NAPALM DEATH — Greed Killing (review)

NAPALM DEATH — Greed Killing album cover EP · 1995 · Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
UMUR
"Greed Killing" is an EP release by UK death metal/grindcore act Napalm Death. The EP was released through Earache Records in November 1995. It bridges the gap between the band´s 5th and 6th full-length studio albums "Fear, Emptiness, Despair (1994)" and "Diatribes (1996)". "Greed Killing" features six studio tracks and one live track. The six studio tracks were recording at the same sessions that spawned the tracks for the subsequent "Diatribes (1996)" album. The title track from the EP and "My Own Worst Enemy" also appear on the "Diatribes (1996)" album while the remaining studio tracks are exclusively featured on this EP. The live track is "Plague Rages" from "Fear, Emptiness, Despair (1994)" recorded in New York in September 1994.

"Greed Killing" was the first release by Napalm Death to embrace a "softer", slower, and more "cleanly" produced death metal style. You won´t find many traces of the band´s grindcore past on this EP (except for a couple of rare blast beat sections) and this is basically groove oriented death metal. The tempo is mostly mid-paced and the riffs and the rhythms are groove influenced with a slight industrial touch. Mark "Barney" Greenway of course sounds exactly like he always does with his half growling, half barking vocal style so there are no changes in that department. The transformation to a more groove oriented style already began on "Fear, Emptiness, Despair (1994)", but it was ultimately still a pretty raw and dark release. "Greed Killing" is still the sound of an angry Napalm Death full of indignation over the state of the world, but the gritty darkness and despair of "Fear, Emptiness, Despair (1994)" is gone.

While the tracks are as such well composed, the Colin Richardson production professional and well sounding (objectively seen), and the band are well playing, it´s like the material on the EP lacks edge (including the live rendition of "Plague Rages"). The sound production may be both powerful and detailed, but it´s up for discussion if this type of production suits Napalm Death´s music. Personally I think the clear sounding production makes the music lose some of it´s rawness and aggression. It´s not that "Greed Killing" isn´t enjoyable but the above mentioned lack of edge is an issue and therefore a 3 star (60%) rating isn´t all wrong.
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