Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Napalm Death - Utilitarian [2012]

Napalm Death never disappoints! They still got it!




This album is no recycled crap a lot of bands seem to be okay with releasing. This one really takes you back to the "good ole days". This is one of those moments where if Napalm Death were to release this with poor studio quality and just SAY they were unreleased tracks from back in the eighties; people would believe them. That is what makes Napalm so great; their consistency. The late eighties ND to a bit more specific.

The easiest way to describe this album is to compare it to an older one, and with the 80's being mentioned, it would seem to be most similar to ND's second work, "From Enslavement To Obliteration". The one thing that the earlier album had (besides the svper kvlt recording) that this one does not, is the short thirty second songs. Those would have made this album a landmark in history. To be fair though, the second to last track "Opposite Repellent" is a brief minute and five seconds long, with the actual music kicking in at the 10 second mark. It also has the classic feedback in the beginning. For anyone who is partial to saying ND doesn't have it anymore just needs to hear that track to have their faith in them restored.

The intro track in the very beginning of the CD has a very eerie vibe to it. That has been consistent compared to their other recent releases. If they were to actually perform that intro live it would be just devastating! Then the next track kicks you right in the teeth with the speed! The first thing that comes to everyone's mind when the name Napalm Death comes up is how stupid fucking fast they are! And then in the next track, they bring in the "noise" here in the chorus with a sound that is very hard to describe. Almost as if they were letting the air squeak out of a balloon! Most of all however, what really will hook you into this album is track 5, "The Wolf I Feed". It has the upbeat skanking riff that has almost a crossover sound for a second. Mitch Harris has such an incredible voice. When you have him and Barney trading vocals in a track it. But the guitar riff in the beginning of that track is what makes it!

How many lifetimes would you have to live to come up with as many riffs as these dudes do? The thought alone is just baffling. Every track on this record has a riff that will either make you want to mosh or throw your arms up in the air at the sound of sheer terror! Besides the fore mentioned track 5 there is some very choice riffage in "Nom de Guerre" (the whole song!) and in "Opposite Repellent" at around :42. Also in the preview track "Leper Colony" there is some monster riffage (http://youtu.be/I0NqN6mGO2g?t=1m34s). Those riffs alone will convince you to pic this gnarly bastard up!

These guys haven't turned their backs to the music they set out to create, and by now it is pretty obvious that these legends never will. Their previous recent releases were amazing, and this album is most definitely a step above them!

94%

Favorite Track: The Wolf I Feed, Nom de Guerre, Opposite Repellent


They also put on one of the best live shows! Their energy is unstoppable!



For those of you that don't have a clue what Napalm Death is all about this tell you.



And this may seem a little unorthodox but IF ANYONE IN NAPALM OR THE LABELS READ THIS. This would be my dream tour!! And the crust and grind world can back me up on this! And if they came to the D.I.Y. venues they would sell out every show.

Napalm Death

DropDead
Nails


Think about it!

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