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Arena_heavy_metal_BBC2_documentary_1989_6_of_6

Arena heavy metal BBC2 documentary 1989 6 of 6

Napalm Death featured in a BBC2 Arena documentary on heavy metal, interviewed and performing 'Scum' and 'Dead'

Napalm Death are an extreme metal band (sometimes classified as 'death metal'), although they prefer the terms 'Grind' or 'grindcore' to describe the music they play, which they claim to have originally been influenced by the Swans. The band "pushed the envelope of metal to new extremes of ear-splitting intensity, rejecting all notions of melody, subtlety, and good taste to forge a brand of sonic assault almost frightening in its merciless brutality." (allmusic.com) According to Wikipedia, they were formed in Birmingham in 1981, although allmusic claims this was Ipswich in 1982.

Despite a number of line-up changes, the most well-remembered aggregation featured Lee Dorrian (vocals); Bill Steer, from Carcass (guitar); Shane Embury (bass); Mick Harris (drums). In 1989 Mark "Barney" Greenaway and Jesse Pintado replaced departing members Dorrian and Steer respectively. Pintado died of liver failure in 2006.

They played a vital part in promoting extreme metal, with gruff vocals, thunderous drums and brief song lengths ('You Suffer', at 0.75 seconds, is listed in The Guinness Book Of Records as the shortest song ever recorded).

Links To Peel[]

Napalm Death, whose LP 'Scum' boasts twenty-eight tracks of quite exceptionally rapid music, described on the sleeve as "savagely brutal hardcore thrash", sounded as if they were playing soundtracks of the end of civilisation. I liked them a lot. [1]

The band recorded two sessions for JP with the first line-up and one with the second as listed above. Greenaway said, "John Peel, essential for Napalm Death", [2] as his constant promotion ensured widespread exposure for the band throughout their career, although he felt that the improved production values on the 1990 album Harmony Corruption took something of the band's appeal away.

As an interesting footnote to their influence, Terry Edwards, in his first session for Peel (recorded 1991-12-15) concluded his set with saxophone renditions of 'You Suffer', 'Your Achievement', 'Dead' and 'The Kill'.

Festive Fifty Entries[]

  • None

Sessions[]

We had to hire equipment - we had no amps, drums or cymbals - because we hadn't started touring then and had recorded on equipment available in studios. Anyway, we turned up. "How long are your songs?" Dale (Griffin) asked. "Pretty short, we'll do twelve numbers," we said. "Well, that's OK by us," they said, but I could see they weren't sure.

We literally blasted our way through it. I really enjoyed it. I was so happy with the sound that day. It was just a blinding vicious sound coming straight back at you. What Dale and the engineers didn't know was that the twelve songs came to only 5' 40" in all, the shortest ever Peel Session.

That first Napalm Death session had a huge impact. It was nearly perfect. It was like doing a great live recording, but more relaxed, a good experience. I think Peel enjoyed it too. He repeated it three times. [3] (Mick Harris). [4]

Napalm_Death_Peel_session_1987_Radio_Broadcast!

Napalm Death Peel session 1987 Radio Broadcast!

Three sessions. All were available on Strange Fruit, but have been re-released on the 3-CD compilation Grind Madness At The BBC. Mick Harris also one session with Unseen Terror, two with Scorn (2). Shane Embury also one session with Unseen Terror. Bill Steer also two sessions with Carcass.

1. Recorded: 1987-09-13. First broadcast: 22 September 1987. Repeated: 12 October 1987, 28 October 1987

  • The Kill, Prison Without Walls, Dead / Deceiver, Lucid Fairytale, In Extremis / Blind To the Truth, Negative Approach, Common Enemy / Obstinate Divide, Life, You Suffer.

2. Recorded: 1988-03-08. First broadcast: 20 April 1988. Repeated: 17 May 1988, 29 June 1988, 28 December 1988.

  • Mutinational Corporations, Instinct Of Survival / Moral Crusade, Worlds Apart, Mad / Divine Death, C9, Control / Walls, Raging In Hell, Conform Or Die, SOB.

3. Recorded: 1990-08-12. First broadcast: 10 September 1990. [5] Repeated: 25 November 1990.

  • Unchallenged Hate, Mentally Murdered / From Enslavement To Obliteration, Suffer The Children / Retreat To Nowhere, Scum / Deceiver, Social Sterility.
Peel referred to this as the 'something old, something new' session, since 'Scum' and 'Deceiver' were songs featured on their debut release Scum; 'Unchallenged Hate', 'Mentally Murdered', 'From Enslavement To Obliteration', 'Retreat To Nowhere' and 'Social Sterility' are from the second LP From Enslavement To Obliteration; and 'Suffer The Children' originates from the then current release Harmony Corruption.

