Throes of Joy in the jaws of Defeatism, Napalm Death’s sixteenth studio outing, was a blisteringly powerful document that was the culmination of three years hard work, not to mention a substantial reward for fans who had endured a five-year wait (the longest ever gap between Napalm Death albums). The sessions, which took place at the legendary Russ Russell’s Parlour Studios, stretched from 2017 – 2020 and resulted in a glut of material, some of which turned up on the limited digi-book edition of the album. However, there remained some material from the session, which is where Resentment is Always Seismic – A Final Throw of Throes appears as a companion piece to its 2020 forebear. Featuring a pair of covers – Slab! And Bad Brains – and six original pieces, Resentment is Always Seismic builds neatly over the course of twenty-two minutes to a title track that once again highlights the awesome diversity that has always lain at the heart of Napalm Death’s sound.
Opening with the bruising Narcissus, Napalm Death pull no punches as they excoriate the political class. Emerging to the sound of Shane’s typically gruelling bassline, it builds from mid-tempo groove to unholy grind in just three short minutes. Better still is the harrowing Resentment Always Simmers, which sounds like Dead Kennedys being dragged through a blender (perhaps with a touch of Smear for good measure). The slower tempo only adds greater weight to the band’s already ferocious sound, and the swirling guitars evoke a sense of unease that is palpable. Next up, By Proxy is a vicious grind, with treble-heavy production to match. Dispatched in just under two-minutes, you can imagine Barney tearing at his hair as he races through the lyrics before Napalm change gears again, with a proto-industrial cover of People Pie (Slab!). A churning, bass-laden groove with cheeky melodies fighting their way to the surface, it’s an idiosyncratic gem and an EP highlight.
The band return to more conventional pastures (insofar as anything Napalm Death do can be called conventional) with the feral Man Bites Dogged. An adrenalin-fuelled rampage, it barks itself hoarse, only to change tack as the band throw in a series of increasingly doom-laden riffs that see it to its conclusion. The unhinged Slaver Through a Repeat Performance is a sermon from hell’s heart, the repeated cries of “loss” which open the track haunting the pace between cacophonous drums and hyper-speed riffing. Another cover is up next in the form of Don’t Need It (Bad Brains). The extent to which it sounds like Bad Brains depends predominantly on your ability to decode the band’s dizzying assault but, as with all Napalm Covers, the band batter it into submission and make the track fully their own in the process. As awesome as the preceding seven songs are, however, everything leads to the remarkable, hypnotic Resentment is Always Seismic (Dark Sky Burial Dirge). Forging a link between Napalm and fellow travellers in extremity Godflesh, it brings the EP to a truly mesmerising end, the result of late nights and panic attacks spilling over into one bile-fuelled monologue.
That Napalm Death are a special band is indisputable. However, while many note the band’s searing sonic assault and fiercely intelligent lyrics, it is their rare ability to incorporate disparate influences without losing sight of their core identity that makes them truly stand out. With parent album Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeat already a masterclass in extremity, Resentment is Always Seismic is an essential companion piece that only dips further into the dark recesses of the band’s mind. 9.5/10
