CoC : Napalm Death - Words From the Exit Wound : Review

Napalm Death - _Words From the Exit Wound_
(Earache, 1999)
by: Adrian Bromley (8 out of 10)

It only seems right for the band that helped begin (or at least lay the groundwork) for all of this genre moulding metal to have a solid release as this century comes to a close. Had this been a bummer of a record, I think I would have given up on Napalm Death. But my metal friends, _Words From the Exit Wound_ is quite the piece of work, so there is no need to panic. Much in the vein of the brilliantly crushing last effort (1997's _Inside the Torn Apart_), Napalm Death has once again upheaved their sound to much stronger and precision oriented numbers, relying heavily on slight melodies and pure punishing rhythms. Singer Barney Greenway's vocals are in top form too, lashing out a vindictive tongue of musical mayhem with each and every breathe. It's stunning to see that through all the metal meldings and style changes that have shaped metal over the years, Napalm Death still adhere to their principle song writing structure and stay sounding like Napalm Death. Can you imagine Napalm Death showcasing black metal or gothic rock tendencies? Eek! While not as potent as _Inside the Torn Apart_, Napalm Death serve up plenty of action here (i.e., "Next of Kin to Chaos," "Ulterior Exterior" and "Clutching at Barbs"). I saw them live a month or so back and they ruled. The new stuff carried off well live.

(article published 19/5/1999)

CHATS
30/1/2009	J Smit	Napalm Death: Silence the Tyrants
12/9/2006	J Smit	Napalm Death: Blunt Against the Cutting Edge
13/5/2005	J Smit	Napalm Death: Cause for Alarm
10/1/2001	P Schwarz	Napalm Death: Killing Is the Business of Their Enemy
17/1/1996	A Bromley	Napalm Death: On A New Plane of Existence

ALBUMS
23/1/2009	J Smit	10	Napalm Death - Time Waits for No Slave
22/8/2006	J Smit	9	Napalm Death - Smear Campaign
7/4/2005	J Smit	9.5	Napalm Death - The Code Is Red... Long Live the Code
29/7/2004	J Smit	8	Napalm Death - Leaders Not Followers 2
23/6/2003	J Smit	9	Napalm Death - Order of the Leech
20/11/2000	P Schwarz	9.5	Napalm Death - Enemy of the Music Business
1/9/1998	A Wasylyk	8	Napalm Death - Bootlegged in Japan
13/5/1997	A Bromley	8	Napalm Death - Inside the Torn Apart
5/2/1997	A Bromley	8	Napalm Death - Breed To Breathe
13/12/1995	G Filicetti	8	Napalm Death - Greed Killing

GIGS
16/1/1999	P Azevedo	Cradle of Filth / Napalm Death / Borknagar	The Smell of Napalm in the Dark