Other Shows Played[]

1987
1988
  • 27 April 1988: Deceiver / Lucid Fairytale / In Extremis (12" - The Peel Sessions) Strange Fruit
  • 04 May 1988: Blind To The Truth / Negative Approach / Common Enemy (12" - The Peel Sessions) Strange Fruit
  • 09 May 1988: Deceiver / Lucid Fairytale / In Extremis (12" - The Peel Sessions) Strange Fruit
  • 21 May 1988 (BFBS): Obstinate Direction / Life / You Suffer Pt. 2 (12" - The Peel Sessions) Strange Fruit
  • 30 May 1988: 'Deceiver / Lucid Fairytale / In Extremis (EP-The Peel Sessions)' (Strange Fruit)
  • 31 May 1988 (Radio Bremen): Obstinate Direction / Life / You Suffer Pt. 2 (12" - The Peel Sessions) Strange Fruit
  • John Peel Selection ~ BBC Radio 1 ~ Summer 1988: The Kill / Prison Without Walls / Dead Pt. 1 (12" EP - The Peel Sessions) Strange Fruit SFPSD049
  • 18 June 1988 (BFBS) (Peel 087 (BFBS)): 'Obstinate Direction / Life / You Suffer Pt. 2 (12" EP - The Peel Sessions) Strange Fruit SFPSD049
  • 16 July 1988 (BFBS): The Kill / Prison Without Walls / Dead Pt. 1 (12" EP - The Peel Sessions) Strange Fruit SFPSD049
  • 22 August 1988: Obstinate Direction / Life / You Suffer Pt. 2 (12" EP - The Peel Sessions) Strange Fruit SFPSD049
  • 27 August 1988 (Rockradio): 'Obstinate Direction / Life / You Suffer (12" EP - The Peel Sessions) Strange Fruit SFPSD049
  • 19 September 1988: 'Human Garbage / You Suffer (LP-Scum)' (Earache)
  • 04 October 1988: Moral Crusade (LP - Hardcore Holocaust (87-88 Sessions) - The Peel Sessions) Strange Fruit
  • 15 October 1988 (BFBS): Moral Crusade (LP - Hardcore Holocaust (87-88 Sessions) - The Peel Sessions) Strange Fruit
  • 18 October 1988 (Radio Bremen): M.A.D. (v/a album - Hardcore Holocaust (87-88 Sessions) - The Peel Sessions) Strange Fruit
  • 22 October 1988 (BFBS): 'Control (LP-Scum)' (Earache)
  • 31 October 1988: It's A M.A.N.S World! (LP – From Enslavement To Obliteration) Earache MOSH 8
  • 01 November 1988: Lucid Fairytale (LP – From Enslavement To Obliteration) Earache
  • 02 November 1988: Private Death (LP – From Enslavement To Obliteration) Earache
  • 07 November 1988: Your Achievement (CD - From Enslavement To Obliteration) Earache
  • 07 November 1988: Unchallenged Hate (CD - From Enslavement To Obliteration) Earache
  • 08 November 1988: Impressions (CD - From Enslavement To Obliteration) Earache
  • 09 November 1988: From Enslavement To Obliteration (LP – From Enslavement To Obliteration) Earache
  • 12 November 1988 (BFBS): Uncertainty Blurs The Vision (CD - From Enslavement To Obliteration) Earache
  • 16 November 1988: Impressions (CD - From Enslavement To Obliteration) Earache
  • 19 November 1988 (BFBS): From Enslavement To Obliteration (CD - From Enslavement To Obliteration) Earache
  • 21 November 1988: Uncertainty Blurs The Vision (CD - From Enslavement To Obliteration) Earache
  • 22 November 1988: Cock-Rock Alienation (CD - From Enslavement To Obliteration + Scum) Earache
  • 23 November 1988: Retreat To Nowhere (LP - From Enslavement To Obliteration) Earache
  • 25 November 1988 (BFBS) (Peel 093 (BFBS)): 'Uncertainty Blurs The Vision (LP-From Enslavement To Obliteration)' (Earache) (JP: 'Ah, I'm filled with a great and unwholesome love for them.')
  • 28 November 1988: Retreat To Nowhere (LP - From Enslavement To Obliteration) Earache
  • 29 November 1988: Think For A Minute (LP - From Enslavement To Obliteration) Earache
  • 30 November 1988: Blind To The Truth (CD - From Enslavement To Obliteration) Earache
  • 03 December 1988 (BFBS): Think For A Minute (LP - From Enslavement To Obliteration) Earache
  • 06 December 1988: From Enslavement To Obliteration (LP - From Enslavement To Obliteration) Earache
  • Late 1988 (BBC World Service: From Enslavement To Obliteration (LP – From Enslavement To Obliteration) Earache MOSH 8
