Live Review: Napalm Death at The Electric Ballroom, Camden, London (12/03/23)

When Napalm Death are in town, metalheads of all creeds come far and wide to show their love and adoration for the legendary grindcore band. No matter the country, the city, or the venue, it is guaranteed to be sweaty, smelly, and downright noisy.

Active since 1981, Napalm Death need no introduction and even if their style of intensity does little for you, you know of them. Hence, why the Electric Ballroom in Camden is packed with the old, the young, and everyone in between. Age is no barrier to enjoying what this band does, especially as they continue to do it so very well.

This is the Campaign for Musical Destruction. A massive European tour that started in the Netherlands and ended tonight, in the capital of the England. A tour that also featured special guests Dropdead, Siberian Meat Grinder and Escuela Grind.

Tonight, the Ballroom is all about Napalm Death though and the roar that greets their arrival on stage tells you all you need to know about the iconic status of this band. They are humble heroes, playing some of the most uncouth and uncharismatic metal, yet they are cherished for it and never take that love and respect for granted.

It’s their honest connection with their fans that sees frontman Mark ‘Barney’ Greenway promise us that he will explain why he is not his usual self-tonight, to some degree. Although everyone can see exactly what the problem is as he hobbles on to the stage on crutches. Forced, seemingly against his will, to take seat and perform from that position.

So, what happened? He broke his ankle during a show a few weeks back leaving them the choice of cancelling the rest of the dates or carrying on like this. Obviously, the fact that Barney is telling us this from the stage tonight makes it pretty clear they decided to push on.

Which does mean we do miss out on the infamous and incredibly watchable antics of Barney as he stalks the stage like a madman. However, that doesn’t mean it’s a stoic show by any means. In fact, even though he is seated throughout, he moves his body like he is possessed by the devil. There’s something transfixing about the way he swings his arms, moves his head, and seems incapable of sitting still for even a second.

Barney’s ankle may be fucked but that’s the only part of him that is and he delivers an immense vocal performance while also making everyone in attendance laugh and feel like their chatting to a friend. It’s the Napalm Death way, and along with the rest of the band, no-one leaves feeling unappreciated.

How about the music though? It’s Napalm Death and they wreck necks. Taking us through their entire history, from the start to the latest album, everything seems to get covered here. Hell, they even find time to throw in two covers songs – namely Bad Brains’ Don’t Need It and Dead Kennedys’ Nazi Punks Fuck Off.

There are a lot of highlights with the old and the new going down a treat with the sweating, heaving, and in some cases, vomiting masses. The new (ish) tracks from Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism sound incredible live. Seriously some of the best music Napalm Death have put out in some time. It’s 70 minutes of chaos and carnage, but the kind that leaves everyone involved smiling from ear to ear. The world is a better place for Napalm Death being in it and shows like this serve as such a great reminder that they are more than deserving of their iconic status.