Napalm Death

Napalm Death smuggles fiercely political lyrics into sonic bombs that detonate like nuclear tests. Once known for its impossibly fast outbursts, including a 1.3-second song (“You Suffer”) that’s Guinness Book-recognized as history’s shortest, Napalm Death now extends that intensity well past the minute mark. The 2001 record title Enemy of the Music Business summarizes the outsider ethos of a group that has never made concessions to industry standards, mainstream metal preferences or even fan demands. The Birmingham, England, band coined the term grindcore to describe its early experiments with accelerated punk riffs and asymmetrical drumbeats, and some crusty old-school enthusiasts have never forgiven Napalm Death for straying from that style after two records. Frequent turnover (the group contains no original members, though the current lineup has remained intact since 1991) catalyzed new creative directions, and though Napalm Death now incorporates death-metal grooves and hints of hardcore, it’s still heavier than the burden on Atlas’ shoulders. <