Napalm Death

Leaders Not Followers (Relapse)
by Tim Den

Napalm Death guitarist/backup vocalist Mitch Harris once said that his bandmate Shane Embury could play anything on guitar and it would be good enough to use on an album. The same thing could be said of the entire band: on Leaders Not Followers, Napalm Death take six songs by their favorite bands and make them sound even better. Even with primitive stompers like Death’s pre-album demo ditty “Back from the Dead,” the so-simple-it’s-funny riffs are transformed into gushing volcanic geysers, wiping that New School smirk off your face. Raw Power’s “Politicians” and Dead Kennedys’ “Nazi Punks Fuck Off” also show that the band is as in touch with their punk roots as ever, showering the old school favorites with blastbeats and high-pitched screams (god I love those). Bottom line: anything touched by the Birmingham quintet is blessed with goodness. Get this now. And will someone please pick up Enemy of the Music Industry for domestic release!?
(PO Box 2060 Upper Darby, PA 19082)