Napalm Death

  • Birmingham, England
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  • Rock
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  • 1981
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About Napalm Death


The fathers of grindcore, Napalm Death pushed the envelope of metal to new extremes of ear-splitting intensity, rejecting all notions of melody, subtlety, and good taste to forge a brand of sonic assault almost frightening in its merciless brutality. Formed in Ipswich, England in 1982, the group trafficked in the usual heavy metal fare for the first few years of its existence, but by the middle of the decade they began to expand their horizons by incorporating elements of hardcore and thrash into the mix; ultimately, Napalm Death's sonic experiments evolved into a blistering mutation of metal which they dubbed grindcore, a kind of extremist noise attack characterized by incredibly brief song lengths, demonic vocals, and eye-opening sociopolitical lyrical commentary.

Building their reputation on a series of incendiary radio sessions and live dates, Napalm Death set about recording their debut LP, Scum, issued in 1987 on the Earache label. A series of lineup changes during production resulted in the record's two sides each containing almost completely different rosters: while the first half featured guitarist Justin Broadrick and vocalist/bassist Nick Bullen, the flipside presented new vocalist Lee Dorrian, guitarist Bill Steer, and bassist Jim Whitely; only drummer Mick Harris played on every track. While largely ignored by the mainstream media, Scum proved hugely influential throughout the global metal community; among Napalm Death's most public supporters was BBC Radio One DJ John Peel, who repeatedly played the track "You Suffer" before inviting the group to record a legendary September 1987 Peel Session introducing new bassist Shane Embury.

With 1988's From Enslavement to Obliteration, the band grew even more extreme, issuing some 54 total tracks, many of them clocking in at just a few seconds in length. (The compilation Grindcrusher offered perhaps the ultimate distillation of the aesthetic by including a bonus split single from Napalm Death and the Electro Hippies with each side lasting just one second; the shortest single ever.) More roster shifts followed, as Dorrian exited to form Cathedral and Steer jumped ship to found Carcass; with vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway (formerly of Benediction) and guitarists Jesse Pintado (ex-Terrorizer) and Mitch Harris (ex-Righteous Pigs), Napalm Death resurfaced with 1990's Harmony Corruption, a nod toward more conventional song structures and a less punishing sound. Apparently unhappy with the results, the group followed later that year with the Mass-Appeal Madness EP, a return to all-out grindcore fury.

Mick Harris, the only remaining member from the unit's earliest lineups, exited Napalm Death in 1992 to mount an acclaimed ambient dub project named Scorn; he was replaced by drummer Danny Herrera for Utopia Banished, followed by a single covering the Dead Kennedys' "Nazi Punks Fuck Off." With 1994's Fear, Emptiness, Despair, Napalm Death earned some of the best critical notices of their career, and to the shock of many even found themselves in the Top Ten of the U.S. pop albums chart by virtue of their appearance on the soundtrack to the motion picture Mortal Kombat. The Greed Killing mini-album appeared in 1995 as a teaser for the following year's relatively accessible full-length Diatribes. Greenway was subsequently fired in November 1996 and replaced by Phil Vane of Extreme Noise Terror; however, after recording a split EP with Coalesce, the band reconsidered, and Greenway re-joined in time for the 1997 album Inside the Torn Apart. Next was 1998's live release Bootlegged in Japan, trailed early the next year by the well-received Words from the Exit Wound, which proved to be their final album for Earache (from which they experienced an acrimonious split). 2000 saw the release of the covers EP Leaders Not Followers in mid-summer. Napalm Death returned to its early grindcore roots to a degree with its next full-length, Enemy of the Music Business, which was issued in early 2001. Throughout the remainder of the decade, the band reliably stuck to its guns, releasing high-quality albums -- including Order of the Leech, Smear Campaign, and Time Waits for No Slave -- at a rate of roughly one every other year. To ring in 30 years of punishing noise, the grind metal pioneers released their 15 album, Utilitarian, in 2012. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi

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Music

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  • The Wolf I Feed
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    The Wolf I Feed
  • When All Is Said and Done
    napalm-death
    Video
    When All Is Said and Done
  • Silence Is Deafening
    napalm-death
    Video
    Silence Is Deafening
  • 1411
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    • The Wolf I Feed
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/7/5/1/2/1/934712157.mp3
    • Nazi Punks F*ck Off
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/8/3/0/8/9/107698038.mp3
    • Scum
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/8/7/7/5/4/107645778.mp3
    • Sick and Tired
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/2/8/8/5/6/107665882.mp3
    • Nazi Punks F*ck Off
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/0/5/7/5/4/107645750.mp3
    • World Keeps Turning [EP Version]
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/7/2/3/6/4/107646327.mp3

Interviews & Exclusives

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  • BONUS: Napalm Death's Bang of the Week (2006)
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    BONUS: Napalm Death's Bang of the Week (2006)
  • Napalm Death on their extensive catalog (2006)
    napalm-death
    video
    Napalm Death on their extensive catalog (2006)
  • Napalm Death answer some of your fan questions (2006)
    napalm-death
    video
    Napalm Death answer some of your fan questions (2006)
  • Napalm Death on touring (2006)
    napalm-death
    video
    Napalm Death on touring (2006)