  • 06 December 1988 (Radio Bremen): Practise What You Preach (album - From Enslavement To Obliteration) Earache
  • 06 December 1988 (Radio Bremen): Blind To The Truth (album - From Enslavement To Obliteration) Earache
  • 13 December 1988: Your Achievement? (CD - From Enslavement To Obliteration + Scum) Earache
  • 19 December 1988: 'Moral Crusade (LP-Hardcore Holocaust (87-88 Sessions) - The Peel Sessions)' (Strange Fruit)
  • 20 December 1988 (BFBS): Think For A Minute (LP - From Enslavement To Obliteration) Earache
1989
1990
  • 12 June 1990: 'Blind To The Truth / Negative Approach / Common Enemy (EP - The Peel Sessions)' (Strange Fruit)
  • 26 July 1990: 'Suffer The Children (12")' (Earache)
  • 28 July 1990 (BFBS) (Peel 152 (BFBS)): 'Suffer The Children (12")' (Earache) (JP: 'Well, the old Napalm Death would have done about eight numbers in the time it took the new one to do that, but I still care for it.')
  • 01 August 1990: 'Suffer The Children (12")' (Earache)
  • 10 August 1990 (BFBS): 'Suffer The Children (12")' (Earache)
  • 11 August 1990 (BFBS) (Peel 153 (BFBS)): 'Siege Of Power (12"-Suffer The Children)' (Earache)
  • 17 August 1990 (BFBS): 'Harmony Corruption (12"-Suffer The Children)' (Earache)
  • 21 August 1990: 'Harmony Corruption (12"-Suffer The Children)' (Earache)
  • 22 August 1990: Circle Of Hypocrisy (LP - Harmony Corruption) Earache
  • 24 August 1990 (BFBS): 'Suffer The Children (12")' (Earache)
  • 28 August 1990: 'Circle Of Hypocrisy (LP-Harmony Corruption)' (Earache)
  • 01 September 1990 (BFBS) (Peel 156 (BFBS)): 'Unfit Earth (LP-Harmony Corruption)' (Earache)
  • 07 September 1990 (BFBS): Circle Of Hypocrisy (LP - Harmony Corruption) Earache
  • 14 September 1990 (BFBS): 'Unfit Earth (LP-Harmony Corruption)' (Earache)
1991
1992
  • 15 May 1992: 'The World Keeps Turning (LP-Utopia Banished)' (Earache) (JP: 'A very different band these days, but still sounding majestic to me.')
  • 24 May 1992 (BFBS): The World Keeps Turning (album - Utopia Banished) Earache MOSH53
1993
  • 09 July 1993: Nazi Punks Fuck Off (7") Earache
  • 17 December 1993: 'The Kill / Prison Without Walls / Dead Part 1 (CD-The Peel Sessions)' (Strange Fruit)
1998
2000
  • 19 April 2000: 'The Kill/Prison Without Walls/Dead Part 1 (CD-The Complete Radio One Sessions)' (Strange Fruit)
  • 03 May 2000: 'Deceiver/Lucid Fairytale/In Extremis (CD-The Complete Radio One Sessions)' (Strange Fruit)
  • 09 May 2000: Obstinate Direction/Life/You Suffer Part 2 (LP - The Complete Radio One Sessions) Strange Fruit
2002
  • 03 December 2002: 'The Kill / Prison Without Walls / Dead Part 1 (CD-The Complete Radio One Sessions)' (Strange Fruit) (JP: 'Ah, those were the days.')
  • 03 December 2002: 'The Icing On The Hate' (free CD with 'Terrorizer' Magazine issue 20)
  • 12 December 2002 (Radio Eins): The Icing On The Hate (Terrorized Vol. 20)
2004
Other
  • Peel 084 (BFBS): 'Mass Appeal Madness (CDS)' (Earache) (1991-06-21) (JP: 'We were just debating whether Barney out of Napalm Death actually sort of sings like that, or whether his voice is mechanically adjusted in some way or another...but it may not be the case, perhaps he actually sings like that, in which case I suspect that he's probably not allowed out after the hours of dark without a muzzle on.')
  • John Peel Remembered: The Kill (session)

See Also[]

External Links[]

Footnotes
  1. ↑ Taken from an Observer article, reprinted in The Olivetti Chronicles, 2009 Corgi edition, p. 234.
  2. ↑ See Tartarine Desire Webzine.
  3. ↑ Only two repeats can be found for this session. Maybe Mick is referring to the second.
  4. ↑ The Peel Sessions, Garner, K., BBC Books 2007, p. 128.
  5. ↑ Although a complete recording of this show has yet to come to light, Best Of Peel Vol 13 features this first transmission.
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