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I want to review Smear Campaign, the new album by Napalm Death. I'm not a fanatic of Grindcore, but I've always liked Napalm Death because they are among the few musicians of this genre, besides being the inventors, who always offer something new and unique in their albums. In fact, I found this album very distinctive.
The album opens with "Weltschmerz," an intro that starts only with a kind of guitar arpeggio, then you hear electronic sounds and finally some keyboards. In itself, it's nothing special, but I didn't expect it from Napalm Death. The second song is titled "Sink fast let go," where the guitarist's voice alternates with the singer's. The second song is titled "Fatalist," and it's nothing special, while in the third song, "Puritanical punishment beating," there are many rhythm changes and guitar breaks. The fourth track, "Well all is said and done," is beautiful but a bit repetitive because the chorus is repeated many times. The following song, "Freedom is the wage of sin," is noteworthy because it varies a lot both in terms of guitar and drums. "In deference," the following track, is on the same line as the previous ones. The song "Short lived" is one of the fastest on the album, where the drummer beats very fast rhythms. "Identity crisis" is my favorite song on the album, with very heavy riffs. The next track, "Shattered existence," is also characterized by very powerful stopped riffs. "Eyes right out" begins with a beautiful bass line. "Warped beyond logic" and "Rabid wolves of Chris" are the shortest songs on the album, while "Deaf and dumbstruck" is the worst on the record. However, the penultimate song, "Persona non grata," with an unexpected Italian title, is beautiful. The last track, "Smear Campaign," is a sort of outro.
In the album, almost all the songs last more than three minutes, but it cannot be defined as a Death Metal album. In short, Napalm Death absolutely have no intention of stopping playing; in fact, they've come back more determined than ever.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
03 Fatalist (02:51)
Though we later may walk
In a valley in a shadow of death
What should we logically fear?
Perhaps the complacent urge for a deity
To make us whole and guide us through
To fulfil an image that is cloudy at best
Where was the help previously
When appeals went unheard?
Huge effort expended on devotion
For nothing in return
Grimly clinging, predetermined
To prop up an image that is cloudy at best
Resigned rigid, predetermined
To covet a vision that is forced on the rest
Life becomes an exercise in cutting down your options
Existing becomes a joyless parade to the end
Life becomes a platform from which to attack free thought
Existing becomes a prison where self-discovery's forbidden
The fatalist
Any fool starting afresh would surely ditch this
After two-thousand years of schism
Only irreligious hearts can do the saving
15 Deaf and Dumbstruck (Intelligent Design) (02:46)
Roll out a yarn incessantly
Tracing the thread to where?
Deaf and dumbstruck -
Plugging up holes with dead air
Gone deaf and dumbstruck
More piety to dumbfound us
When they can't wave the head of the prophet
Natural life needs some spin
Deaf and dumbstruck -
Inanimate myth gets an in
Gone deaf and dumbstruck
More piety to distract us
Deaf and dumbstruck
Try to walk with some proof before you can run
On all the conjecture embraced with aplomb
Come enthrall us
Miracle workers - these false orators
Set back life itself with fairytale laws
Come enthrall us
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