Grindcore bands

01 Nasum



During the years, Nasum's had this lengthy biography which in reality is nothing else that a complete breakdown of the band's history, pointing out the highlights so far. This text has been rewritten and completed many times as soon as something new has happened. This is the last update, and the history of Nasum 1992-2004 is complete. The band was formed during the latter part of 1992 by Anders Jakobson (guitar) and Rickard Alriksson (drums/vocals) as a side project to the death metal band Necrony. The idea was to create true grindcore in the old Napalm Death style, no gore/porno-shit, just straight political grindcore. A couple of songs were written, but nothing really happened with the band. Spring 1993: Necrony's home label, German Poserslaughter Records offered Nasum to share a 7" EP with Australian goregrinders Blood Duster. Nasum accepted the offer, but in time the record turned out to be a Nasum/Agathocles split-7" EP. Two weeks before the first Nasum recording, another guitarist (Mieszko Talarczyk) was added. Together the band completed six tracks that were recorded at Unisound Studios in July 1993. The tracks were later released as the "Blind World" split-7" EP with Agathocles. Awaiting the release of the EP, a tape with the songs were sent out to different labels with the intention to pick up more offers for EP:s etc. Nasum recieved two positive answers; one offering a split-7" EP with Psycho on their label Ax/ction Records, but also an opportunity to participate on the well-reputated Swedish hardcore comp-LP "Really Fast"'s 9th volume. In November 1993 it was time for another trip to Unisound to record ten tracks; nine for the "Really Fast Vol 9" LP and one for Mieszko's comp-tape - "Corpse Flesh Genitals"' - second volume. Apparently, the track - entitled as the compilation - and the second volume ended up unreleased. The nine tracks (in all clocking 3.30!) contained a more rind/crust-inspired approach compaired to the grind/death kind of sound on the first recording, and the songs pointed out the future musical direction of Nasum. While dealing with Ax/ction Records, Mieszko decided to start his own label - Grindwork Productions - with a friend. As the label's first release a four-way split-3" MCD was planned, including Nasum, Retaliation (Swe), Clotted Symmetric Sexual Organ (Jap) and Vivisection (Jap). Eventually, Nasum yet again went to Unisound in September 1994, this time to record sixteen new tracks; eight which ended up on the "Smile When You're Dead" split-7" EP with Psycho and eight for the rindwork" split-3" MCD. On this recording the music took of where the preceding recording ended, but with a much heavier sound, changing the tuning from D to B. Inspired by Sweden's Regurgitate the next event in Nasum history was to record a demo, after two split-7" EP:s and two compilations! With a possibility to make a recording for free in a local studio, ten songs were written in a rush, and together with two re-recordings from the first two recordings and two covers, the songs were recorded as the "Domedagen" demo in November 1994. Since the recording was made in co-operation with inexperienced students learning to be sound ngineers, the sound turned out dark and muddy and obviously half of the new material turned out bad because of the rush.After two and a half years it was finally time for a record of their own as Poserslaughter Records offered a MCD. In February 1995 Nasum went to Unisound for the last time to record eighteen songs; twelve brand new ones and six re-recordings of the best songs from the "Domedagen" demo. One different detail from the previous recording was that fifteen of he songsincluded Swedish lyrics, although Nasum used lyrics in their native language on three tracks on the demo. The title of the MCD was "Industrislaven". In connection with the release of the MCD (September 1995), Poserslaughter invited Nasum to Berlin for a concert with labelmates Dead and Manos who released some records at the same time. Also a gig in southern Sweden were booked the day before. This led to some trouble as Rickard announced that he didn't want to do shows. Mieszko and Anders then got in touch with Per Karlsson (then a member of Suffer) who accepted the conditions for the "tour". So Nasum did their stage debute in Åstorp, Sweden, together with Kurbits I.R., Arsedestroyer, and Mentally Unstable, September 16th and then played in Berlin the day after with Dead and Manos This was the very end of Rickard's time in Nasum. He didn't share the same enthusiasm for the music and the lyrics as Mieszko and Anders, so he decided to quit. After an audition that didn't work out, Anders decided to take the empty place behind the drums leaving Mieszko alone with the strings. In November 1996 it was time for the "new" Nasum to do their first recording. Twentyfour tracks were recorded - eight for "The Black Illusions" (a split-7" EP with Abstain released by Yellow Dog Records, Germany in 1998) and sixteen for Nasum's first full-7" EP - "World In Turmoil", released by Blurred Records, Japan. This mighty recording was made in Nasum's rehearsalplace on a 8-tracker with a friend behind the soundboard. Although the conditions, this became Nasum's most brutal and rawest production up to date. The line-up was: Mieszko - guitar/vocals and Anders - drums/bass/vocals. June 1997, time for the seventh Nasum recording and this time 17 tracks were put on tape in Mieszko's own studio Soundlab. 16 tracks were recorded for an international grindcore/power violence compilation CD ("Regressive Hostility", released by Finnish Hostile Regression Records 1998). The seventeenth track was Discharge's "Vision Of War" recorded for a Scandinavian tribute to Discharge, released by Swedish Distortion Records a couple of years later. The complete recording was one of Nasum's best so far, hard hitting songs with a killer production. A tape with the songs was sent to American Relapse Records who, according to themselves, were "psyched" and wanted to sign the band for a fullength album. Nasum accepted at once and worked hard the whole fall of 1997 with the songs for the album, and in December Nasum once again entered Soundlab Studios to record what would be the "Inhale/Exhale" album. 