Photos

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  • Napalm Death
    Courtesy of Century Media
  • Napalm Death
    Cindy Frey

News

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  • Napalm Death
    Napalm Death, Harvey Milk and more for Primavera Sound 2012
    drownedinsound.com
    a huge batch of acts playing next year were announced and now...there are more. Although not quite so many this time. So here, we present to you some ...
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  • Napalm Death
    Mastodon, Neurosis, Kylesa, Napalm Death, More Participate in Benefit Auction for Baroness
    pitchfork.com
    expsenses incurred from their very serious bus accident last summer, as Exclaim! reports. A Facebook page and Twitter account has been set up for a so...
    Read More

Tour Dates

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  • May 25 Saturday
    Winnipeg, MB, Canada Garrick Centre
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  • May 26 Sunday
    Minneapolis, MN, US Mill City Nights
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  • May 27 Monday
    Des Moines, IA, US Wooly's
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  • May 28 Tuesday
    Chicago, IL, US Bottom Lounge
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  • May 29 Wednesday
    Detroit, MI, US Harpos Concert Theater
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  • May 30 Thursday
    Buffalo, NY, US Town Ballroom
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  • May 31 Friday
    Toronto, ON, Canada Garrick Centre
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  • May 31 Friday
    Toronto, ON, Canada Phoenix Concert Theatre
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  • Jun 1 Saturday
    Montreal, QC, Canada Club Soda
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  • Jun 2 Sunday
    Boston, MA, US Royale
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  • Jun 3 Monday
    Burlington, VT, US Club Metronome
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  • Jun 4 Tuesday
    New Haven, CT, US Toad's Place
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  • Jun 5 Wednesday
    Brooklyn, NY, US Music Hall of Williamsburg
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  • Jun 5 Wednesday
    Brooklyn, NY, US Music Hall of Williamsburg
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  • Jun 6 Thursday
    Philadelphia, PA, US Union Transfer
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  • Jun 7 Friday
    Cleveland, OH, US Peabody's
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  • Jun 8 Saturday
    Cincinnati, OH, US Bogart's Cincinnati
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  • Jun 9 Sunday
    Sauget, IL, US Pop's Concert Venue
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  • Jun 10 Monday
    Memphis, TN, US New Daisy Theatre
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  • Jun 11 Tuesday
    Atlanta, GA, US The Masquerade
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  • Jun 12 Wednesday
    Orlando, FL, US Beacham Theatre
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  • Jul 3 Wednesday
    Esch Sur Alzette, Luxembourg Kulturfabrik
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  • Jul 3 Wednesday
    Trutnov, Czech Republic Unknown venue
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  • Jul 6 Saturday
    Trutnov, Czech Republic Obscene Extreme
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  • Jul 12 Friday
    Antwerp, Belgium Unknown venue
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  • Jul 12 Friday
    Wiesbaden, Germany Kulturzentrum Schlachthof e.V.
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  • Jul 25 Thursday
    Obersinn, Germany Unknown venue
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  • Aug 2 Friday
    Spital Am Semmering, Austria Kaltenbach Open Air
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  • Aug 10 Saturday
    Ieper, Belgium Unknown venue
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  • Aug 30 Friday
    Braşov, Romania Unknown venue
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  • Sep 5 Thursday
    Almaty, Kazakhstan Da Freak Club
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  • Dec 8 Sunday
    Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK University of Northumbria
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  • Dec 8 Sunday
    Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK Students Union, Northumbria University
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  • Dec 12 Thursday
    Eindhoven, Netherlands De Effenaar
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  • Dec 13 Friday
    Eindhoven, Netherlands De Effenaar
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  • Dec 14 Saturday
    Eindhoven, Netherlands Eindhoven Metal Meeting
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  • Dec 14 Saturday
    Eindhoven, Netherlands De Effenaar
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Discography

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Next Page
  • Utilitarian [Bonus Track] (2012)
    Napalm Death
    Utilitarian [Bonus Track] (2012)
    Century Media
  • Time Waits for No Slave (2009)
    Napalm Death
    Time Waits for No Slave (2009)
    CMA
  • Smear Campaign (2006)
    Napalm Death
    Smear Campaign (2006)
    Century Media
  • Punishment in Capitals (2005)
    Napalm Death
    Punishment in Capitals (2005)
    Snapper
  • The Code Is Red...Long Live the Code (2005)
    Napalm Death
    The Code Is Red...Long Live the Code (2005)
    Phantom Records (England)
  • Leaders Not Followers, Pt. 2 (2004)
    Napalm Death
    Leaders Not Followers, Pt. 2 (2004)
    Century Media
  • Order of the Leech (2002)
    Napalm Death
    Order of the Leech (2002)
    Spitfire Records
  • Enemy of the Music Business (2001)
    Napalm Death
    Enemy of the Music Business (2001)
    Spitfire Records
  • Words from the Exit Wound (1999)
    Napalm Death
    Words from the Exit Wound (1999)
    Earache
  • Bootlegged in Japan (1998)
    Napalm Death
    Bootlegged in Japan (1998)
    Earache
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