
Scum (1987)
Napalm Death’s debut album “Scum” (1987) is a landmark in extreme metal, laying the groundwork for grindcore with its raw energy, relentless aggression, and socio-political lyrics.
Napalm Death’s Harmony Corruption (1990) is a classic of extreme metal. It’s a brutal album that mixes death metal with the band’s original grindcore sound. The songs are short, intense, and filled with angry lyrics about social problems. If you like your music heavy and aggressive, Harmony Corruption is a must-listen.
Length: 40:48
Death metal, grindcore
July 1st, 1990
Earache Records
Late 1989 to early 1990
Morrisound Recording (Tampa, Florida)
Scott Burns
Social and Political Injustice: Many songs express rage against systems of oppression, corruption in power, the hypocrisy of those in authority, and the destructive tendencies of humanity.
Environmental Ruin: Tracks like “Unfit Earth” lament environmental degradation and the consequences of unchecked exploitation of the planet.
Anti-war Sentiment: The album has a strong streak of anti-war messaging, exemplified in songs like “Suffer the Children”, with visceral portrayals of the horrors of conflict.
Personal Responsibility: Some lyrics emphasize the need for individuals to examine their own actions and how they contribute to the world’s problems.
Relentless Fury: The album is a sonic assault, dominated by crushing riffs, blast beats, and guttural vocals. It maintains a breakneck pace throughout, rarely offering moments of respite.
Anger and Disillusionment: The lyrics and vocal delivery convey a sense of profound anger towards oppression,injustice, and the destructive tendencies of humanity.
Dark and Nihilistic: There’s a strong undercurrent of nihilism and hopelessness in the album’s worldview. It doesn’t offer easy solutions or feel-good moments, focusing instead on the harsh realities it critiques.
Barney Greenway’s Debut: Harmony Corruption was the first Napalm Death album to feature vocalist Mark “Barney” Greenway. His debut was a major stylistic shift for the band, as his guttural death growl replaced the higher-pitched style of previous vocalist Lee Dorrian.
American-Mexican Influence: The addition of American and Mexican-American guitarists Mitch Harris and Jesse Pintado brought a distinct death metal flavor to Napalm Death’s established grindcore sound. This influence is highly evident on Harmony Corruption.
Scott Burns Production: Harmony Corruption was produced by renowned death metal producer Scott Burns at Morrisound Recording in Florida. Burns’ signature production style gave the album a raw, visceral sound.
Super Big Gulps and Sleep on the Couch: Bassist Shane Embury shared that during recording, the band enjoyed a steady diet of Super Big Gulp drinks and that vocalist Barney Greenway recorded all his vocals in a single day, stoned, in the studio.
Bonus Track Surprise: Some versions of Harmony Corruption include a bonus track called “Hiding Behind.” This wasn’t originally intended for the album, but snuck in last minute.
July 1, 1990