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No, Napalm Death are not back with Earache Records, and hell is still burning souls. Noise for Music’s Sake is a two CD release ode to the Napalm Boys for their days on Earache. The first CD offers many classics from the twelve years that Napalm Death were releasing noise on Earache. From “Scum” through to “Words From the Exit Wound”, the listener is guided through the early years of grindcore from one of the most prominent bands in the genre, and on through their progression in the mid to late nineties. Unfortunately the bands most recent efforts aren’t included here, since Napalm Death left Earache Records after “Words From the Exit Wound”. It would have been a welcome bonus to have included the complete Napalm Death experience to date, and hear how they have crafted their sound in the early 2000’s since their departure from Earache.
The initial glance at the track listing of the first CD, you’d be very pleased with what’s included: Scum, Hung, Antibody, Unchallenged Hate (with Barney), Suffer the Children, Lucid Fairytale, Plague Rages, If the Truth be Known, Lowpoint, Siege of Power (with Barney), The Infiltrator, Breed to Breath, Nazi Punks Fuck off, The Kill, You Suffer, From Enslavement to Obliteration, are all included and makes it an almost perfect compilation, but on the other hand, you’ve got to question why other greats weren’t included?? Cuts like: Repression out of Uniform, Dementia Access, Ripe for the Breaking, Stranger Now, Cleanse Impure, and Cursed to Crawl from “Bootlegged in Japan” would have added an even more complete feel. But then again after seeing the track listing for the second disk, most people can’t complain. I can though. CD two includes some unreleased stuff, but also some tracks, which have been released and re-released. The second CD consists mostly of the “Death by Manipulation” LP, which was already a compilation of EP’s combined by Earache years ago. So I consider it useless to release it all again for a third time. I think that the strongest songs from those EP’s should have been part of the first CD for this release. Keep the rare songs for the second CD. Also included on the second CD are the extra tracks from the “Utopia Banished”, and “Fear, Emptiness, Despair” recordings. Plus the “Worlds Keep Turning”, and the “IN TONGUES WE SPEAK” EP’s. What makes this second CD special is the unreleased and hard to find recordings. “Internal Animosity” was recorded for the “Pathological” compilation, which is very rare, and reminds me of the Swans. Very dark, and atmospheric. “Politics of Common Sense” was released as part of a spilt with At the Gates, and the unreleased songs which include “Remain Nameless” and “Twist the Knife (Slowly)” that were originally mixed by Pete Coleman for the “Fear, Emptiness, Despair” LP. The two songs were never released, because the band wasn’t happy with Pete Coleman’s mix down. So, Colin Richardson then remixed the entire album for release. Also included are four live recordings three of which were never released as well. “Avalanche Mater Song” a Godflesh cover, was performed live with Justin Broadrick on 29/06/90. “Deceiver” with Swanky’s (Japanese band) intro was recorded with Mitch Dickinson (Unseen Terror) at Wakken, in Belgium 7/11/87. The other two live songs “The Traitor” and “Abattoir” were recorded by Shane Embury (before he was in Napalm Death) live at a bar named “The Mermaid” in Birmingham on 1/11/86 and 30/3/86. The Traitor was recorded through a ghetto blaster at the back of the bar. Napalm Death included Nik Bullen, Justin Broadrick, Mick Harris, and Jim Whiteley on bass at the time of the recording. Abattoir was a Napalm Death anthem from the ORIGINAL Napalm Death line-up; which was recorded by Shane who was witnessing Napalm Death for the very first time. My favorites from the second CD are: Walls of Confinement, Living in Denial, Food Chains, Upwards and Uninterested (Demo), I Abstain (Demo), Internal Animosity, Scum (with Lee Dorrian and Bill Steer), Life, Remain Nameless, Twist the Knife (Slowly), and Deceiver.
To polish this release off is a kick ass booklet that features an interview with bassist Shane Embury, and singer “Barney” Greenway. Also included is a song-by-song description for the second CD by Shane Embury, Plus a Napalm Death family tree.
A Great compilation release that I have to give 10/10, because there’s too much great material on here. This release is perfect for every Napalm Death fan, and a great introduction to one of the most important bands in the underground. Although for me, it was missing some very important classic’s, and too bad Napalm Death’s newer material is absent, because it fucking destroys!! Napalm Death defined Grindcore!!
–Chris “Diatribe” Rohde
| Tracklist |
| Disc one: |
| 1. The Kill |
| 2. Scum |
| 3. You Suffer |
| 4. Deceiver |
| 5. Hung |
| 6. Antibody |
| 7. Unchallenged Hate |
| 8. Siege Of Power |
| 9. Greed Killing |
| 10. Suffer The Children |
| 11. Mass Appeal Madness |
| 12. Next Of Kin To Chaos |
| 13. Judicial Slime |
| 14. Lucid Fairytale |
| 15. If The Truth Be Known |
| 16. Plague Rages |
| 17. Social Sterility |
| 18. From Enslavement To Obliteration |
| 19. Low Point |
| 20. Contemptuous |
| 21. Diatribes |
| 22. Chains That Bind Us |
| 23. Armageddon x 7 |
| 24. Breed To Breathe |
| 25. World Keeps Turning |
| 26. The Infiltrator |
| 27. Nazi Punks Fuck Off |
| Disc two: |
| 1. Rise Above |
| 2. Missing Link / Mentally Murdered |
| 3. Walls Of Confinement |
| 4. Cause And Effect / No Mental Effort |
| 5. Pride Assassin |
| 6. Avalanche Master Song - Live At ICA |
| 7. One And The Same |
| 8. Sick And Tired |
| 9. Malignant Trait |
| 10. Killing With Kindness |
| 11. Means To An End |
| 12. Insanity Excursion |
| 13. Truth Drug |
| 14. Living In Denial |
| 15. Food Chains |
| 16. Upwards And Uninterested |
| 17. I Abstain |
| 18. Politics Of Common Sense |
| 19. Internal Animosity |
| 20. Scum |
| 21. Life |
| 22. Retreat To Nowhere |
| 23. Remain Nameless |
| 24. Twist The Knife (Slowly) |
| 25. Deceiver - with Swanky's intro |
| 26. The Traitor (live) |
| 27. Abattoir (live) |
: N/A
| Buy other Napalm Death albums |