42 new songs were put on tape over a two month period, of which 38 ended up on the final product. Even harder and more varied than before, Nasum brought some new blood to the grindcore style. In connection with the 42 songs, Nasum recorded 4 cover songs that was released as a bonus 7" in the vinyl version of "Inhale/Exhale" by Distortion Records in the fall of 1999. November 1998: Yet another visit to Soundlab Studios to record eight new tracks, four which were sent to Relapse to be used on compilations and eventually a split 7" EP with Warhate. The other four songs (clocking in at 1.20 minutes) were recorded only to appear on a split 5" EP together with three other split 5" EP's in a very interesting box set "Better off dead" which was to be released by Clean Plate Records. That never happened.After almost four years as a duo Nasum felt that it was time to expand the line-up with a bassplayer, since the offers for shows and tours started pouring in more frequently. In the spring of 1999 Jesper Liveröd (Burst) was tested and taken into the band. This was the start of a new era since Relapse not only offered Nasum to fly to USA to appear on the 13th Milwaukee Metalfest, but also to appear on a tour with four other Relapse acts following the festival. Summer 1999: After months if intense rehearsals the "new" Nasum debuted live on the Relapse stage at the Metalfest, almost four years since the last show in Berlin, Germany. Directly after the festival, Nasum did 10 more shows in the middle and east states as part of the Contamination 1999 tour with labelmates Today Is The Day, Soilent Green, Exhumed and Morgion.Nasum 2000. The Mark 5 line-up: Jesper - bass, Mieszko - guitar/lead vocals and Anders - drums/vocals.Fall 1999: Following the tour, Nasum wrote new songs and rehearsed intensly for six weeks before the recording of the second album started. This time Nasum devided the recording into two sessions, the first session in early October and the second one in late November/early December.The new songs showed a wider range of sounds compaired to the old material. Impressions picked up during the time in the states expanded the dynamic style of Nasum to a more varied version, with an addition of even more true grindcore. 31 songs were recorded, of which 25 ended up on the album, making it a shorter album with less, but longer songs compaired to it's predecessor. The album - "Human 2.0" - was released by Relapse Records during April 2000. In the middle of the recording, Nasum started to do shows in Sweden, with an appearence on a punk/HC festival in Umeå (way up north in Sweden). Later on, early January 2000, Nasum played in their hometown Örebro, with Entombed, and in March Nasum did a weekend-tour with Skitsystem. Spring 2000: In between doing shows in Sweden Nasum recorded the song "Tools of the Trade" for a Carcass-tribute. Summer 2000: Nasum did a couple of festivals, most memorable headlining the Fuck the Commerce III-festival in Germany and performing at the classic Hultsfred-festival in Sweden. Nasum also played with Napalm Death at the Dist 2000-festival in Forshaga, Sweden. By the end of the summer, Nasum recorded five new songs for the split 7" EP with Asterisk*. Fall 2000: Nasum did a seven week European tour supporting Napalm Death. Eight countries (France, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Czech Republic, Germany, Holland and Belgium) and forty shows. Nasum had an online tour diary, which was updated while on tour. Only four days after the tour's last show, Nasum did their final show of 2000 in Gothenburg, Sweden, with Obligatorisk Tortyr and Mindsnare. Spring 2001: After not touching their instruments for over two months, Nasum rehearsed a few times and went out on a 14 days/14 shows tour together with The Haunted and Nine, doing 12 shows all over Sweden and one in Copenhagen (Denmark) and one in Oslo (Norway). The tour was a success, with a lot of media attention - features in the big newspapers, live recordings for the national radio and a 30-minute feature on national television (with all three bands). The toured showed that there are a big interest for harder music in Sweden (the show in Nasum's hometown Örebro was totally sold out - 560 people). Summer 2001: Cooling down after the intense spring tour, Nasum wrote a couple of new songs and got into the studio in May to record eight new songs, five for a split 7" EP with Skitsystem and three for the Swedish "Polar Grinder" compilation LP. The rest of the summer was spent on four festival shows in four countries, starting with the annual Arvikafestivalen in Sweden followed by an appearance at the Knock Out-festival in Switzerland. The biggest show during the summer was without doubt the Wacken Open Air in Germany where Nasum played at the Party stage in front of several thousands of people. The summer festivals tour then concluded with a return to the Milwaukkee Metalfest in the USA. Fall 2001: Another fall and another continent to visit - Nasum took part of the "Extreme the Dojo"-tour in Japan together with jazzy hardcore-rockers Candiria and the brutal deathmachine Cryptopsy. During three dates in Osaka, Nagoya and Tokyo this line up made the dojo extreme with different kind of underground music. Meeting the Japanese fans for the first time was a pleasure for Nasum and the tour was a great success for all parts. Spring 2002: After a pretty long break from everything Nasum flew to England and shared a nightliner with The Dillinger Escape Plan and Rabies Caste doing six shows together in England, Ireland and Scotland during a week in May. Playing for the fans in this part of Europe was something Nasum had been waiting to do for a long time. Summer and fall 2002: During the late summer Nasum started to write and rehearse songs for