Napalm Death "Throes Of Joy In The Jaws Of Defeatism" (2020)

Despite relative disappointment with proceeding Apex Predator, I'll always be one excited for a new Napalm Death record! The British Grindcore legends have entered their fifth decade as a band with Throes Of Joy In The Jaws Of Defeatism, their sixteenth full length record, remarkable! The EP Logic Ravaged By Brute Force released earlier this year didn't exactly hint at what was next for the band but I am happy to report the albums kicks off a boot to the stomach and fist to the teeth as its opening plunge into choppy fretwork chaos and pummeling blast beats gives that much needed adrenaline shot to the heart this group deliver on so often. Its pivot to a tense, dark and atmospheric guitar lead with Barney roaring in vitriol "get a looser grip" sets its sights on the records two halves.

The next couple of tracks continue to tear into an unrelenting energy fueled by anger and frustration. Crushing percussion batters away, dizzying riffwork assaults and venomous screams hammer down on the listener for a riotous ride. Contagion acts the link, darkly choral voicing chime in to brood the mood between a collection of stomping riffs loaded with groove and intensity. Jole De Ne Pas Vivre then breaks the intensity for a maddening atmosphere as echoing noises of destruction paint the crunching, clunking baseline that propels the song forward as vocalist Barney wretches his chords for an artful performance. Its a moment in the record to play up the two sides that deliver in various degrees running through the next half of the record explored with plenty of intensity.

This time around Napalm Death have found a balance in ideas that play out with continual excitement. The dark atmospheres conjured are both curious and enticing. They provide relief for the sonic assaults led by Mitch Harris's unending arsenal of riffs and reinforced by the battering sticks of Danny Herrera. The record has a fine production, all elements audible and synchronously smothering. The guitars in particular have texture and fidelity best exposed in noisy Post-Punk riffs that crop up on a couple of tracks. At forty two minutes it does well to hold attention with consistency as songs to not stand out from one another however plenty of individual compositions and "moments" will be sure to grab your attention, for me mostly with the half step drum grooves and plunges into hellish sounds.

With such a large discography and long history, it can't be overstated how fantastic it is to have these musicians still pumping out gold. Plenty of the music here feels akin to their high standards which took a fumble in my opinion last time around. The five years between records has been worth the wait, the gods of Grindcore are at it again! You may also miss out on a fantastic track with Feral Carve-Up somehow only making to the b-side material as a bonus track. Thinking on it further, the other bonus song was remarkable too. Great record! A must listen for fans of intense ear torture.

Rating: 8/10