𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐏𝐓𝐒 - 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐁𝐔𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊 & 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋…
33 years ago today, Napalm Death “Corrupted the Harmony” of Grindheads everywhere with this release. And, I loved every minute of it!
On this day (July 1) in 1990, Napalm Death released their third full-length studio album, “Harmony Corruption” via Earache Records.
Background:
In Florida, the group began work on “Harmony Corruption”. “Corruption” saw stylistic changes from the band, exhibiting blast beats and slower tempos, with Death Metal being a greater influence than on their previous records. Also featuring extremely heavy riffs and deep, low vocals, the album was recorded at Morrisound Recording in Tampa, where many classic Death Metal albums have been recorded henceforth. Florida Death Metallers Glen Benton from Deicide and John Tardy from Obituary were guest vocalists for the song "Unfit Earth".
The tracks from the “Mentally Murdered” EP, are included at the end of early editions of the CD, though versions now in print feature only the standard eleven tracks.
It is the first full-length Napalm Death album to feature Mark "Barney" Greenway as the vocalist and Americans Mitch Harris and Jesse Pintado as guitarists, and the last with Mick Harris on drums.
Richard Johnson, a member of Agoraphobic Nosebleed, says that the wide distribution of “Harmony Corruption” ensured that it had a greater impact on the American Grindcore scene than earlier Napalm Death efforts.
Other Information:
The track "Suffer the Children" was released as single on vinyl and CD, which features the non-album tracks "Siege of Power" and "Harmony Corruption". A video was made for "Suffer the Children".
Following the record's release, “Live Corruption”, a live recording of the band's 30 June 1990 performance at the Salisbury Arts Centre, was released in 1992.
Critical Reception and Album Performance:
Writing for AllMusic, Jason Birchmeier stated: “Napalm Death play like a tight, muscular Death Metal band on “Harmony Corruption” (best highlighted by "Suffer the Children"), which puts them within the norm for the first time and puts them much at odds with their former selves. Whether or not you favor a Death Metal style to a Grindcore one is a question worth asking, but the underlying fact of the matter is that Napalm Death are a new band here, one that plays powerful, albeit relatively straightforward, Death Metal.”
Their third UK chart entry, this album peaked at number 67. Limited vinyl pressing included the bonus LP with live set recorded at I.C.A.
Negative fan reactions to “Corruption” and accusations of selling out would later compell the band to reconsider its stylistic changes.
Subsequent Re-issues:
In 2012, Earache Records released remastered edition, containing bonus tracks.
Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:
Click this link to listen to “Harmony Corruption” via Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/harmony-corruption/41227320
Click this link to listen to “Harmony Corruption” via Spotify: Harmony Corruption https://open.spotify.com/album/1UfXjeHkdogWNQNFE1d8Mz
Click this link to follow Napalm Death on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialnapalmdeath
Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells
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