the third album, having just a short break in October to do two shows in Sweden (Stockholm and Örebro) with old friends Nine, Skitsystem, Daybreak and Relevant Few. Fall and winter 2002/2003: Nasum got into the studio and recorded the third album, entitled "Helvete" (Swedish for "Hell"). The recording was documented weekly in an illustrated studio diary on the website. Nasum was joined briefly by Shane Embury of Napalm Death and Jörgen Sandström of Entomber, playing bass and singing on some songs. Some local guests also appeared in the studio, the original drummer/singer Rickard Alriksson and Petter Freed of 2 Ton Predator came into the studio for some additional guitar noise. he third fullength from Nasum turned out to be a hellish album taking the "Human 2.0" style even further in it's variety, this time with a fullblown and powerful production, such the music of Nasum demands. Clocking in at 35.16, "Helvete" included 22 strong songs. Spring 2003: Avaiting the release of "Helvete" Nasum took the ferry to Finland for a short tour with fellow grinders Rotten Sound. Another country to add to the list. In May "Helvete" was released in Japan (by Ritual/Howling Bull again) the 8th, in USA (by Relapse) the 13th and in Europe (also by Relapse) the 19th. Nasum mark 6:Starting with the release party for "Helvete", Nasum was now a four piece, at least live. Urban Skytt from Regurgitate joined the band on the vacant second guitar spot. Summer 2003: Nasum played at some of the more important festivals in Sweden, starting with the infamous Hultsfredsfestival, where Nasum now played at a bigger stage compared to the 2000 show, further on to the Arvikafestival (again at a bigger stage compared to the 2001 show) and ending at the Augustibuller festival which also happened to be the last show Jesper did with Nasum. Jesper had even before "Helvete" was released announced to the other members in Nasum that he had decided to leave the band after the summer, to concentrate more on his other band Burst, who also released an album on Relapse during 2003. Fall 2003: A replacement for Jesper was found in Jon Lindqvist, a long time fan of Nasum and friend of the band. Jon, who also plays in bands like Sayyadina, Acursed and Victims, joined after only one audition and quickly became a full Nasum member alongside Urban who also joined the band as more than a live guitarist. The new line up debuted at a show in Uppsala together with Tragedy. Parts of the show was filmed by Swedish TV who did a feature about Nasum in the music show "Studio Pop". Nasum continued to establish the new line up with four more shows in Sweden before 2003 ended. Winter 2004: Nasum went for a second tour in Japan with Napalm Death, A.C. and Pig Destroyer in the seventh volume of the "Extreme the Dojo" tourpackage. A double pleasure this time, since it was great for Nasum to meet up with the Japanese fans and friends and also meet and tour with Napalm Death again. Back in Sweden Nasum attened two award ceremonies since "Helvete" had been nominated for best metalalbum of 2003. First of was the P3 Guld awards, which is the Swedish National Radio's award for new music. Nasum went to the award ceremony in Gothenburg and won the price! Just one week later Nasum went to Stockholm to take part of the Manifest award, which is the independent labels' Grammy award, and again Nasum won the price! Spring 2004: In frustation from a cancelled "Helvete" tour (slated for the fall of 2003) and inspirered by a new record deal with European, Swedish and even local label Burning Heart Records Nasum suprisingly, and secretly decided to do a new album. While the new deal, which also included licensing to Relapse in the US and to Ritual/Howling Bull in Japan, was worked out Nasum wrote and rehearsed new songs. Summer 2004: Unlike any other album recording, Nasum spent a month in Soundlab Studios during the hot season creating what would become the fourth album "Shift", a title chosen to pinpoint the changes the band had been through. While a load of new songs had been written, including stuff by the two new members, two old songs eventually made it to the album. One being a reworked leftover from the "Helvete" session, one being a personal favorite from the Abstain split 7" EP. Yet again, some friends were invited into the studio to add something extra, 2 Ton Predator's Petter Freed played some solos and Rogga Johansson put down all the low vocals. ust before, during and after the recording Nasum went to different festivals including a second visit to "Fuck The Commerce", the huge Finish festival "Tuska Open Air" and a gigantic free of charge show in Gothenburg. By that time the new deal was complete and Nasum could as a total surprise for most people announce the change of record label and the new album. Fall 2004: Awaiting the release of the album, Nasum recorded their first promotional video ever. The song chosen was the mid paced Carcass reminiscing "Wrath". The video was show at the classic Stockholm club Kafé 44 with some extras dressed in white coveralls and gasmaskes. "Shift" was released mid October and Nasum embarked on their first headlining European tour just a few days after the release. Starting in Stockholm, the four weeks on tour took Nasum through Germany, Holland, England, Scotland, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Austria and finally Denmark. Before 2004 was over Nasum managed to do one show in Sweden and one in Cremona, Italy together with Regurgitate, Cripple Bastards and Yaecopse. The year ended with high hopes of the future. A new recording was planned, a Swedish tour under consideration and new trips to the USA and Europe, not forgetting Nasum's most exciting show to date: an appearence at 2005's P3 The year ended with high hopes of the future. A new recording was planned, a Swedish tour under consideration and new trips to the USA and Europe, not forgetting Nasum's most exciting show to date: an appearence at 2005's P3 Guld award show to be aired live in national radio and TV


