I feel as though I haven’t talked enough about grindcore on the throwback segments, so today I’ll review a classic. Two of the most well known pioneers of this particular sub-genre are, of course, Napalm Death and Carcass. These two bands are well deserving of this title. Napalm Death really kick-started this movement in much of the same way that Metallica did with thrash metal years before. In fact, “Scum” and “From Enslavement to Obliteration” could easily be viewed as the grindcore equivalents to “Kill ‘Em All” and “Ride the Lightening” (you get the idea right?). Carcass took the sound of grindcore and ran with it in a different direction, thus creating a unique style that would later spawn sub-genres such as goregrind and deathgrind. Finally, we get to the classic grindcore act that I intended to discuss from the beginning; Terrorizer.
There is a reason that Terrorizer isn’t as well known as the two aforementioned bands, and that reason is longevity. Unlike Napalm Death and Carcass, who both had at least five albums before temporarily disbanding, Terrorizer only had one, the classic “World Downfall”. Although Terrorizer may have lacked longevity in their early career, they more than made up for it in the sound and influence that they created with this single album. Here are a few examples:
1. For starters, they hit all the grindcore essentials in just 16 short songs (no pun intended); chaotic riffing, blast beats, social and politically conscious lyrics. Check, check, and check!
2. Unlike their contemporaries, they had fairly tight production. Some elitists may see this as a downside but the production of this album definitely helped to make the riffs more memorable.
3. Speaking of the riffs, THRASHY AS HELL!
4. Enough about the riffs, did I mention that this album features the one and only Pete Sandoval (of Morbid Angel) on drums? He may not have invented the blast beat but he definitely reinvented it.
5. The U.K. based extreme metal magazine “Terrorizer Magazine” took their name from this band.
6. The Cover art of “World Downfall” is mesmerizing. Not so much in the way the image itself looks, but more in the way it accurately reflects the major themes confronted in this album; such as the selfish motives behind governmental policies, the evils of religious fundamentalism, and the costs and dangers of nuclear technology.
Well since I’ve reached the 6th point on why this album kicks ass I’ll go ahead and stop. But, before I end this review I have just one simple request to ask of those who are still reading this post. Please check out this album if you haven’t yet, and if you have, listen to it again! I don’t care if you’re a fan of grindcore, death metal, or CeeLo Green, this is an essential album to hear before the inevitable happens, of which I mean the finale to the actual world downfall.
Links: Facebook // Official Website // iTunes
