Product Review

Once the epitome of extremism, Napalm Death pales in comparison to later groups like Emperor and At the Gates. Knowing this, Napalm gave up trying to be the most abrasive force in the kingdom, and aimed to be more artistically worthy. Instead of jackhammering the same riffs ad nauseam, Diatribes bludgeons with a variety of tools, exploring elements of "grindcore", industrial, avant-garde, and even funk along the way. Along with creative growth came musical prowess, and for the first time, the members of Napalm Death manipulate their instruments like skilled veterans, instead of like overzealous novices. Dig in. --Jon Wiederhorn