It has been two years since grindcore founding fathers Napalm Death released their most experimental and critically acclaimed album Throes Of Joy In The Jaws Of Defeatism, which saw them push the boundaries, refine them and redefine their sound as they have done countless of times before to rapturous applause. Recorded during the sessions of Throes Of Joy…, Resentment Is Always Seismic is half an hour of absolutely skull splitting riffs, speed and noise. It sees Napalm Death continue with their mind bending exploration of their traditional sound’s outer limits. Incorporating insane speed alongside the animalistic bawling and production that sounds like it has gone through a Birmingham steel factory, the album wastes no time in pulverising your brain into small clumps of grey mush. Despite Resentment Is Always Seismic being classed as the mini album extension of Throes Of Joy…, it is unique in its own right whilst reiterating the supreme premiership of Napalm Death in the extreme metal genre.
Whilst many bands at this stage of their career seem happy to stagnate and reinvent the wheel whilst trying to cash in on the glory days of their youth, this is not the case for Napalm Death. These punk stalwarts are not content with standing still, restless, relentless and brimming with creativity. Having gained fresh impetus and momentum in recent years, this is one of the most virile and fertile periods for the band. This youthful energy and penchant for constant evolution has helped the band’s music immeasurably. In regards to Resentment Is Always Seismic, we’re simultaneously witnessing the expansion of what has come before but also the dawning of a new age in the band’s illustrious career. Whilst it is hard to talk about one without mentioning the other the synergy between both Throes Of Joy… and Resentment Is Always Seismic is palpable, as if they are the cogs that are driving the modern Napalm Death machine. Given that this is an album of left over material and bonus tracks, the standard and quality of each individual track is testament to the band’s songwriting pedigree. In many ways it is hard to believe how some of these songs didn’t make the final cut. The visceral rage contained in this album tangible.
From start to finish, this album gives you a bludgeoning and then some. The most curious track is the band’s cover of SLAB!’s ‘People Pie’, which sees the bass take centre stage with its grimy tone alongside snippets of a gospel choir. Whilst it is surprising after such a relentless onslaught from ‘Narcissus’ to ‘By Proxy’, but that is what Napalm Death are about, breaking down norms. There is no rest for the wicked however, after this groove metal excursion it is straight back to the rabid dog craziness the band are famous for on ‘Man Bites Dogged’. ‘Don’t Need It’ is another surprise choice cut, the song is a cover of a song by Ragga-punk pioneers Bad Brains. Closing track ‘Resentment is Always Seismic (Dark Sky Burial Dirge)’ bends all realms of reality. Incorporating multi-layered cinematic elements alongside heavy, artillery shell sounding drums and disembodied vocals the band show that they are capable of writing intense film scores as well as grindcore bangers.
There is not much that hasn’t already been said about Napalm Death, since breaking out with Scum in 1987 they have been consistently delivering quality albums whilst being at the forefront of extreme metal experimentation. In 2022 that is still very much the case, Resentment Is Always Seismic is packed with surprises alongside the usual Napalm Death trimmings. This is yet another phenomenally brutal and visceral entry into this incredibly illustrious extreme metal legendarium.