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The word extreme pops up a lot when you're talking about Napalm Death. That's because they are, and here's the proof people.
In the late 80s they invented grindcore - a type of music combining hardcore punk and thrash metal with guttural growls and high, blood-curdling shrieks. Then there's the song You Suffer, off the band's classic 1987 debut, Scum, which, at 1.316 seconds, is the shortest ever recorded. The vinyl seven-inch single of the song, with the lyrics "You suffer - but why?", doesn't complete a full rotation when played.
I think you'll agree, that's not just hardcore, that's extreme, and that's why Napalm Death are one of the pioneers of extreme music. Grrrr.
"It is, and always was, an institution full of like-minded people who wanted to play extreme, cutting-edge and innovative music," explains Mitch Harris, the band's guitarist. Harris, who joined the band in 1989, is also the one who does the high-pitched shrieks which complement lead singer Barney Greenway's growls.
Although it's unlikely they will play You Suffer at the Kings Arms in Auckland on Wednesday, they will be shredding it up like they've done for more than two decades.
"You know, we shared our youth together and now we're approaching 40. So we know each other really well, it's about understanding each other, being diplomatic and wanting to explore different music. Taking it to the next level is what keeps the band together. When the next album isn't good or you feel you've reached a peak maybe it's time to call it a day. But we still keep finding things to talk about, and we have the ambition."
Napalm Death has an odd history. The band was formed in 1981 by Nic Bullen and Miles Rutledge who were in their early teens at the time. They were then joined by guitarist Justin Broadrick and drummer Mick Harris, a prolific musician who is most notable for his band Scorn.
Rutledge left and the trio started exploring a heavier, uncompromising musical style and in 1986 they recorded a demo which would be the start of Scum.
During the 80s there were constant line up changes and no original members remain.
"In the early days they went through a lot of problems mainly because Nic was difficult to understand," he laughs. "Nice guy, and nothing bad to say about him, Nic was one of the driving forces but he drove some people out of the band I guess," he laughs again.
When Harris joined Napalm Death in 1989 the line up was steadying and the current one of himself, Greenway, bass player Shane Embury (the longest serving member), and drummer Danny Herrera, has been solid for nearly 18 years.
They set about fine tuning their musical style and creating a unique identity.
"We did that by mixing all our styles together, and manipulating hardcore, grind and death metal, and all the extreme forms of music," says Harris.
Around this time bands like Napalm Death, Obituary, Carcass, and Morbid Angel started getting more exposure because people were "hungry" for something more extreme.
"Music had kind of reached a evolutionary peak and Napalm was right in the middle of it, pushing it further and breaking the rules. Throughout the 80s it reached a peak with bands like Slayer, Dark Angel, and Kreator, but Napalm really took it to the next level along with those bands."
Napalm Death's latest album, Smear Campaign, is not as heavy and abrasive as the band's classic albums like Scum, From Enslavement To Obliteration, Fear Emptiness Despair, and the more recent Order of the Leech, but they're still at their brutal and demented best.
There's also more of an unrelenting groove to it - arguably making it more accessible. And one thing remains, you guessed it, they're still extreme and that's the way Harris likes it.
He reels of a string of bands that inspired him: "The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Doors, KISS, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Venom, Slayer, Exodus, Discharge, GBH ... I've always been a fanatic of finding something faster and heavier.
"Something that was going to the next level and all of us were trying to do something that didn't sound like anybody else. We don't feel like pioneers and it wasn't really about starting a new scene, it was just doing something new and having fun."
Performance
* Who: Napalm Death
* What: Godfathers of grindcore and extreme music legends
* Where and when: Kings Arms, Wednesday, September 12
* Watch: The Steel Mill, Napalm Death Special, C4, tonight, 1am
* Essential albums: Scum (1987); From Enslavement To Obliteration (1988); Fear Emptiness Despair (1994); Order of the Leech (2002); Smear Campaign (2006)