02 amon amarth




Deeply rooted in death metal with firm beliefs in Viking mythology, AMON AMARTH formed in 1992 in Tumba, Sweden, a southern suburb of Stockholm. They began writing material with lots of melodies, harmonies and lyrics about Vikings and the northern gods. In summer 1993 they entered Lagret Studio to record the never released demo "Thor Arise". The band continued to rehearse and writing stronger material and again entered the studio. The result was the second demo "The Arrival Of The Fimbul Winter". This time the band was much more satisfied with the sound and songs and launched it to an unsuspecting underground. The response was overwhelming, quickly selling out of the first pressing and secured them a one off deal with Singapore's Pulverised Records.

This time they decided to use Abyss Studio, owned by Peter Tägtgren of Hypocrisy, and during five days in November 1995 the MCD "Sorrow Throughout The Nine Worlds" was recorded. The five track recording contained three new songs plus two re-recorded tracks from the band's second demo. The MCD was released in April 1996 and continued the band's build to world dominance. June 1996 saw the exiting of drummer Nico who was quickly replaced with Martin Lopez. During this time labels began to show interest and after much consideration the band chose to sign with Metal Blade. In March 1997 AMON AMARTH entered again Abyss Studios to record their Metal Blade debut "Once Sent From The Golden Hall" with Peter Tägtgren. The result proved that they were destined to become force of fury in the Swedish Death Metal scene and beyond.

After the recording of "Once sent...", guitarist Anders Hansson quit just a month before their first major tour with Deicide, Six Feet Under and Brutal Truth in June 98. They quickly recruited Johan Söderberg to make the line-up complete. The line-up was now solidified. "The Avenger" was recorded at Abyss Studios Sweden February to March 1999. Produced by the band, the seven track album is a lesson in pure Viking aggression and brutality blurring the line between death and black metal. The tour following this release was the X-mas massacre festivals, headlined by Morbid Angel.

In November 2000 the band entered The Abyss Studio for, as it would turn out, the last time. This time they recorded the album "The Crusher" (released in 2001). Living up to it's name, "The Crusher", the album is the most brutal album the band has produced so far. This release gave Amon Amarth the opportunity to tour a lot more than before and right after the recording they went on their first headlining tour through Denmark and Germany with Purgatory and Seirim. That tour ended up with great succes and they also managed to be the first metal band entering the German stages for the century. 00.05, 01 of January in 2001 in Guben. Then they went on the No Mercy Festivals 2001 with bands like Marduk and Vader. In the fall of 2001, AMON AMARTH was supposed to support Marduk on their American tour, but due to the events of September 11th, that tour was postponed until January 2002, and if that wasn't enough, Marduk couldn't make it over to the states. So AMON AMARTH got to headline their very first US tour, supported by Diabolic from Tampa, FL. The tour was a huge success, but unfortunately the tour agency decided to cut the tour short with one week. Returning to Europe, AMON AMARTH was offered the possibility to headline their own full European tour, and in April 2002 they went on the road together with Swedish "gore-masters" Vomitory. During the tour the band kept writing new material for an upcoming album.

August 2002 started with the bands second appearance at Wacken Open Air. Approximately 12 000 people saw the show, and the response was overwhelming. Almost going straight from Wacken to the Studio, AMON AMARTH began recording their new album "Versus the World" on August 7th. This time, however, the band had to use a new studio, since Peter no longer produces or records any bands, except his own, in his studio. The choice fell on Berno Studio in Malmö, and it turned out to be a great choice. Berno Studio has a great reputation in the scene and AMON AMARTH found it to be very easy to work with both Berno (owner, engineer) and Henrik (engineer). Recording in a new studio gave new dimensions to the bands sound. During the recording, the band managed to squeeze in a trip to Germany and the Summer Breeze festival, where they made a successful appearance.

