Words from the Exit Wound

Over the years, Napalm Death went through more than their share of personnel changes and infighting. The late '90s saw Napalm fire lead singer Lee "Barney" Greenway (who had joined in 1989) and hire Phil Vane as a replacement -- only to end up parting company with Vane and asking Greenway to come back. You would think that so much infighting would have had a negative impact on the band creatively, but in fact, Napalm sound fairly inspired on Words From the Exit Wound. With a lineup that includes Greenway on vocals, Mitch Harris and Jesse Pintado on guitar, Shane Embury on bass, and Danny Herrera on drums, the grindcore/death metal band is certainly focused on brutally heavy, blistering offerings like "Devouring Depraved," "Clutching at Barbs," and "Cleanse Impure." This CD isn't a radical departure from 1997's Inside the Torn Apart or 1998's Breed to Breathe, although it would be wrong to think of Napalm as stagnant. In the '90s, Napalm evolved gradually, incorporating touches of industrial music and alternative rock. Words doesn't quite fall under the heading of "essential," but longtime Napalm followers will be glad to hear how good the band continued to sound after 15 years. ~ Alex Henderson