Napalm Death
Apex Preditor-Easy Meat
Reviewed by: Jordy Lyric
Grindcore has never been known for its listenability or prettiness. In fact, Napalm Death’s new album Apex Preditor-Easy Meat is even a little bit uncomfortable to listen to (and, if you’ll note the album art, uncomfortable to look at as well). But, in their true fashion, there is intelligent lyrical content and huge instrumentation, even if it’s packaged in misleading proverbial barbed wire.
Opening with a haunting and creepy spoken word, the precedent is set that this will be no easy listening. And, it shouldn’t be- the concept of the album title comes from a place of frustration with the “slave labor” so to speak of underpaid sweatshop workers, and the concepts the band writes about are of global importance. People are often too quick to take grindcore at face value and neglect to examine the underlying concepts, which often involve world events and intelligent sociological consideration.
The album continues to layer socially conscious lyrics, delivered in rough vocal bursts, over traditional grindcore instrumentation- rough, distorted, loud, with pounding drums and concentrated guitars. Throughout playing it, one can clearly tell that this is for a niche crowd, mostly the kind that moshes so violently that an ambulance is needed. Napalm Death is not going to be on even the most independent radio station. But, if you like hard music and you appreciate social awareness, give it a listen. It won’t disappoint.
Rating: Bad-Ass
