, creating a monstrous and insurmountable sound wall.
Ad Maiora.
Tracklist and Lyrics
02 My Own Worst Enemy (03:36)
Played out, wide off the mark,
Mania develops,
Akin ti fiction,
More than to a world of fact.
[Chorus:]
My own worst enemy.
My own worst enemy.
Lifes foul treachery.
My own worst enemy.
Dams of emotions build
A dull and trubid screen,
Clouding veils of black
In jungles of hopes opressed.
[Chorus]
So many times,
For no reason.
So many promised punches,
For what reason?
Ceaseless decay,
Parallel obscene and flagrant.
Ceaseless decay,
Restrained my mind coils.
So many times,
For no reason.
So many promised punches,
For what reason?
Ceaseless decay,
Parallel obscene and flagrant.
Ceaseless decay,
Restrained my mind coils.
Played out, wide off the mark,
Mania develops,
Akin to fiction,
More than to a world of fact.
My own worst enemy.
My own worst enemy.
Life foul treachery
05 Antibody (02:51)
Showering with your respect
Luring all with trinkets
Benefits are in effect
Take time to reflect
on all true commitments
Now the big-noise reject
Communication breakdown
You shrug off the resolve
Riddled with the cancer
How does your life revolve ?
Loser of integrity
Antibody gives new release
Relieves the pain of being sincere
Important to maintain the ties
Mentor in the public's eye
Scandal could expose the lie
A shadow of your former self
reaping the rewards
no scam too outrageous
when there's more
to be fought for
Poisonous snake with a persuasive gaze
Predatory guru with promises of gain
His antibody is a painless extraction
of all the principles he once stood fast On
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