AMON AMARTH toured incessantly to promote this album (3 American and 2 European tours, no less), the press woke up to their qualities, and legions of followers put the band on one level with those acts who had dominated the scene for years on end. This set the stage for "Fate Of Norns", AMON AMARTH's breakthrough album and highest charting release to date. Once again recorded at Berno Studios, "Fate Of Norns" saw the band touring Europe and America to ecstatic response from their fans, as well as conquering several new territories, such as Iceland, Mexico, Ireland, Poland, Croatia, and Norway. One of the highlights of the "Fate" touring cycle was undoubtedly when over 30,000 rabid fans gathered in front of the stage at 2AM to celebrate their heroes at Wacken Open Air 2004.

As a tribute to their loyal following, the band released a 3 DVD set entitled "Wrath Of The Norsemen", comprised of five full shows, in May 2005. With no less than six weeks in the German Music DVD Charts as we speak, the momentum gathered by the band by now is one that marketing strategists and industry people would kill to be able to reproduce. Talent, perseverance, and hard work do pay off after all. Which brings us to "With Oden On Our Side"…

In January 2006, the band started writing the follow-up to "Fate Of Norns". Being able for the first time to concentrate 100% on the music, the sessions proved fruitful, as guitarist Olavi Mikkonen confirms: "We nailed down all ideas we had from the past year and we rehearsed 5 days a week, 9 to 5. At the end of the month we had finished a 5 song demo." After a two-month break, the band returned to write the rest of the material: "We started up where we had left off and began working on all new ideas we had. Again 5 days a week, 9 to 5. This time around we had 4 new songs and the album was written. We had never written an album under these intense circumstances, but we found out that this was totally right for us." The new masterpiece "With Oden On Our Side" was born.

03 Devildriver





A devil driver is the name witches give to the bells they use to drive evil away when they are casting their spells.
For lead singer Dez Fafara, music has always been a devil driver of sorts - allowing him to drive away all of the demons of his world with a bellowing howl that is distinctively his. Ten years long and ten years strong, his assault on music has created a sound that remains both remarkably resonant and pertinent in today's metal world. DevilDriver's second album, The Fury Of Our Maker's Hand , produced by Colin Richardson, sees Fafara and the band reaching well beyond the rock solid foundation of their self-titled debut and scaling all new sonic precipices.
While most bands mature from their debut to their follow-up, DevilDriver did so by growing tighter as unit and enabling every member of the band to add to the musical sound of the band. Like many bands before them, DevilDriver went through a number of transitions during this period, and rather than finding those changes to be creatively constrictive, they allowed the band to grow as a creative unit. A true collaborative effort, The Fury of Our Maker's Hand was built riff by riff, song by song, by Jeff Kendrick & Mike Spreitzer (guitar), Jon Miller (bass) and John Boecklin (drums). "This band is amazing," says Fafara. "They all strapped on guitars and really came together around my musical vision." Together they created an album whose sonic breadth is truly a testament to their collaborative effort. "There's more melody, more hooks, more solos. There's more symbiosis in the band. Everyone is playing together really well."
Songs like "End of the Line" and "Driving Down The Darkness" are unrelenting compositions of equal parts speed and fury, showing what team-work can actually accomplish, taking DevilDriver's sound into the red. "Sin & Sacrifice" is an opus in the truest metal sense with a DevilDriver twist, starting off with an eerie orchestral intro and slowly building into wave after wave of menacing metal madness. "Hold Back The Day", the first single from Fury , combines the old with the new, simultaneously harkening back to their debut album while clearly reaching into new and fresh directions. "The songs are all separate from each other, but they've also got that grindy groove sound that only we can capture," says Fafara. "We've got our own sound and that's what we set out to do."
Not only has the bands' music matured, but Fafara's lyrics have done so as well. Gone are the days of free-floating, non-linear vocal lines that have become Fafara's trademark of sorts, rather Fury finds Fafara tackling issues and telling stories in a more traditional lyrical sense. "Before you had to try and figure out what I was saying in my lyrics. On the new album I'm trying to be more of a storyteller." While DevilDriver was laced with some of Fafara's familiar cadences, The Fury of Our Maker's Hand finds him breaking free and redirecting his sound in line with that of this band.
Fafara looks back with respect on his Coal Chamber days, but DevilDriver is the realization of all his true musical aspirations. "The influence to start this band was that I wanted to do something that was heavier, darker and full of more of my metal influences that I listen to on a daily basis. Every time I get on stage, I want to feel the music behind me. That is DevilDriver." Born out of frustration with his former band, cultivated through numerous barbecues and free-flowing red wine and solidified through a near-death experience in an RV, DevilDriver is not Dez Fafara and crew - rather it is a hard-as-nails metallic maelstrom that pounds out some of the most vicious music heard on the metal landscape today.
A balancing act of contorted melody lines, jagged guitars and staccato double bass drumming, The Fury of Our Maker's Hand delivers a uniquely sinister sound. An uncompromising tirade on all that is wrong in the world and all that is right in metal, it delivers a resounding F*** YOU to the world at large. Joined by his band and fueled by perseverance it's good to see that after 10 years Dez Fafara's middle finger is bigger than ever.


