NAPALM DEATH — From Enslavement to Obliteration (review)

NAPALM DEATH — From Enslavement to Obliteration album cover Album · 1988 · Grindcore Buy this album from MMA partners
4.5/5 ·
Vim Fuego
It's a familiar story. Four young men with astounding clarity of vision are brought together by the spirit of creative lifeforce and combine their common love of music, in the process recording an album which becomes a yardstick for a genre, the starting point for a new musical movement, an awakening of creative consciousness, a defining moment in the artistic oeuvre.

Nah, fuck all that over analysis bullshit. "From Enslavement To Obliteration" is simply a blinding album which will rip your fucking face off!

Twenty-seven manic tracks blast past in a bit over 34 minutes. This is grindcore at grassroots level. Ugly music stripped back to the bare bones. Everything is straight forward, and pushed to the limits just to see what would happen. The songs are exercises in beautiful simplicity. Take one idea or riff. Take it as far as it will go. End. Repeat. Only two tracks stretch past the three minute mark, and a good number are shorter than a minute. Then again, 12 minute epics are not really an option when playing at this speed and intensity.

No one involved with this album could have possibly imagined the influence they would all have on extreme music. Vocalist Lee Dorrian formed Cathedral. Guitarist Bill Steer went to Carcass full time. Drummer Mick Harris helped create the almighty Godflesh and a plethora of other experimental extreme musical projects. Bass player Shane Embury has stayed with Napalm Death, and has been a leading figure in shaping the direction of most things extreme since.

This is fast, energetic, brutal as fuck, no nonsense music. It's the way grindcore used to be, and still should be.
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Vim Fuego wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Well, I wouldn't recommend FETO to someone just starting to explore grindcore. It might put 'em off, because it's not an easy listen, but then if grindcore is easy listening, then the band has problems...
UMUR wrote:
more than 2 years ago
It is indeed a great review. Can´t say my own love for the album is as great as yours, but I´ll admit I´m a wimp when Things become as noisy and one-dimensional as they do here. I acknowledge the extremely influential nature of the release and it´s participants.
Vim Fuego wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Just be aware then that the first two albums sound completely different to everything from Harmony Corruption onwards
Unitron wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Great review, awesome review opening. :)

Believe it or not, but I have yet to listen to Napalm Death. As with more bands, they've been on my to listen-list for a while now. I must remedy that.

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