Artist: Napalm Death
Label: Spitfire Records
Release Date: 3/6/01
Rating: 4 Skulls
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Title: Enemy of the Music Business Artist: Napalm Death Label: Spitfire Records Release Date: 3/6/01
Rating: 4 Skulls |
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Submitted by Requiem (6/7/01):
Due to the fact that this was recorded almost a year ago, it's about time it got a proper US release. I got a sneak peek this past winter when my friend played me the import version. Upon first listen, I came to the conclusion that this was one of Napalm's better releases in some time. And now once I had the chance to sit down with the actual album in my hands, my first assumptions were correct. Napalm Death probably disappointed a good portion of their fans with the most recent albums taking a slightly different turn than the days of blasting and screaming to no end. While I personally found some of the slowed down era to be beneficial to my eardrums, Enemy of the Music Business rewinds back to the early years, kicks it in full throttle and demolishes from start to finish while still retaining some elements of the recent years.I'm assuming by the title of the album that there is a lot of hatred involved in the creation of this album, which may explain the return to speed and mayhem. Gone are the slower effects driven songs heard on the likes of Greed Killing and Fear Emptiness and Despair and a return to the days of Harmony Corruption and Utopia Banished which served as good middle ground between the Lee Dorian vocal days and the most recent material before this album. I've been hearing nothing but good things about this new one and there is no doubt in my mind that the hype is right on target this time. The album shows a return to a more raw and grindy sound with many of the songs bringing memories of the legendary Terrorizer.
The vocals are sounding much more aggressive on this release as well. Barney sounds furious as ever and the trademark high screams are as plentiful as meatheads attending a Limp Bizkit show. The magic ingredient of the album is the superbly executed drum work of Danny Herrera. This is his first release to demonstrate his skills on the faster side of the Napalm Death spectrum, which hasn't seen this sense of speed since Mick Harris's departure into the demented world of Scorn. Danny takes on this challenge well, adding fancy intricacies to the beats giving the songs that extra thrust making them transcend into greatness. The guitars have a raw hardcore/punk on speed feel tearing through technical riff after riff. The whole album is a proclamation of hatred against the music industry and this band is the wrong band to fuck over because they obviously speak their opinions quite loudly.
There you have it. Napalm is back for those of you who miss the days of speed. They are sounding tighter and faster than we've heard in some time. We need to piss these guys off more often if they will keep this up. Many of the death metal bands from way back when are probably playing Korn covers now. Napalm Death, on the other hand, are true to their roots and ideals and are tearing the metal scene a new asshole on this one. There are a few of the pioneers that are keeping it real, and Napalm Death is one of them. Run for cover.
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