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Napalm Death - Apex Predator - Easy Meat review




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Reviewer:
8.5

190 users:
7.95
Band: Napalm Death
Album: Apex Predator - Easy Meat
Release date: January 2015


01. Apex Predator - Easy Meat
02. Smash A Single Digit
03. Metaphorically Screw You
04. How The Years Condemn
05. Stubborn Stains
06. Timeless Flogging
07. Dear Slum Landlord?
08. Cesspits
09. Bloodless Coup
10. Beyond The Pale
11. Stunt Your Growth
12. Hierarchies
13. Caste As Waste [Japanese bonus]
14. One-Eyed
15. What Is Past Is Prologue [limited edition bonus]
16. Oh So Pseudo [limited edition bonus]
17. Adversarial / Copulating Snakes
18. Clouds Of Cancer / Victims Of Ignorance [G-ANX cover] [limited edition bonus]
19. Critical Gluttonous Mass [LP bonus]
20. Paracide [Gepøpel cover] [Japanese bonus]

Call me a late bloomer of sorts to the grind kings in Napalm Death, as I first got into the band not through the classics such as Scum and From Enslavement To Obliteration, as most do, but through the much more recent Time Waits For No Slave. It was the Barney-fronted incarnation of the band that I first fell in love with, so I'm more than happy to say that they're once again delivering the goods with their 2015 effort.

Apex Predator - Easy Meat is essentially the natural continuation of the band's previous two albums, and it's thus very likely that if you enjoyed those, you'll appreciate this one as well. What more can it be described as other than Napalm Death doing what Napalm Death do best? The tracks thunder away like a stampede of wildebeests, pounding you into oblivion with their tales of anti corporatism and wage slaves (and ground beef?). The album also retains a good degree of the death metal influence found in the band's previous efforts, and it shows in the catchy, somewhat bouncy nature of a lot of the riffs at work throughout it ("Stubborn Stains," "Bloodless Coup," etc). As usual, the production is also very well rounded, with no part of the music really feeling too smothered. Though Barney and Mitch Harris dominate, we can still pleasantly hear Danny Herrera tearing shit up on the kit and Shane Embury rattling along with the 5 string.

When details about Apex Predator - Easy Meat were originally announced, the band's statement seemed to imply that the album would be a little more experimental than usual, and while Napalm Death somewhat overstated the extent to which it is, it still is pleasantly unique in some areas. The opening title track, for example, with its eerie spoken word, serves as an interesting introduction to the carnage that follows, and somewhat reminds me of the same technique employed in "Evolved As One" so long, long ago. "Dear Slum Landlord" (debuted at Roadburn 2014) meanwhile takes an incredibly heavy and almost doom-ish approach, with Barney utilizing his (underrated, in my opinion) clean vocals rather than his trademark growls. While perhaps small areas of note, these little things do nonetheless serve a delightfully curious contrast to the no-holds-barred aggression that runs rampant throughout the majority of the album.

It's very rare for bands that pioneer a certain genre or style to still remain relevant to it years after doing so, and for this, on Apex Predator - Easy Meat Napalm Death must certainly be applauded. Losing none of the fury that has come to define the band, while also utilizing some techniques typically uncommon for the grind style, they succeed in crafting something that retains cornerstones of the music they helped create, but with enough distinction of personality to not make things seem incredibly boring and overdone. These are veterans showing us how the art of war is properly conducted, and it can't be summed up more simply than that.


Rating breakdown
Performance: 9
Songwriting: 9
Originality: 7
Production: 8





Written on 16.01.2015 by Metal Storm’s own Babalao. Comforting the disturbed and disturbing the comfortable since 2013.


Comments

Comments: 15   Visited by: 279 users
16.01.2015 - 17:38
Lit.
Account deleted
Great review makes me even more optimistic. Wish this would come out already so I can snort it up like a long line of cocaine.
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16.01.2015 - 17:42
Auntie Sahar
Drone Empress
Written by Guest on 16.01.2015 at 17:38

Great review makes me even more optimistic. Wish this would come out already so I can snort it up like a long line of cocaine.

