An Extreme West Midlands Metal band that not only defined the Grindcore genre but often took it to its absolute limits. Although the present day members are now all familiar faces on the Metal scene, such is the convoluted web of early personnel that by the time of their debut 28 track album 'Scum' no original band members had survived the ongoing line-up turmoil. NAPALM DEATH, founded in Meriden, Birmingham under the original title of CIVIL DEFENCE by vocalist Nick 'Nic Scab' Bullen and drummer Miles 'Rats' Ratledge, came together in 1981 as a Punk high school act. These pre-teens, adopting the NAPALM DEATH tag after the 'Apocalypse Now' movie, would be joined by guitarist Daryl 'Sid' Fideski and bassist Graham Robertson. Fideski opted out and Robertson switched instruments to guitar as Finbar Quinn enrolled on bass. First product arrived in 1982 as the demo cassette 'Punk Is A Rotting Corpse'.

Early gigs saw supports to bands such as THE SUBHUMANS, THE APOSTLES and CHAOS UK. This version of NAPALM DEATH also contributed a track to the third 'Bullshit Detector' album, after submitting a tape to the organisers Anarcho-Punk act CRASS, before going into stasis. Napalm Death would be relatively inactive throughout 1984, only undertaking one concert that year as a benefit for the miners union.

The band duly regrouped in May 1985 with Bullen on vocals, Justin Broadrick of FINAL on guitar, P-Nut on bass and Rats on the drums. Before long NAPALM DEATH became a trio as P-Nut exited and Bullen took command of bass guitar.

Following recording of a demo entitled 'Hatred Surge' Rats was ejected. The erstwhile drummer subsequently forged WITCH HUNT with another ex-NAPALM DEATH man Finbar Quinn. Meantime, NAPALM DEATH started to veer more towards Thrash when drummer Mick Harris joined, putting in his first live showing on January 18th 1986 as support to THE AMEBIX. Not only did this signal a radical shift in musical direction but Harris also lays claim to the invention of the genre term 'Grindcore'. From that point on NAPALM DEATH would lead the field. Digby Pearson, the owner of the Nottingham based Earache Records, signed the group and in 1986 half of the songs which were to become the 'Scum' debut were committed to tape. Upon completion of these sessions Jim Whitely was incorporated on bass to allow Bullen to concentrate on singing. Whitely contributed to DOOM's first recordings for the 'A Vile Peace' compilation album around this period.

When guitarist Justin Broadrick departed following recording of their initial demos to HEAD OF DAVID, later forming GODFLESH, the band asked WARHAMMER and UNSEEN TERROR man Shane Embury to replace him but this invitation was declined. In his stead Frank Healy of SACRILEGE was inducted but his tenure would be brief, being superseded by guitarist Bill Steer of 'Phoenix Militia' fanzine and vocalist Lee Dorrian. The latter had never been involved with a band before, having just lost the offer of a job as bassist with ICONS OF FILTH when they broke up just prior to his enrollment. As frontman for NAPALM DEATH, Dorrian debuted at the The Hand & Heart pub in Coventry on a co-billing with ANTI-SECT and HERESY. This gig would actually see Frank Healy standing in as guitarist for a temporarily absent Bill Steer.

It would be this incarnation of the band that laid down the remaining songs at Rich Bitch Studios in Selly Oak during May 1987, which made up the 'Scum' album. This offering rocked the Heavy Metal world to its very core. Easily ranking as the most ferocious album of the genre to be issued to date NAPALM DEATH's caustic delivery, including on the less than a 1.316 seconds stormer which is 'You Suffer', immediately suceeded in dividing critics and polarising opinions. Importantly, 'Scum' also strongly accented blastbeat drumming. Although Mick Harris was not technically the first to employ this technique, that credit goes to D.R.I.'s Eric Brecht, NAPALM DEATH was certainly the band that brought the new percussive to public attention and utilised it as a cornerstone of their material.