04 Cattle Decapitation





Over the span of a decade, Cattle Decapitation has forged its not-so-humble beginnings in gore-grind into one of extreme metal's most relentless forces, encompassing a sound as schizophrenic as their record collections but with a determined lyrical stance resolutely damning the ills of humanity.

After a couple early line-up shifts, "Human Jerky," Cattle Decapitation's first full-length, was released in 1999 as LP-only by Nevada label Satan's Pimp. The album featured the bass-less trio of Travis Ryan on vocals, Gabe Serbian on guitar and Dave Astor on drums. Serbian and Astor split duties with the ubiquitous arty-grind act The Locust. "Human Jerky" as well as 2000's "Homovore" (released by San Diego's Three One G label) showcased Ryan's obsessively gore-oriented musings laced within his pro-vegetarian/anti-human posture. In keeping with the spirit of the genre as well as the lyrical urgency, the 90's trio was additionally known for its ultra-short songs and unforgettable live performances (Ryan was known to occasionally perform in a mask sewn
of beef jerky). The band procured Venezuelan installation artist Nelson Garrido's arranged pieces of deceased livestock for two unmistakable album covers.

The early twenty-first century brought about a slew of changes in personnel and increased sonic brutality. Shortly after the release of Homovore, Troy Oftedal filled the formerly-vacant bass slot. Josh Elmore (previously of notorious humor-grind act 7000 Dying Rats) was brought into the fold on second guitar only to take on sole duties after Serbian's departure to focus on The Locust. The revised line-up carved their debut for Metal Blade with 2002's "To Serve Man," a coalescence of brutal grind and death metal with an increased spotlight on Elmore's arrival. After months of touring in support of the album, the band parted ways with longtime drummer Dave Astor and swiftly brought aboard good friend Michael Laughlin, formerly of San Francisco's tech-grinders Creation is
Crucifixion. With Laughlin instantly adding an increased rhythmic dynamic to the group, the relentless tour cycle was resumed straight up to the release of 2004's "Humanure." The album offered a beefed-up production, an evolved song craft and artwork that perfectly depicted the ultimate revenge on humanity, a cow excreting human remains (resulting "Humanure" as their most-banned album domestically as well as overseas). The band's experimental leaning on this record reared its head in the form of a ten-minute long track constructed almost entirely of slaughterhouse field recordings.

Between more tours Cattle Decapitation recorded 2005's split 7" shared with the canine-fronted grindcore oddity Caninus. This material saw a return-to-form in terms of song lengths but introduced an increasingly-diverse range of extreme metal. This has laid the framework for 2006's full-length, "Karma.Bloody.Karma." In Ryan's words, "This will be
the most nihilistic, pessimistic and hateful record we've ever done lyrically. Musically, imagine the Caninus split material, just longer in every way." The album features guest appearances by Joey Karam (The Locust) and John Wiese (Sunn0))),Bastard Noise) and
production by Billy Anderson (Swans, Mr. Bungle, Melvins). Since the recording, Laughlin has parted company and J.R. "Kid Gnarly" Daniels of Tampa, Florida's Unholy Ghost has stepped in to fill drum duties.

