EP Review: Napalm Death – Resentment Is Always Seismic – A Final Throw of Throes (Century Media Records)

2020’s Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism was a seismic release for Napalm Death, widely considered to be one of the best albums of that year. As well as one of the band’s best albums to date, certainly in the modern era.

Now, in their fifth decade, the grindcore extremists are back with a new EP called ‘Resentment Is Always Seismic – A Final Throw of Throes’. A kind of epilogue to Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism.

As furious and intense as always, this EP will please all who enjoy the blistering noise that Napalm Death have been creating for 5 decades. Kicking off with Narcissus, the unit build momentum until they’re ready to unleash a furore of blast-beat chaos. We call tracks like this ‘circle pit mayhem’.

Resentment Always Simmers is a slow-burn track that layers the filth widely while delivering an irrational level of dissonance. The low-tempo, methodical, pounding beat is far more rhythmic than you might expect. Whereas By Proxy is as straight-forward as it gets with Napalm Death, a little over 2 minutes of chaotic, brash and abrasive noise.

Things take a strange turn next though as the group pull out a cover that is unlike anything they’ve done before. Covering People Pie by Slab, Napalm Death give us something more industrial and features clean singing, gospel backing and cleaner notes. It’s so strange to hear Napalm Death doing a track like this but bloody hell, do they nail it.

If you found you couldn’t get on with that one, fear not, Man Bites Dogged and Slaver Through Repeat Performance sees Napalm Death delivering a more recognisable set of destructive tracks.

A second cover then comes along but Don’t Need It by Bad Brains fits the band more. A touch over a minute of intense punk body vibrations played at a frenetic pace. Before the EP concludes with Resentment is Always Seismic (Dark Sky Burial Dirge). A lengthy reworking of Narcissus, this is a finale built on dark and uncomfortable atmosphere.

Unsurprisingly, this is another quality release from the legends and fans are sure to lap it up. However, it’s not necessary listening and a few of the tracks are ‘one and done’. Both covers come to mind and you could probably throw in By Proxy too.

Napalm Death – Resentment Is Always Seismic – A Final Throw Of Throes Full Track Listing:

1. Narcissus
2. Resentment Always Simmers
3. By Proxy
4. People Pie (Slab! Cover version)
5. Man Bites Dogged
6. Slaver Through a Repeat Performance
7. Don’t Need It (Bad Brains Cover Version)
8. Resentment is Always Seismic (Dark Sky Burial Dirge)

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