Napalm Death

Napalm Death bassist Shane Embury has been a pivotal figure in grindcore for over four decades. His book, Life?... & Napalm Death (out now via Rocket 88 Books), takes readers on a thrilling journey through the people, places, and sounds that shaped his life and career. Written in his distinct style, it’s both Shane’s personal story and a history of Napalm Death, death metal, and grindcore.

Napalm Death are credited as pioneers of the grindcore genre by incorporating elements of crust punk and death metal, using a noise-filled sound that uses heavily distorted, down-tuned guitars, grinding overdrive bass, high speed tempo, blast beats, and vocals which consist of incomprehensible growls, or high-pitched shrieks, extremely short songs, fast tempos, and sociopolitical lyrics. Even after exerting an indelible influence on the entire world of heavy music for nearly 40 years, there is still no band on Earth that sounds like Napalm Death. Not just the pioneers, but an enduring benchmark for invention and fearlessness in heavy and experimental music of all kinds, the Birmingham legends are still hurtling forward at full pelt.