NAPALM DEATH — Utilitarian (review)

NAPALM DEATH — Utilitarian album cover Album · 2012 · Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Utilitarian" is the 15th full-length studio album by UK grindcore/death metal act Napalm Death. The album was released through Century Media Records in February 2012. It´s been 3 years since the release of "Time Waits for No Slave (2009)", but as always Napalm Death have been very active touring and among other things bassist Shane Embury has also found time to record a new Lock Up album in "Necropolis Transparent (2011)".

"Utilitarian" continues the more grindcore based death metal style that the band have pursued since "Enemy of the Music Business (2000)". "Utilitarian" travels down a few new roads though but otherwise stick pretty close to the successful formula the band have now practised on six albums. The vocals by lead vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway are usually harsh, growling and shouting, but he actually takes quite a few excursions into clean vocal territory throughout the album, which is great for the atmosphere and for the variation. Barney´s clean vocals are mostly delivered in a dark and monotone style, but his singing on "The Wolf I Feed" very much resembles the singing style by Fear Factory frontman Burton C. Bell. Guitarist/vocalist Mitch Harris also provide vocal variation with his high pitched screaming vocals. All in all "Utilitarian" is vocally probably the most diverse album yet released by the band.

Musically the album is also pretty diverse. The pace ranges from slow, midpaced, fast and blasting and as it´s been the case since "Utopia Banished (1992)", drummer Danny Herrera skillfully takes the band through each pace with great conviction and sense for detail. One of the most accomplished drummers in extreme metal. The rest of the band are extremely well playing too and everything is delivered with precision but fortunately also with an organic touch. This is not a cold and clinical release which is further emphasised by one of the best sounding productions yet on a Napalm Death album. The atmosphere is of course still ridden with despair and frustration, which is a trademark of the band, so don´t expect any sun to shine through. It´s dark, raw and brutal, but always clever and adventurous too.

The musical diversion and development is heard in a track like "Everyday Pox" which features saxophone. An instrument that blends in very well with the rest of the instrumentation. There´s also musical development in a track like the above mentioned "The Wolf I Feed". As always the lyrics on the album are thought provoking and cleverly written.

Six consecutively brilliant grindcore/death metal releases with original material since their artistic comeback with "Enemy of the Music Business (2000)" is not only an impressive achivement. It´s legendary. A 4.5 star (90%) rating is fully deserved.
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