05 Napalm Death



Napalm Death was originally called "Civil Defence" and started in Birmingham, a working class city, in 1982. Information about the background of the band during this period is very scarce, since they did little recording. Anyway, it started as a Punk rock project by high school student Nick Bullen, Miles Ratledge and some friends they met at school. At this stage, the band had a punk rock/hardcore sound and was strongly inspired by the band Crass and the anarchopunk scene that took place in England in the early 80's.
As this was a very different band, I have made a special page just with detailed information dealing with the origin of Napalm Death. For a bio, interview, notes and graphics of that era: EARLY NAPALM DEATH HOMEPAGE. This page wouldn't be possible without the help of Miles Ratledge and Stewart Lee, so a mighty thanks goes out to both of them.
This incarnation of Napalm Death didn't last very long though. In the beggining Napalm didn't sound like the holocaustic destruction that we know today, but they were more inspired by early punk bands and other underground acts such as Amebix and Crass.Within that style, the band recorded a few demos and a participation on the compilation "Bullshit Detector#3", that being a compilation of punk bands made by Crass records, a label owned by Crass, a very political and socially aware british band. This is the first official Napalm Death studio recording. They were developing quite a strong following, and the band started to grow.
Meanwhile, young guitarrist Justin Broadrick was playing by himself in a project called "Final", which he taped in his room or wherever (and whenever) he could, and didn't do much else (Justin still plays and releases records under the name Final, together with Godflesh's bassist B.C.Green). Nick Bullen met Justin Broadrick in a record shop that both used to hang out in Birmingham. They had similar interests (Punk Rock, Metal, Throbbling Gristle...) and soon enough Justin was admitted into Nick Bullen's project. This was around May 1985, and with him came the very first metal sounds. "Justin came about and presented a more metallic style, combined with loose Killing Joke playing" says former drummer Mick Harris. They then recorded a legendary demo (Hatred Surge). On the Hatred Surge demo they had some funny pseudonymous. The line-up described on the tape is: Nik - Vox, Just - Guitar, Nuts - Bass, Rat - Drums.
After recording the Hatred demo, The Rat got out (Harris says that they were having problems with him) and Mick Harris, a local fan who didn't even owned his own drum kit was admitted into the band. As he says: "I had become a keen fan watching every local show and got the job I guess. (...) all I had was a pair of sticks and i wanted to go Maniac behind the kit". The band then became a three piece (with Nik Bullen taking over bass duties besides singing) and having Justin only on guitar and newcomer Mick on drums. "It became more metal influenced as the three of us played more" continues Mick.

