Retrospective Review: NAPALM DEATH: INSIDE THE TORN APART

A retrospective review-

NAPALM DEATH: INSIDE THE TORN APART

   In 1997, Napalm Death released their seventh full-length album, Inside The Torn Apart, a mere one year after it's massively divisive and polarising predecessor, Diatribes. Diatribes turned a lot of heads, (and a few diehard-fan's stomachs too) for its distinctive lack of the elements that had earned Napalm Death a place in the hearts and minds of many extreme Metal fans. That is not to say that Diatribes is a bad album, like every Napalm Death album it holds its own charm and attraction, however, it is neither a Grind-core or a Death-Metal record. 

   One year later, Napalm Death returned to reaffirm their status as one of the heaviest and most extreme bands around, or did they? Inside The Torn Apart is in no way a return to form, instead it is a brave crusade in a different direction. Instead of abandoning the new experimental sounds of Diatribes, Napalm Death incorporated it into their older, more widely appreciated Death-Grind style. The result, Inside The Torn Apart is an undeniably varied and diverse release, and was a definite move in the right direction. 

   The EP title track which opens up the album, "Breed To Breathe", is a firm example of mixing the old with the new. Although this is a heavy track with a strong Grind rhythm, it is still not on the same level of speed and intensity as their earlier releases. Influences from the wider music scene during the late 1990's, and the flocking move towards a groovier, infectious rhythmic style shaped this album from the onset.

   The opening and following tracks, "Birth In Regress" and "Section", reek of Diatribes, but executed with more confidence and bearing a strong punk edge. The eyes of every faithful Napalm Death diehard-fan must have lit up and gleamed with joy, when the opening blasts of, "Reflect On Conflict" came bursting forth unto their ears, with its thick iconic filthy Death-Grind riffwork. "Down In The Zero" and title track, "Inside The Torn Apart", provide a diverse bridge, of interesting heavy grooves and technicality, before proceedings take a turn for the intense once more, as "Prelude" brings back the blastbeats and chugging riffage with force. 

   Interestingly, "Indispose" has a hint of Voivod about it, stemming from its unusual technicality and tempo changes. "Purist Realist" is a punky, grinding affair, which although has some heavier flairs scattered throughout, doesn't quite manage to leave the same mark as "Prelude" or "Reflecting On Conflict", and is certainly not a scratch on the merciless album highlight, "Lowpoint". Suddenly, Inside The Torn Apart picks you up and throws you back to the pre-Diatribe days, as "Lowpoint" delivers an all-out extremity assault. Death-Grind heaviness, dirty chugging riffs, maximum distortion and over-driven bass, blast beats and even Mark Greenway's vocals which come across somewhat harsher, this song shows all of Napalm Death's tools of the trade. 
   Album finale, "The Lifeless Alarm", loses all previously mustered pace and instead drags you through a strange, slow and atmospheric outro. 
   In retrospect, Inside The Torn Apart is a good, strong album. However, the problem is that it is not as good or as strong as some of their previous releases. Utopia Banished or Harmony Corruption part two would probably have been well received by the fans, but would have been detrimental for the band and their musical creativity. Napalm Death's exploration of further sounds and styles at this time clearly taught the band what it needed to, for them to go on to create absolute masterpieces such as; Utilitarian and Apex Predator - Easy Meat. Overall, Inside The Torn Apart casts a surprisingly long shadow, and sowed the seeds for further development and the evolution of their sound, for example, the sounds of, "Lowpoint", resonates loudly throughout further releases, Order Of The Leech and The Code Is Red....     

THANK YOU FOR READING! 

FEEL FREE TO COMMENT OR ASK ANY QUESTIONS!