By: Anders

Posted: Nov 22, 2006

Napalm Death is one of those bands, which releases I always look forward to. The same has been the case this time with "Smear Campaign", especially after the splendid "The Code Is Red… Long Live The Code". A year or so has gone by and here I am grinding away to "Smear Campaign", yet a trademark Napalm Death release and yet a worthy addition to the band's impressive pile of crushing releases.

The first striking thing happens during the intro, a fragile and haunting female vocal appears, and after a bit of research, it turns out to be the ever lovely Anneke Van Giersbergen from The Gathering who has laid down a bit of vocals on the intro and the song called 'In Defence', in both tracks her haunting vocals from out of this worlds, works well with the insane grinding madness the Brits are delivering, a surprising move from the band. Though besides that, all is more or less as it always have been, with progression in the mix of course, Mitch Harris is delivering a whirlwind of aggressive and catchy riffs, churning themselves into the listeners ears and mind, showing no mercy. The drumming from Herrera is as furious and punishing as ever, the bass is as heavy and loud as seldom heard before and Barney is angry as always, spitting bile in all directions, same means as a cluster bomb, just way more precise!

Napalm Death anno 2006 is as young and fresh sounding as for 20 years ago, it is incredible how the guys keep up their energy and passion, no remorse, no regrets, they just keep on churning out new, powerful and politically aware records setting things straight, damn impressive! I can't see any Napalm Death fan become disappointed by this album, it has threads of all the band's trademarks throughout their impressive career with quite a few progressions in the game as well, metal on… grind on… ahead… attack!!!!

Rating: 8½/10

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