Few bands are capable of taking an anti-violent political stance with as much fury as the venerable grind institution Napalm Death. And fewer still have matched Napalms blunt courage in confronting the terrifying realities of American fascism under the Bush regime. Universally recognized as the band that invented grindcore, its astounding to consider how Napalm Death in its 80s infancy must have appeared to have a life expectancy not much longer than its infamous one-second song You Suffer. Lo and behold, the band has not only survived, but creatively thrived when it could easily have gone on auto-pilot or, uh… burned out. These days, following an experimental period in the 90s, Napalm has chosen to refine, rather than expand on, its established sound, but by no means has the music lost its energy. New album Time Waits For No Slave conveys as much agitation as when an entirely different lineup, then teenagers, railed with all their might against the evils of corporations. Back then, the convincing aggression in Napalms music covered up the bands naiveté. Now, coming from the perspective of an adult concerned with the world around him, vocalist Barney Greenways lyrics hit even harder. And Greenways outspoken stance against the Nazi presence in metal, among other things, comes as a beacon of hope for fans who are sick (and rightfully wary) of the whole skinhead/violence factor at shows. All ages.
Wed., May 6, 6 p.m., 2009
