Napalm Death

So I went to see Napalm on Saturday at a little venue close to where I live with a few friends, who were more interested in the spectacle than the music itself. Although I've not been to many gigs, so I don't have many points of reference, I can safely say that Napalm put on an AMAZING show, in their own special no-frills manner. And let's face it, when you've got a message behind the music, aside from the generic 'WUUURGH, SATAN!' crap, it's a lot easier to maintain interest in the music, lyrics and the banter, however much 1349 might hide behind their fire breathing facade.

After two support bands who seemed to only exist to annoy, one band late to the metalcore scene by three or four years, whose name surprisingly escapes me, trying to make their music 'deep' by including instrumental interludes that were ultimately unmemorable, and trying to hit the Dillinger-esque 'mathy' audience, not by complicated music or time signatures, but instead by excessive use of pinch harmonics, and a tough guy hardcore band on the Hatebreed axis, who seemed to use the same chord progressions throughout, and further enhanced their meatheaded image by entitling a song 'Fuck You And Fuck Off', or something along those lines, dedicated to the BNP, who surely will take all the publicity they can get, especially the sort which doesn't put forth reasons for dissent against their political ideas. This lot were called 'All Will Suffer', and although they were mildly enjoyable, only served to fill time before the arrival of the mighty NAPALM DEATH.

The problem was further aggravated by the time Napalm took to come on, a good half an hour, which although expected, was like the slow drag of Advent for a young child. Eventually, they came on, although I'd already managed to exchange a 'hello' with Barney Greenway who was walking to the sound guy, or the toilet. Opening with the, well, opener of their most recent album 'Time Waits For No Slave' - 'Strongarm' - was again expected, and their set was littered with more recent tracks. However, everybody came for the tracks off 'Scum' through 'Harmony Corruption', and the pits for those were largest by far - although it's hard to count exact numbers whilst you're being mauled - except, of course, for 'You Suffer', in which there wasn't time, especially seeing as it came as a surprise to everybody, not least Shane Embury, it would seem!

Altogether, I personally emerged relatively unscathed, except for one bruise on my head from a headbutt and the general feeling of being, well, knackered. Taking home a free poster, now sitting on my bedroom wall, proudly declaring 'NO FUCKING SLAVE' was also a good move, as not only does it look good, but it will help preserve fond memories of the night.

Next? Deathfest...