Then, they actually became the most extreme grindcore act ever. After getting in touch with Digby Pearsons, the owner of the small label "Earache Records", through mutual friends, Napalm Death signed a deal and recorded half (yes, HALF of the songs!) of what was to be their debut album "Scum" in 1986. As Dig himself says: "I first met them in 85 or 86, they had putted a demo out, and no one would touch it. But I listened to it, and I loved it, so I decided to put it out". The album was yet unreleased.
Although ND was the first band who actually coined the word "Grindcore" to classify and define the type of music that they played, lots of other bands where already doing it for a while. Acts such as Siege, Repulsion, Macabre, S.O.B., Larm, Heresy, Criptic Slaughter, Nausea, Death and many others where all known for playing ultra fast and brutal songs. They didn't actually "invented" grindcore, but more like helped it evolve and go forward. Anyway, Napalm Death was the first to actually pigeonhole those bands within a style, and to establish themselves as kings of the genre.
"Grindcore was Micky's (Mick Harris) term" says singer Mark Greenway: "It didn't come from the press, we invented it". Concerning the definition of what is grind, he says:"Grind can be anything from ultrafast thrash to really slow, heavy and dense music like early Swans". The grind scene was then beggining to take shape, and soon all bands would be led by Napalm Death.
At this time Nik Bullen was both playing the bass and singing but that was soon to change... As with everything in Napalm Death. In order to make things easier to Nik, a new bassist, Jim Whitley, was called, and Nik concentrated in singing.
On they went playing in small clubs and the like, gaining a small but loyal following.
During one of the concerts, the band played with fellow noisiers Head of David (which was also a brutal band, but industrial like) and Justin, which was absolutely mad about the guys, was offered to play with them, provided that he left Napalm. He didn't think twice before leaving Grindcore for good, and joining Head of David on drums. Napalm Death didn't have a guitarrist anymore.
Not long after Justin left, Nik Bullen ALSO left. According to Mick Harris he was loosing interest, showing up late for rehearsals, etc. He was asked to settle or get out. Obvioulsy he chose the latter, left the band and wen't to collage. (Later, he formed the ambient-dub-drum 'n' bass-industrial-dance-whatever combo "Scorn" with Mick Harris, but more of that in proper time). The lyrics sheet in Scum has a message from Mick Harris to both Nik and Justin, saying goodbye and telling them to keep together, which, to tell you the truth......they didn't!!!
The band was then reduced to Jim on Bass and Mick on Drums, and things were clearly not going anywhere this way.....they had to look for new members. Guitarrist Bill Steer played in a local grind band called Carcass, (you might have heard about them!!!) and given the afinity between the bands, he soon joined Mick and ND. Also, a new singer had been called: Lee Dorrian!! Yes!!! the king of screaming Grindcore himself! So now the band, whose original members where all gone (but Mick) had a new guitarrist (Bill), a solo singer (Lee), Mick on drums and Jim on bass, a lovely line-up.
With this line-up they recorded what was to become th B side of "Scum", and the result was finally released trough Earache as MOSH 3. An instant hit among the underground community, Scum sold very well as soon as it was released (more than 90 thousand copies in England only). It caused an impact in extreme music that is felt 'till today, influencing bands from all around the world. This classic attempt against logical musical structure and good taste features seminal Grindcore classics such as "Dragnet", "Mind Control", and the yet to be surpassed "You Suffer", an exquisite piece of composition which lasts for about 0.7 seconds (a world record for the world's shortest song maybe?)
After the warm welcome from thrashers, punks, metalheads, moshers, grinders and the like, the band went on tour. Nevertheless, no stranger to line-up changes, ND lost another of its members. Jim was out of the band just before the tour for "Scum" was about to be (again for reasons unknown...as one can see Napalm Death is a rather misterious band). Enter Shane Embury, the guy with the ugliest hair in the history of Grindcore. After this small line-up change, they took part in two compilations (North atlantic noise attack and the Pathological), recorded two Peel sessions and a Split 7" with japanese grinders S.O.B. On top of that, our adorable grinders went to Rich Bitch studio once more and recorded their second insult to moralistc society, the controversial classic "From Enslavement to Obliteration".
Very much in the same vein of "Scum", "From Enslavement..." differs from "Scum" as far as production goes, but that's about it. Here, again, we have the same bombastic waves of noise and ultra-fast-light-speed thrash that made our hearts warmer when listening to "Scum". Bill's guitar shreds through thin air, and Lee's vocals sound as if he was vomitating and agonizing in pain. Pure joy and clean entertainment for the whole family, a classic no doubt. Following the release of FETO Napalm had a participation on BBC's Arena Heavy Metal Special, which proved how successfull the band could be.
The band went on touring around the world for a while, but as soon as they came back home from Japan, in july 1989, Bill and Lee decided to quit and follow their own paths. Well, once again Napalm was reduced to a pair of members. But both Shane Embury and Mick Harris knew what to do, so it didn't take long before they contacted what were to be the new members of ND.
Soon enough they contacted Jesse Pintado (who had played in a Grind project called "Terrorizer"). A new singer, Mark "Barney" Greenway, who sung in the Death Metal act "Benediction" was also called, and immediatelly joined the Wild Bunch. The band was now ready to rock, and so they did.
After recruiting new members for the Napalm front, the band took part of the Grindcrusher tour, with fellow labelmates Carcass, Bolt Thrower and Morbid Angel. After the touring, our toxic avengers decided to change things a little bit.They called in a second guitarrist, Mitch Harris (Ex Rightous Pigs), and soon started writting new songs with this line-up. With different members, and differnet things in mind, Napalm Death now also wanted a new producer. On they went to american Death Metal producer extraordinarie Scott Burns (of Sepultura and Death fame), who lives and works in Florida. Burns records most of his stuff on Morrisound studio, a kind of "meeting point" for extreme bands. The place has already been used by acts such as Obituary, Fear Factory, Deicide, Death and others. It was time for Napalm Death to be introduced to this wonderfull place.
The band went to Morrisound and started working on their new album: "Harmony Corruption". While writting "Harmony..." they definitely changed their style a little, going from the straightforward, no-holds-barred Grindcore, to a healthy "mix" of good old sonic blast beats and some slower, more rithmic parts. It is much more Death Metal influenced than the previous albums, and it was a good progression as far as the compositions went. But, nothing is perfect, and Scott Burns production on this record is really shitty. Like me, the band also didn't like Burns's work, and never worked with him again.
After releasing the new record, ND went on touring around the world (starting with Brasil!!! yeah!! being supported by Sepultura during the Beneath the Remains era) and from the material filmed at those concerts they released a home-video, "Live Corruption". Napalm's last founding member, Mick Harris wanted to change the band. He was bored by all the Death/Thrash thing and wanted to experiment a little, try new things, risk a little more. His idea was to introduce things like samplers and drum machines into the band. Well, the other guys didn't like those ideas very much. They still wanted to play straighforward Grindcore!!! And so Mick was forced to quit Napalm and started his own band, Scorn. Ironicly enough, he called ND's original Bassist/vocalist Nik Bullen, and ND's original guitarrist Justin K. Broadrick, and together they went to the studio to record Scorn's debut, "Vae Solis".
An extensive US tour with Sepultura, Sacred Reich and Sick Of It All followed, widening the Napalm Death audience even further.
In the meantime, ND released a new record, "Utopia Banished". Now working with producer extraordinarie Colin "mr. soft" Richardson. This release was a kind of "return to the roots". Bombastic, "take no prisioners" grindcore is played here, no survivals at all costs!!! Much more minimal than "Harmony", this record follows the same style we had in "Scum" and "From Enslavament". A very nice record on the early ND tradition. After recording "The World Keeps Turning" EP, the band trekked Europe with Dismember and Obituary on the "Campaing for Musical Destruction" tour. The tour continued in the US, with Napalm playing with Cathedral, Carcass and Brutal Truth.
Things then went more smoothly to our dear Napalmers. The line-up was never to change again. Mitch, Jesse and Danny all went to England to live with Shane, and the only one living alone (in Bimingham, the others live in Wolverhampton) is Barney. After all the touring and stuff, the band rested for a while, went to the studio and recorded "Fear, Emptiness, Despair...". Now this was a major change!!