Review by Ben for Napalm Death - Harmony Corruption (1990)

I can’t say I’ve ever been a massive fan of grindcore. I’ve always preferred the less chaotic, more structured atmosphere of death metal. Which is why I think Harmony Corruption was the first Napalm Death album that I really appreciated. Their first two grindcore albums are renowned as classics of the genre and hugely influential, but the whole 30 tracks in 30 minutes style just doesn’t work for me. This release dropped the short burst attacks and took the more typical death metal approach with fine results.

The first thing to note about this release was the addition of Mark “Barney” Greenway on vocals. His unique brutal style is perfect for Napalm Death and when combined with Mitch Harris’s and Pintado’s razor sharp riffing, you get one massive and exciting sound. Unfortunately, I think the production is slightly lacking on Harmony Corruption, not really having the crunchy clarity that would have taken it into the elite. But with tracks like Vision Conquest, Suffer the Children, Unfit Earth and The Chains That Bind Us, this album is up there with the best albums that the angry Brits have released. Well worth a place in your death metal collection. You do have one, right?!