Ya got Cesspits, the other track they released (Bloodless Coup I think), and I (kinda) gave ya Dear Slum Landlord in the meantime
----
I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

~ II. VII
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16.01.2015 - 18:12
Rating: 7
Alex F
Slick Dick Rick
Great review, looking forward to this album even more now
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16.01.2015 - 18:29
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
Same here... Napalm Death just never stops delivering. I need to check this album asap. I recall that (great) set at Roadburn and they really know how to bring the slower side of their music live.
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass
Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.
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16.01.2015 - 18:35
Auntie Sahar
Drone Empress
Written by X-Ray Rod on 16.01.2015 at 18:29

I recall that (great) set at Roadburn and they really know how to bring the slower side of their music live.

Definitely one of the best sets of the fest, and the best visuals by far.
----
I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

~ II. VII
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17.01.2015 - 05:53
MetalDoomMaster

Sounds like I need to see Napalm Death live
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17.01.2015 - 05:55
Auntie Sahar
Drone Empress
Written by MetalDoomMaster on 17.01.2015 at 05:53

Sounds like I need to see Napalm Death live

Get ready for people stagediving on you every other minute
(depending on the venue you go to of course, but I'd still say it'd be pretty likely)
----
I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

~ II. VII
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17.01.2015 - 07:22
MetalDoomMaster

Written by Auntie Sahar on 17.01.2015 at 05:55

Get ready for people stagediving on you every other minute
(depending on the venue you go to of course, but I'd still say it'd be pretty likely)

The more the better. I love venues that allow stagediving. Allows for a much more immersive experience haha
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17.01.2015 - 13:17
Auntie Sahar
Drone Empress
Written by MetalDoomMaster on 17.01.2015 at 07:22

The more the better. I love venues that allow stagediving. Allows for a much more immersive experience haha

I totally agree. I went to this new Southern Darkness Fest they're putting together in Tampa now last year, and a bunch of grind and hardcore bands were on the lineup, so there was a ton of that. One of the most fun and interactive concert experiences I've ever had.
----
I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

~ II. VII
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17.01.2015 - 16:09
MetalDoomMaster

Written by Auntie Sahar on 17.01.2015 at 13:17

I totally agree. I went to this new Southern Darkness Fest they're putting together in Tampa now last year, and a bunch of grind and hardcore bands were on the lineup, so there was a ton of that. One of the most fun and interactive concert experiences I've ever had.

Yeah, the venue in Minneapolis that summer slaughter played at was the first non-local show I've been to that didn't have security and allowed everyone to get right up on the stage. It was so much more fun.
Nice review btw, looking forward to the album now.
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18.01.2015 - 03:41
Auntie Sahar
Drone Empress
Written by deadone on 17.01.2015 at 23:43

So the question: is at least on par with Utilitarian which IMO is their best album?

I would definitely say so, if not even slightly better.
----
I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

~ II. VII
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23.01.2015 - 19:14
Rating: 8
Koen Smits

Written by deadone on 17.01.2015 at 23:43

So the question: is at least on par with Utilitarian which IMO is their best album?


It's better than Utilitarian but that still doesn't make it their best
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RIP: Frank Vandenbroucke (6 nov 1974 - 12 oct 2009)

Written by Bad English on 05.04.2014 at 15:05

but spoil thius film is like spoil porn and say porn ends whit cum shot ...
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23.01.2015 - 21:29
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted
Smear Campaign followed by The Code is Red... are the best albums, but this is ahead of Time Waits... and probably on par with Utilitarian I'd say.
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23.01.2015 - 21:32
Auntie Sahar
Drone Empress
Written by Guest on 23.01.2015 at 21:29

Smear Campaign followed by The Code is Red... are the best albums, but this is ahead of Time Waits... and probably on par with Utilitarian I'd say.

TWFNS was the album I got into them with, but I agree (partially), Smear Campaign and Utilitarian are my current favs. A few more spins of this one and that could change though.
----
I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

~ II. VII
Loading...
23.01.2015 - 21:36
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted
Written by Auntie Sahar on 23.01.2015 at 21:32

TWFNS was the album I got into them with, but I agree (partially), Smear Campaign and Utilitarian are my current favs. A few more spins of this one and that could change though.

At any rate it's like any of them are wildly different from each other anyway, just little changes here and there. This does need more listens from me though still.
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