Death By Manipulation

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2005-12-09 rating:
Essential Napalm Death compilation
This compilation album collects 4 early Napalm Death E.P.’s onto CD (the other reviewer seems a little confused – all these tracks were previously issued separately, including the ‘4 newly recorded tracks’ (ie: the Mass Appeal Madness EP), so unlike some Earache compilations I wouldn’t rate this as a rip-off). Chronologically the album is back to front, but the earliest material here are the 6 tracks from Napalm’s split single flexi-disc with S.O.B: good stuff, but typically of the early Dorian/Steer/Embury/Harris line-up this is sheer speed orientated material that bludgeons the listener but doesn’t do much else. The 6 track Mentally Murdered EP (which had already been issued as hidden bonus tracks on Napalm’s Harmony Corruption album, but at least we get lyrics here) marks the end of Bill Steer and Lee Dorian’s involvement with the group, and is also the highlight of this line-up of the band, with the hyper-speed blasts now combined with some seriously infectious guitar riffs. Of the 3 track Suffer the Children EP the title track is slightly pointless, being lifted from the Harmony Corruption album, but the new version of Siege of Power is the definitive recording, and the instrumental track is interesting for highlighting Mick Harris’s early interest in the electronic music he would create in Scorn. Finally the 4 track Mass Appeal Madness marks the last occasion Mick Harris would drum for the band, and it’s a ferocious record – having got some stick for the death metal sound of Harmony Corruption this EP is for my money the best record Napalm ever released. Unless you’ve already got all these releases on vinyl (and even then, you’ll probably want them on CD) this is essential early Napalm.


review by: evilshrapnel date: 2002-09-07 rating:
A mixed bag of Napalm odds and ends...
The Napalm boys were criticised heavily for seemingly following the death metal trends of the early 90s by flying to Florida for their 'Harmony Corruption' album, so this grab bag of Napalm cuts was hastily released to silence the doubters.

'Death By Manipulation' is a sort of early Napalm 'Best Of', combined with about 4 newly recorded tracks, including the excellent 'Mass Appeal Madness'. Basically this seems like an attempt from Earache to squeeze some more cash from Napalm's fan base by making this and album long, rather than sticking out the new tracks as an EP, however you do get 'Suffer The Children' and a couple of other better tracks from Harmony but unfortunately Barney's involvement with the album finishes at around track 8, leaving the listener to once again endure/enjoy Lee Doridian's vocals on the early earthy 'Scum' and 'From Emptiness..' material on display. After a few more odds and ends, that's about it for the album but you DO get a really cool pic of Napalm bassist Shane Embury on the back cover.

If you're new to the world of early Napalm, get this and see what you think before shelling out on the older albums, and likewise the newer tracks are worth having. I personally don't much care for Doridian-era Napalm but some do...

One for completists or newbies only methinks. But not bad all the same...

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