Limited Four Track Split 7". Fathers of grindcore Napalm Death 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. Formed in Ipswich, England in 1982, they trafficked in the usual heavy metal fare for the first few years of their existence but by the middle of the decade they began to expand their horizons by incorporating elements of hardcore and thrash into the mix. Ultimately, Napalm Death’s sonic experiments evolved into a blistering mutation of metal that they dubbed grindcore, a kind of extremist noise attack characterized by incredibly brief song lengths, demonic vocals and eye-opening sociopolitical lyrical commentary. Japanese noise rock band Melt-Banana found more success in the US and the UK than in their own country, gaining a small but dedicated fanbase among American and European punk rock fans. Although their music sounds noticeably different from any sort of traditional punk, it contains some punk elements: shrieking vocals, overdriven guitars, and one-and-a- half-minute songs. Melt Banana’s unique style, however, comes as a result of the distinctly piercing vocals of lead singer Yasuko O., as well as the frenzied, effect-charged playing of guitarist Agata. Searing, intense, and mind-blowingly fast are perhaps the first adjectives that come to mind when listening to Melt-Banana’s music. Try to imagine an even more energetic incarnation of The Boredoms.
