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October 12, 2008 |
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NAPALM DEATH - Leaders Not Followers: Part 2
Century Media (2004) |
6/10 |
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01. Lowlife (CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER
02. Face Down In the Dirt (THE OFFENDERS)
03. Devastation (DEVASTATION)
04. Messiah (HELLHAMMER)
05. Victims Of A Bomb Raid (ANTI CIMEX)
06. Fright Night (WERMACHT)
07. War's No Faerytale (DISCHARGE)
08. Conform (SIEGE)
09. Master (MASTER)
10. Fire Death Fate (INSANITY)
11. Riot Of Violence (KREATOR)
12. Game Of The Arseholes (ANTI CIMEX)
13. Clangor Of War (MASSACRE
14. Dope Fiend (ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT)
15. I'm Tired (DIE KREUZEN)
16. Troops Of Doom (SEPULTURA)
17. Bedtime Story (THE DAYGLO ABORTIONS)
18. Blind Justice (AGNOSTIC FRONT)
19. Hate, Fear, and Power (HIRAX)
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It goes without saying that NAPALM DEATH (Mark 'Barney' Greenway/vox, Mitch Harris/guitars, Shane Embury/bass, and Danny Herrera/drums) need no introduction. Anyone who cares to log onto a site like ours is doubtless already well-acquainted with these long-bludgeoning British Grindcore stalwarts. Likewise, given that this is a covers album (and by now I'm sure you all know exactly how I feel about covers albums!), it also goes without saying that such influential originators as the artists paid tribute to here (i.e. namely early Thrash/Punk/Hardcore titans such as HELLHAMMER, KREATOR, SEPULTURA, CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER, AGNOSTIC FRONT, DISCHARGE, etc, etc...) also should for the most part need little or no introduction as their collective legacy is well known and respected within both underground, and even, more and more to a great degree within 'above-ground' Metal and 'Heavy Music' circles.
That said, I'm going to dispense with my usual word-wankery and general rambling and get straight to the point of the matter: this is nothing more or less than NAPALM DEATH paying tribute to their influences. End of story. I mean, there really is little more one can say beyond that. How good or bad a thing that is depends entirely upon how much you care for either ND or their influences. For the most part ND pick up exactly where '95's 5-track 'Leaders Not Followers: Pt. 1' EP left off, albeit this time in more comprehensive form with a monstrous almost 20 tracks in total. Musically the band are staying their usual course with little on offer here in the way of sonic surprise, ND maintaining their admittedly high-calibre Death/Grind assault the Metal community has either loved or hated since their inception.
If anything, the predominance of 'Punkier' fare on offer here (AGNOSTIC FRONT, THE DAYGLO ABORTIONS, DISCHARGE, et al...) does allow the band to stretch their creative abilities to somewhat of a degree, but again...for the most part each track, while faithful to the tone and spirit of the original is thoroughly NAPALM DEATHitized (man can I ever butcher the English language when I want to!) resulting in perhaps more of a hegemonous, and stylistically consistent (re: linear and without much real variety) end result than perhaps they may have hoped for. Overall however, as a general rule the performances enclosed are of a typically powerful and hard-hitting standard which is to be expected from an act of NAPALM DEATH's calibre. Personally, I have just never been that taken with the band's sound, and as such am no more or less impressed with this release than I have been with anything previous.
They are a band to whom I am at best lukewarm, at worst...well...bored. Still, as stated...definitely some pretty pummeling, bludgeoning moments here! At the very least, respect must be given. As far as standout tracks are concerned, like anyone when it comes to covers albums, I tend to lean more towards an appreciation of the tracks taken from original material I am familiar with. In this case, 'Messiah' by HELLHAMMER, 'Riot Of Violence' by KREATOR, and SEPULTURA's oft-covered 'Troops Of Doom' immediately leap to mind as repeat-playable faves. For what it's worth, I also found myself bobbing my head along to some of the tracks covering material by INSANITY, MASTER, and ANTI CIMEX among others. Thing is though - again - for the most part this type of fare just isn't exactly my 'thing'.
So in conclusion; overall not a bad effort. It's always interesting to see the band as opposed to the label choosing which acts they wish to pay tribute to on releases such as this, as at least you can get an accurate picture of who their real influences/likes/dislikes are. Like I said though, all that aside, I've simply never been much of a fan of ND, nor am I as a general rule that taken with much of the early Thrash/Punk/Hardcore acts they have seen fit to honour here on 'Leaders Not Followers: Pt. 2'. So at the end of the day I'll give the guys a solid 'A' for effort and intent, but a 'C+' as far as how personally impressed I am with the end tunage on offer. This will doubtless appeal to many diehard ND fans, as well as to those who dig early Thrash/Punk. I'm just not one of those people.
Nevertheless...much respect to a long-standing act who continue to soldier on admirably well into the millennium. At the very least, give this a spin or two and decide for yourself upon which side of the fence you wish to perch.
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