Whitely quit shortly after the album release, having his position filled in August 1987 for a series of dates supporting D.R.I. on a what was to be temporary basis by Shane Embury, who was later to join on a fulltime basis. The band also contributed tracks to two compilation albums at this time; namely 'North Atlantic Noize Attack' and 'Pathological', and cut two John Peel sessions. Peel's mentoring of the band through a nationally broadcast medium resulted in increased demand for 'Scum' and the resulting cash flow gave considerable impetus to the fledgling Earache label. Typically though, just as Peel had proven a staunch supporter, another Radio One DJ, Steve Wright, represented the other end of the spectrum, using NAPALM DEATH songs as a punishment in his afternoon quiz show.

With the exception of Dorrian all members of the band had ongoing side projects at the time of 'Scum'. Steer formed the brutal CARCASS and secured a deal with Earache Records (to later quit to concentrate on his this project full time), bassist Shane was drumming for UNSEEN TERROR whilst Harris plied his non NAPALM DEATH extracurricular activities with DOOM, EXTREME NOIZE TERROR and UNSEEN TERROR.

Still, second album 'From Enslavement To Obliteration' recorded at Birdsong Studios in Worcester, comprised a staggering 54 tracks, many being mere seconds long, was delivered in 1988. Initial copies came delivered with the bonus of a free five track 7" single EP. The BBC 'Arena' documentary also featured the band in its Heavy Metal special, bringing NAPALM DEATH into the nation's living rooms. Such was the band's world-wide reputation even at this early stage that in July 1989, NAPALM DEATH undertook their first successful tour of Japan.

These dates, conducted with S.O.B., marked the advent of Lee Dorrian's custom label Rise Above with the issue of the 'Live' EP, a collection of tracks recorded in Copenhagen, Roskilde and London. Only 2,500 copies of this 7" single were pressed. A further collaboration with S.O.B. would be the rare 7" flexidisc split single on the Sound Of Burial label. Earache put out a world record breaking 7" single, packaged with the 'Grindcrusher' compilation album, featuring NAPALM DEATH's one second meisterwerk 'You Suffer' pitched against the ELECTRO HIPPIES 'Mega Armageddon Death Pt.3', also clocking in at just over a second.

On the live front, the group participated in the Earache organised "Grindcrusher" tour of Europe that winter shoulder to shoulder with BOLT THROWER, MORBID ANGEL and CARCASS.

Eventually vocalist Lee Dorrian departed to form the successful CATHEDRAL and former BENEDICTION man Mark Greenway stepped into his shoes. Better known as 'Barney', the new Napalm Death frontman, despite an affection for both Aston Villa and AOR, possessed a primal roar perfectly suited to the band's by now supremely focussed ferocity. Steer had also quit to concentrate on CARCASS and had his position filled by ex-TERRORIZER guitarist Jesse Pintado. The band soon added a second guitarist in ex-RIGHTEOUS PIGS man Mitch Harris and the group set to work once more.

Initial copies of the July 1990 album 'Harmony Corruption', cut at Tampa's Morrisound Studios with producer Scott Burns, came with a free live album, recorded at London's ICA, notably including Justin Broadrick guesting on the GODFLESH cover version 'Avalanche Master Song'. DEICIDE's Glen Benton and OBITUARY's John Tardy acted as studio guests on the studio track 'Unfit Earth'. 'Harmony Corruption', probably the band's most traditional Metal offering with songs for the first time expanded beyond the one minute range, gave NAPALM DEATH their first intrusion into the national UK charts, entering at number 67. Early 1991 saw the American leg of the 'Grindcrusher tour with NAPALM DEATH, NOCTURNUS and GODFLESH. An interim EP, 'Mass Appeal Madness' recorded at the Violent Noise Experience Club in March, bridged the gap between albums.

As NAPALM DEATH were due to tour America once more in the summer of 1991 drummer Mickey Harris quit to form Industrial project SCORN, re-uniting with Nic Bullen for this venture. This was not before he had scored some unexpected press attention when arrested in a case of mistaken identity for a jewellers robbery in Derby.

Harris' replacement was American Danny Herrarra, who joined in time for the dates which saw NAPALM DEATH on a bill with SICK OF IT ALL, SEPULTURA and SACRED REICH as well as the band's first shows in Russia.

1992's 'Utopia Banished' album, laid down in the Welsh retreat of The Windings in Wrexham with producer Colin Richardson, had NAPALM DEATH eschewing the technicality of its predecessor and immersing themselves deep into ugly Grind once again. Band members illustrated this return to brutality by crediting themselves Mark Greenway "Vocular Armageddon", Jesse Pintado "Dissonant Distorted Delirium No. 1", Mitch Harris "Dissonant Distorted Delirium No. 2", Shane Embury "Sub-end Vexation" and Danny Herrera "Hyper Cans". The band undertook extensive roadwork in Europe with OBITUARY and DISMEMBER and in America alongside CARCASS, CATHEDRAL and BRUTAL TRUTH. Further shows followed in Holland, opening for FAITH NO MORE prior to inaugural South African shows.

Returning from the political turmoil of South Africa, NAPALM DEATH released their version of the DEAD KENNEDY's classic 'Nazi Punks Fuck Off' as a single, donating all proceeds to the anti-racism campaign. The single went on to sell over 10'000 copies and the year was rounded off by a headline Canadian tour.

May 1994 saw the release of 'Fear, Emptiness, Despair', self-produced with engineer Pete Coleman, and a British tour with label mates ENTOMBED. Initial reaction to the album was lukewarm, with media attention mainly focused on ENTOMBED rather than NAPALM DEATH. The band fared better in North America, touring alongside OBITUARY and MACHINE HEAD. The band scored a notable success with the inclusion of the track 'Plague Rages' on the soundtrack album to the film 'Mortal Kombat' which broke the American Billboard top five. Further evidence of a return to form came with the well received 'Greed Killing' mini-album. The full-length, Colin Richardson produced 'Diatribes' would be hewn out at Framework Studios, Birmingham then issued in North America during January 1996 with a bonus split CD 'Cursed To Tour' shared with tour partners AT THE GATES.

In 1996 Embury teamed up with Dan Lilker of BRUTAL TRUTH to record the MALFORMED EARTH BORN album 'Defiance Of The Ugly By The Merely Repulsive'. Embury also forged an alliance with SICK OF IT ALL vocalist Lou Koller in BLOOD FROM THE SOUL and the 'To Spite The Gland That Breeds' album. April of that year found NAPALM DEATH conducting UK headline dates with support from CROWBAR and Swedes FACE DOWN.

Controversy surrounded the band in early 1997 as it was announced that Greenway had departed, one of the reasons being the vocalist's well known fear of flying. The band quickly announced their new frontman to be Phil Vane of EXTREME NOISE TERROR and, in a quite surreal turn of events, within days EXTREME NOISE TERROR put out a press statement concerning their new vocalist for their 'Damage 381' album - Barney Greenway. The ex-NAPALM DEATH man would also found a fresh act entitled NOTHING BUT CONTEMPT. This short lived act included Greenway, CANCER and ASSERT drummer Carl Stokes, NAPALM DEATH guitarist Danny Herrera and SACRIFICIAL ALTAR and ASATRU guitarist Rob Engvikson.

Vane made his mark on a split EP with COALESCE, 'In Tongues We Speak', but upon its release it became apparent that Greenway and NAPALM DEATH had patched up their differences and were back together as recording began for the 'Inside The Torn Apart' album.

NAPALM DEATH conducted a lengthy European tour as support to MACHINE HEAD during April and May 1997, delivering 'Inside The Torn Apart', again having revisiting Frameworks and re-employing Colin Richardson, in June. . This album, mixed down at Chapel Studios in Lincoln, benefited from a boisterous mix crafted by former Sabbat guitarist Andy Sneap. In an attempt to keep themselves in the press, the band issued a split EP with German act FATALITY, a band who won a competition to cover a NAPALM DEATH track to win a space on the release.

NAPALM DEATH toured South America to wind up roadwork for the year, but only after Embury had suffered a head injury requiring stitches he suffered whilst in the line of duty - moshing at an ENTOMBED gig in Nottingham.

Whilst on tour, the band's video, shot for the track 'Breed To Breathe' came under such severe criticism from several European TV stations drastic editing was required. The video featured live footage shot at the notorious New York CBGB's club interspersed with documentary footage of various scenes of brutality.

It worth noting that, amongst all their accomplishments, NAPALM DEATH have made the record books for having recorded the shortest single ever (with a running time of a mere one second) on a record given away free with the Earache Records 'Grindcrusher' compilation album.

In addition to his work in NAPALM DEATH Barney Greenaway is known for his alternative career as a journalist. Having contributed to a number of titles, including 'Raw' and Germany's 'Rock Hard', Barney was found to be penning a computer games column in the late 90s version of 'Kerrang!'

'Words From The Exit Wound', once more overseen by Colin Richardson, was ushered out in October 1998, significantly an uncharacteristically lacklustre effort delivered as a parting shot for Earache. The band signed to new label Dreamcatcher during 1999 following a festival appearance at Germany's legendary 'Wacken Open Air' show. First recordings from this new liaison was the Simon Efemy produced 'Leaders Not Followers' EP, put out that October, which comprised of covers by the likes of DEATH, an obscure demo track 'Back from The Dead' that never made it as an official release, RAWPOWER, Chilean Hardcore act PENTAGRAM, EXCEL, Canada's SLAUGHTER and REPULSION as well as a re-recording of their live favourite 'Nazi Punks Fuck Off'.

Both Embury and Pintado also made a mark later the same year with the their LOCKUP project, a new unit created with Peter Tägtgren of Swedes HYPOCRISY along with ex-CRADLE OF FILTH and DIMMU BORGIR drummer Nick Barker. The resulting album 'Pleasures Pave Sewers' proved extremely successful charting in Germany.

Both Embury and Harris also embroiled themselves in a further side project LITTLE GIANT DRUG with vocalist / guitarist Simon Orme and drummer Simon Hornblower to issue the 2000 album 'Prismcast'.

NAPALM DEATH toured Europe in early 2000 with guests KONKHRA. Later European gigs found Harris performing onstage sitting down, the guitarist having broken his foot falling downstairs in a video shoot. A set of UK dates in April 2001 had NAPALM DEATH supported by DEFENESTRATION.

Later that year Embury's LOCKUP cut a second album, 'Hate Breeds Suffering', released in 2002 with Tomas Lindberg taking Tägtgren's position. The bassist also had his past endeavours with the youthful WARHAMMER resurrected when a vintage track appeared on the 'Britannia Infernus' compilation. NAPALM DEATH returned with their first post-Earache full-length 'Enemy Of The Music Business' in September. This effort, helmed again by Simon Efemey, contained some of the band's most biting lyrical matter, for which successive interviews made clear were directed at the band's erstwhile label.

NAPALM DEATH toured Britain in November 2001 with support from Bristol's ONEDICE. European dates into January of 2002 where upset when bassist Shane Embury was hospitalised for a time with influenza. An unphased NAPALM DEATH completed the shows as a four piece.

As the band busied themselves with a live DVD 'Punishment In Capitals' and recording a new studio opus, the Simon Efemey produced 'Order Of The Leech', word arrived in mid 2002 that Embury was recording a Grindcore 'solo' project album in league with erstwhile FEAR FACTORY drummer Raymond Herrera and CATHEDRAL vocalist Lee Dorrian. It would also be revealed that NAPALM DEATH had tracked two SEPTIC DEATH cover versions 'Terror Rain' and 'Thaw' for use as exclusive tracks on the vinyl version of the album.

December UK gigs were supported by THE GREAT DECEIVER. NAPALM DEATH helped forge an impressive extreme Metal cast for North American dates during January and February of 2003 packaged alongside NILE, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, THE BERZERKER and DARK TRANQUILITY. Shane Embury made time to guest on NASUM's 'Helvete' album early that year. The NASUM connection was strengthened with the announcement of a split EP shared with the Swedish veterans, NASUM covering the NAPALM DEATH track 'Unchallenged Hate' and NAPALM DEATH replying with NASUM's 'The Masked Face'.

Earache Records issued a mammoth two disc retrospective entitled 'Noise For Music's Sake'. The collection hosted a number of rarities and unreleased recordings including 1987 live take of 'Deceiver' with Mitch Dickinson of UNSEEN TERROR on guitar and a 1986 live version of 'Traitor' from the The Mermaid in Birmingham, captured on Shane Embury's tape recorder before he joined the band! On top of a myriad of other activies Embury officially joined "Mexican" extreme Metal band BRUJERIA in July 2003.

Following a run of August German dates NAPALM DEATH revisited their successful 'Leaders Not Followers' EP with a full blown album as a follow on companion. 'Leaders Not Followers Part 2', comprised covers of CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER's 'Lowlife', OFFENDERS 'Face Down In The Dirt', DEVASTATION's 'Devastation', ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT's Dope Fiend', AGNOSTIC FRONT's 'Blind Justice', WEHRMACHT,s 'Night Of Pain', ANTI CIMEX's 'Game Of The Assholes - Victims Of A Bomb Raid', SEPULTURA's 'Troops Of Doom', INSANITY's 'Fire Death Fate', HIRAX 's 'Hate Fear + Power', DAYGLO ABORTIONS's 'Bedtime Story', HELLHAMMER's 'Messiah', KREATOR's Riot Of Violence', DISCHARGE's 'War's Not Fairytale', SIEGE's 'Conform', MASSACRE's Clangor Of War' the MASTER theme 'Master' and DIE KREUZEN's 'I'm Tired'. Notably, yhe album featured an appearance on two songs by Jim Whitely, the band's original bass player from the groundbreaking 'Scum' album.

August brought news of the formation of a Grind 'Supergroup' VENOMOUS CONCEPT comprising Shane Embury, ex-NAPALM DEATH drummer Mick Harris, MELVINS and FANTOMAS guitarist Buzz Osbourne and former BRUTAL TRUTH singer Kevin Sharp. This unit subsequently strengthened the NAPALM DEATH connection when drummer Danny Herrera took over the drum position. Meantime NAPALM DEATH undertook a round of European gigs throughout November, albeit without the services of guitarist Jesse Pintado. The band revealed 2004 was to commence in a suitably heavy fashion, headlining the January 'Extreme The Dojo VII' tour of Japan alongside NASUM, a reformed ANAL CUNT and PIG DESTROYER.

In May 2004 NAPALM DEATH, seeing a return for guitarist Jesse Pintado after several months lay off due to health issues, signed a worldwide deal with Germany's with Century Media Records for issue of the 'Leaders Not Followers Part 2' album. Pintado also made time to guest on the EP 'Welcome to Reality' from Los Angeles based tribal Punk-Grid band RESISTANT CULTURE. In August of the MAYHEM, TORMENTOR and ABORYM scene veteran Attila Csihar revealed plans for an extreme Metal "supergroup" BORN TO MURDER THIS WORLD, this projected union set to comprise Shane Embury, Mick 'Irrumator' Kenney of ANAAL NATHRAKH, Necrobutcher of MAYHEM and former CRADLE OF FILTH and DIMMU BORGIR drummer Nick Barker.

In September the band entered Foel Studios in North Wales to lay down material for a new studio album 'The Code Is Red...Long Live The Code'. Former CARCASS frontman Jeff Walker would contribute guest vocals to the track 'Pledge Yourself To You', Jello Biafra of the DEAD KENNEDYS made his presence felt on 'The Great And The Good' whilst HATEBREED's Jamey Jasta featured on 'Instruments Of Persuasion'. US touring plans for October saw the band set to flank KATAKLYSM and GOATWHORE. To close out the year, NAPALM DEATH would be announced as one of the main attractions at the annual 'X-Mass Fest' 2004 roving European festival dates in alliance with MARDUK, FINNTROLL, VADER, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER and BELPHEGOR.

To aid victims of the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunamis NAPALM DEATH, in collaboration with THE HAUNTED and HEAVEN SHALL BURN, participated in the issue of a special single release. The band donated the new song 'The Great And The Good', featuring former DEAD KENNEDYS frontman Jello Biafra on guest vocals. These singles, restricted to just 1000 hand numbered copies, would be for sale only at NAPALM DEATH's Bochum and London shows in January 2005. Billed as part of the ANAAL NATHRAKH line-up, Embury cut a BBC Radio session at Maida Vale Studios on 18th March.

On 16th April NAPALM DEATH conducted its first concert in Indonesia, performing at the Ancol Beach, Jakarta with local Grindsters TENGKORAK as support. Oddly, the event, which saw record crowds, would be sponsored by the Gudang Garam tobacco company. Upon their return home the band filmed a promotional video for the track 'Silence Is Deafening' with director Roger Johansson.

European NAPALM DEATH tour dates in the Summer had the band supported by MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD and DIECAST. To celebrate Japanese dates Shane Embury teamed up with Gargamel Toys to produce the Garga-Death toy. These 5" figures, limited to just 150 pieces, being made available only at gigs.

September found Shane Embury involved in a further side project initiated by OLD MAN'S CHILD guitarist Jardar (a.k.a. Jon Øyvind Andersen) in "Dark Death Metal" band INSIDIOUS DISEASE, in collusion with guitarist Silenoz (Sven Atle Kopperud) and drummer Tony Laureano of DIMMU BORGIR, the latter also holding NILE and ANGEL CORPSE credentials.

Brazilian NAPALM DEATH gigs in late October saw support from AÇÃO DIRETA and CLAUSTROFOBIA before engaging with the European 'Persistence' tour in December, ranked alongside AGNOSTIC FRONT, HATEBREED, THE RED CHORD, BORN FROM PAIN, BLEED THE SKY and FULL BLOWN CHAOS. Barney Greenaway made studio time to guest session on German Hardcore band MAROON's 'When Worlds Collide' album.

The band would be back on North American soil in early 2006, packaged with KREATOR, UNDYING and A PERFECT MURDER for gigs in February. In late May NAPALM DEATH entered Foel Studios in Wales to cut a new album. Anneke van Giersbergen from Dutch band THE GATHERING contributed vocal parts. The band's summer schedule was centred on a run of festival appearances including shows at the 'Reborn' festival in Casablanca, Morocco, 'In The Beach' in Spain, 'With Full Force' in Germany, 'Metalparty' and 'Nuvolari Fest' in Italy, the 'Stonehenge' festival in Holland, the 'Brutal Assault' event in the Czech Republic and Poland's 'Hunterfestival'.

Sad news emerged on August 27th with the passing of former band member Jesse Pintado. The guitarist had died from liver failure at the Erasmus MC hospital in Holland.

NAPALM DEATH hit the US touring circuit in September forming up a strong billing alongside HATEBREED, EXODUS, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, DESPISED ICON and FIRST BLOOD. That same month Shane Embury, in collaboration with MISTRESS and ANAAL NATHRAKH's Mick Kenney, announced the formation of new label Feto Records. This imprint served as an outlet for Kenney's EXPLODER, MISTRESS and PROFESSOR FATE projects and Embury's 'Live in Japan' opus from LOCKUP.

NAPALM DEATH hit the road with A LIFE ONCE LOST, DEAD TO FALL, IMPALED, ARSIS and ANIMOSITY throughout November and December as part of the 'Death By Decibels' US tour. The band contributed their version of 'Who Sets The Rules' to the SICK OF IT ALL tribute album 'Our Impact Will Be Felt' assembled by Abacus Recordings for January 2007 release. A European tour was marred when Barney Greenway damaged his tendon onstage on January 24th in Belgrade, Serbia. The singer completed the dates on crutches. Whilst in Bulgaria on the 27th, both Barney Greenway and Mitch Harris laid down backing vocals for the song 'Overcome' for album recordings by Hardcore band LAST HOPE at Stain Studio in Sofia

Shows across Europe for March and April 2007 aligned the band with MOONSPELL, ROOT, BEHEMOTH and DEW-SCENTED.

In 2008 the band covered DESPAIR's 'Outconditioned' and HELLHAMMER's 'Messiah' for inclusion on the Century Media artist compilation 'Covering 20 Years Of Extremes'. This double CD set comprised Century Media acts paying home to their stable mates.