Napalm Death – Throes Of Joy In The Jaws Of Defeatism PLP

After a five-year break since Apex Predator – Easy Meat, the sixteenth studio album from British grindcore band Napalm Death arrived in 2020 with Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism. It was definitely worth the wait.

As always, there is aggressive, crushing Napalm Death grindcore, but with a healthy dose of experimentation that brings greater variety. Songs such as Joie De Ne Pas Vivre and Amoral are excellent examples, while A Bellyful of Salt and Spleen even manages without guitars altogether. Don't worry though—there is no shortage of merciless deathgrind assaults. In truth, the "grindcore" label has long since become too restrictive for Napalm Death.

With Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism, the band once again prove why they remain at the forefront of the genre. It's an incredibly brutal, exceptionally well-produced album that balances memorable melodies with relentless intensity and a remarkable sense of variety.

Limited picture disc pressing on Animate Records—edition of 1000 copies.