Resentment Is Always Seismic – A Final Throw Of Throes is not so much a brand new album from Napalm Death, but a collection of tunes that were recorded during, but left over from, the sessions for their last disc, Throes Of Joy In The Jaws Of Defeatism. That said, there is nothing in its grooves to suggest that it might be a mere ragbag of off-cuts, put together to fulfill contractual obligations.
Still powered by the righteous fury that has sustained them on their previous 16 albums, these Birmingham noise merchants are in no danger of calming down or mellowing out just yet. From opening track “Narcissus”, which comes on like a tidal wave of extreme noise that’s ripe for creating mosh pit mayhem, through to bassist Shane Embury’s remix (via his Dark Sky alter ego) and industrial funk reassembling of “Resentment Is Always Seismic”, there is no hint of tedious repetition or of wallowing in past glories.
That said, there are a couple of fine cover versions in and among the crushing heaviness and whiplash speed of originals like “By Proxy” and “Man Bites Dogged”. Industrial noise rockers SLAB!’s 1991 brutalist classic “People Pie” is given a good working over with a relentlessly pummelling groove, while hardcore punk overlords Bad Brains’ “Don’t Need It” flies by like a guided missile in little over a minute. They are both fine reminders that Napalm Death’s immense and far from tentative sound hasn’t appeared from nowhere and are well-deserved tributes to a couple of groups of noisy fellow travellers.
Throughout its 30 minutes or so, Resentment Is Always Seismic is characterised by intense, military-grade riffing, barked vocals and a perpetual vortex of sonic musical muscle, with epic noise levels which might prove a bit much for some. Nevertheless, lovers of raw, powerful and primal music will find plenty to keep them happy.
