Napalm Death previewed

Napalm Death
Pearl Room, Mokena
Monday, November 27, 2006

Love metalcore? Thank Napalm Death. Hate metalcore? Blame Napalm Death.

Maybe Napalm Death aren’t single-handedly responsible for metalcore (Gothenburg bands like At The Gates and In Flames as well as pioneering crossover acts like Agnostic Front and Suicidal Tendencies also deserve mention). But Napalm Death, formed in England in the early ’80s, are widely considered the fathers of grindcore, which utilized extremely brief songs, unintelligible lyrics, and as much speed and ferocity as possible. Grindcore is the closest genre you’ll see on the metalcore family tree so it’s no surprise Napalm Death can pull a direct support slot for Hatebreed or that they enlist bands like A Life Once Lost and Chicagoans Dead To Fall to open their own tours.

What might be surprising, though, is the level of heaviness and credibility the group have maintained through their career. It has been nearly 20 years — and maybe as many lineup changes — since the band debuted with Scum. You wouldn’t know that by listening to Smear Campaign (Century Media), Napalm’s most recent record, though, because it is as fast, heavy, loud, and angry as anything the band have ever done. “Sell out” is a term metal fans love to throw around, but it sounds like Napalm Death might be able to avoid it for another 20 years.

— Trevor Fisher

A Life Once Lost, Dead To Fall, and Animosity open.

Click here to download Napalm Death’s “When All Is Said And Done.”

Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly