Being a legend is no easy thing, especially not when achieving this status in an early stage of the career. Napalm Death already got this accolade for their debut album “Scum” (1987), which started a truly violent revolution within the world of extreme music. Ever since then their name is inevitably connected with raving high-speed, and although no member of the original line-up is playing in the band these days they haven't cut down on their ferocity.

The lot from Birmingham, England, still provide a furious mix of highly aggressive (thrash-) metal and agitatorial hardcore/punk fitted with social criticism. Their ceaseless worldwide touring helped them gaining technical perfection and thus the ability to refine their sound. The mid nineties saw Napalm Death adding groove and even melodies to their songs, e.g. to be heard on the blistering albums “Fear, Emptiness, Despair” and “Diatribes”. But, to avoid any misconceptions, our beloved grinders never alienated their fans with drastic musical changes. Their songs continued to be inalterable monuments of fury – especially the latest releases “Enemy Of The Music Business” and “Order Of The Leech” demonstrate Napalm Death's dedication to sheer brutality.

But now, 18 years after the release of their milestone-debut, Napalm Death admit their faible for slowness. Their "grapes of doom" are called ‘Morale’ and ‘Our Pain Is Their Power’ and, to nobody's surprise, turn out to be the most extraordinary songs to be featured on the new album “The Code Is Red…Long Live The Code” (which was recorded in the Foel Studios, Wales, with producer Russ Russell).

In these songs the band not only hails New York’s noise legends Swans but also demonstrates that their love for psychotic noise is as strong at 6,66 bpm as it is at their usual 666 bpm. Amazingly Napalm Death are even more nerve-wracking when they hide in the mist of torturing, seemingly endless distortions and only let some harsh words find their way out of the dark every now and then. And, of course, the sharp contrast between these two doomies and the other 13 songs makes them even more outstanding, because despite their musical open-mindness Napalm Death still have a soft spot for anger. ‘Silence Is Deafening’, the opening song, raises the flag of hate with classic blasts, a stunning staccato groove and even some doom parts. ‘Vegetative State’ bursts into an even more traditional style and squeezes the oxygen out of your lungs within seconds.

To even pile on the pressure, Mark “Barney” Greenway (v), Mitch Harris (g), Shane Embury (b) and Danny Herrera (d) asked three prominent colleagues/friends of the band to participate in the mission “The Code Is Red…Long Live The Code”. All of them nodded joyfully. Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys / Lard) shapes ‘The Great And The Good’ with his characteristic voice – no wonder that this striking song has been picked for a release on a limited charity single to help the tsunami-victims. Furthermore, Hatebreed's Jamey Jasta assists Barney on ‘Instruments Of Persuasions’ as well as ‘Sold Short’ and Jeff Walker (Carcass) returns with a startling metal comeback on ‘Pledge Yourself To You’ where he adds background vocals.

Just as vehement as the songs is the lyrical content of “The Code Is Red…Long Live The Code”, for which Barney is solely responsible this time. The title (track), dealing with the (western) world's permanent (and disproportionate) state of emergency , indicates that politics remain the central theme in Napalm Death's cosmos. But Greenway doesn't limit himself by only denouncing unscrupulous world leaders. ‘All Hail The Grey Dawn’ reveals his personal struggles by describing one of those days on which you wonder if you've really chosen the right path.

This is yet another example for Napalm Death's courage and will to mature. It is, of course, a result of the band's grown self-confidence, but also of the experience of life that you can't fight all the time. Or, to say it in Barney's words, "For sure I am no pacifist, but over the years I've learned to look at things with a little more distance." But don't worry, you're not gonna notice this distance when the “The Code Is Red…Long Live The Code” blows your speakers...