Napalm Death – Diatribes (1995)

April 30, 2020

Diatribes is probably the most accessible Napalm Death record of the lot. It is the cleanest, most commercial sounding the band would ever get. Whether or not that sits well with me depends what day of the week it is, or which way the wind is currently blowing. If I strip away the name and legacy of Napalm Death and enjoy this record as a metal album produced by four incredibly talented individuals, I can – and do – massively enjoy Diatribes.

The problems begin however when I stack this up against Napalm’s legendary, historical discography. From the early 90s onwards there seemed to be a slow downwards trajectory in the band’s releases that I just can’t shake. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Diatribes. I’d just rather be listening to Scum.