NAPALM DEATH - Brisbane 2023

14 Sept

Written by: Tom Wilson - Sense Music Media | Tuesday 12th September 2023
Photos by: Dayna Gilmore >> VIEW GALLERY

Campaign For Musical Destruction @ The Triffid
w/ WORMROT + AWFUL NOISE

In the most blatant case of fraudulent advertising since Lionel Hutz sued the makers of The Neverending Story, AWFUL NOISE take to the stage and play music that isn’t awful. It’s quite good, actually. Hard-edged deathgrind with some tasty riffs and a frontman who quickly takes command of his audience, they bounce back from a slightly awkward start to hammer out a selection of tracks from their full-length A Peaceful Death with Pretty Flowers. They even throw in some BLOOD DUSTER-style samples, concluding one punishing number with “Authorised by the Australian government, Canberra.” Ace.

Singapore grind trio WORMROT found themselves in an unenviable position last year, when they released their stunning album Hiss just as vocalist Arif announced his departure. What’s a band to do? Grab a new singer and hit the road. On the mic tonight is Gabriel Dubko, and he approaches the role with no ego, frequently melting off to the side of the stage to let the focus rest on guitarist Rasyid and percussive tornado Vijesh. The set tonight dives deep into Hiss, and the results are astonishing; Vijesh sweating up a storm with a permanent smile on his face, Rasyid with powerful riffs and an even more powerful moustache. Dead-centre on the front barrier, SENSE is mere metres from the kit, and you can’t help but be hypnotised by each fill and blast. One of the greatest drumming performances I’ve ever seen. Utterly spellbinding.

NAPALM DEATH are, put simply, a grind institution. Shane Embury slowly hammers out the first bars of Narcissus, and like a locomotive slowly chugging to life, the band go faster … and faster … and faster … before they explode into a full-throttle assault. Barney Greenway is a sight to behold, bellowing with the voice of ten men and moving with the energy of a twenty-year-old. Backlash Just Because is utterly furious, John Cooke’s riffs crashing over the crowd, Danny Herrera in perfect control of each lurching shift in the tempo. It’s a good thing that Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism is a great album, because we get a lot of it tonight, but they know who their audience is, so classics like Scum and Suffer the Children are rolled out in due course. Utilitarian cut Everyday Pox features the shrieking saxophone of American composer John Zorn, and the storming When All is Said and Done threatens to level the Triffid.

Pictured: *Barney Greenway + John Cooke* - NAPALM DEATH

Pictured: *Shane Embury + Barney Greenway -* NAPALM DEATH

Pictured: *Barney Greenway* - NAPALM DEATH

Never afraid to speak his mind, Barney voices his concern with the state of the world, contextualising each furious track between much needed gulps of water. BAD BRAINS cover Don’t Need It segues into Mentally Murdered and Unchallenged Hate, before Barney takes up a position by the drum kit like a sprinter in the starting blocks. “Get ready,” I say to my friend next to me. “Here it comes.” The cymbal is counted in, before all 1.316 seconds of You Suffer erupts. Smash a Single Digit is dedicated to the plight of sweatshop workers, and Pauline Hanson gets a mention before they kick off a glorious Nazi Punks Fuck Off, and close with the brutal Siege of Power. A stunning set from a band who both pioneered grindcore and refuse to play by its rules.