By Vinnie Apicella

A name synonymous with brutal, aggressive behavior and...death---as in "Napalm," Barney and company look to do more than just survive with their latest musical obliteration, "Words from the Exit Wound." You don't have to think too hard, I suppose, to conjure up just what some of those words might consist of---ouch! With a legacy as long as the English Channel itself, Napalm Death has been through all a band can stand and are still coming out fighting with something to prove. Having impressed a loyal legion of followers at the recent N.J. Metal Festival, the band is currently on the move ready to unleash their massive arsenal at the rest of the world. Having successfully bridged the gap between grind and hardcore long ago, "Words..." may well be their most lethal offering to date---and they've had many. "The Infiltraitor" opens the wound in a matter of seconds and tears through the flesh with skillful power, and if that's not enough, by the time track five, "Cleanse and Impure" pours salt in that same festering wound, you'll be writhing on the floor in pure agony. There's no let-up in sight on this one. No fooling around in areas for which they've yet to experience, it's a straight ahead, in-your-face pounding, done at an immeasurably high speed and catlike efficiency. The bloody carnage doesn't stop and in fact becomes worse as the "Incendiary Incoming" approach where total devastation occurs, and by the time we're "Thrown Doan A Rope," it's much too late! An extra three bonus cuts exclusive to the U.S. release are added to bring the number up to fifteen, but you'll do best to gun straight to those final cuts for if you wait to let 'em all play out, I fear it may be too late to save your worthless existence.

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