ALBUM REVIEW: Throes Of Joy In The Jaws Of Defeatism – Napalm Death

Protests rock cities around the globe, a virus has laid bare the cracks and divisions in society and smoke chokes the very skies across a continent. It’s not a dystopian future; it’s a dystopian now. Fitting then, that Birmingham bruisers NAPALM DEATH are set to unleash their sixteenth scathing rebuke of injustice and inequality, the all-too-aptly named Throes Of Joy In The Jaws Of Defeatism. 

Already legends of the genre, widely considered the godfathers of grindcore thanks to their seminal debut 1987 debut Scum, NAPALM DEATH have never faltered, carving a niche entirely their own. Constantly innovating, they’ve never been afraid to throw out the rulebook at a moment’s notice. This is the kind of confidence afforded by spending decades in the game without ever letting themselves become too comfortable or stop pushing the envelope of what extreme metal can be. 

It’s been a long wait since predecessor Apex Predator – Easy Meat preyed on eardrums but those five years have been spent expanding their sonic palette further. Bursting out the gates is the blistering, full bore opening assault of Fuck The Factoid, a masterclass in grind brutality. Mark ‘Barney’ Greenway’s iconic bark is in glorious throat-shredding form, underpinned by the frenetic riffing arm of Mitch Harris and main songwriter and bassist Shane Embury’s crushing bass lines. Drummer Danny Herrara likewise makes his presence known throughout; driving tracks like Fuck The Factoid with indignant fury but just as capable of locking in a gargantuan groove such as just past the two minute mark of Backlash Just Because.

There’s the expected fury and grind aplenty but there are also moments guaranteed to make jaws hit the floor, from the unsettling electronica/noise of Joie De Ne Pas Vivre to the post-punk eclecticism on fully display throughout Amoral, a chaotic maelstrom of hate. Fans of death metal will love the crushing Fluxing of the Muscle that locks in a groove heavier than shifting tectonic plates, occasionally erupting into volcanic fury. The creative apex of Throes Of Joy… is by far and away its closing track A Bellyful of Salt and Spleen, that draws on menacing industrial ambience along with a hefty dose of Swans for a deeply unsettling, commanding finish. 

Never ones to shy away from standing by their principles, Throes Of Joy… sees the band tackle themes of the “other”; the treatment of the other in society, perception and reaction to the other. Despite this, the band don’t draw explicitly from movements such as the current Black Lives Matter movement or treatment of transgender people. Instead songs are cloaked in metaphor and opaque references. Certainly, they have axes to grind and make no secret of this but the metaphorical gives their songs far more depth and longevity, speaking across time to address burning injustices that have existed for far too long. 

Living proof that standing up for what’s right and making an uncompromising, unholy racket is the key to longevity in metal, NAPALM DEATH are the quintessential extreme metal band. With their sixteenth outing, they continue their proud tradition of doing exactly what they want regardless of any prevailing trends. Drawing the various threads of their sound through the years, Throes Of Joy In The Jaws Of Defeatism is both their most cohesive and experimental album to date, a triumph of extreme music that proves once more exactly why NAPALM DEATH are such a legendary force within extreme metal and will remain forever peerless. 

Rating: 9/10

Throes of Joy In The Jaws Of Defeatism is set for release on September 18th via Century Media Records.

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