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Napalm Death > Punishment in Capitals > Reviews
Napalm Death - Punishment in Capitals

Not A Punishment At All - 87%

GuntherTheUndying, August 20th, 2007

I typically find a decent chuck of live albums to be very poor and redundant. After all, several factors can make or break a band’s own show that most folks don’t even consider, and from that comes the 50-50 chance of such a release kicking ass, or sucking like a black hole. Thankfully, my bi-annual stint in which I crave Napalm Death like a drug brought me to the group’s loved live record entitled “Punishment In Capitals.” Intrigued by Napalm Death’s legendary status and career, I picked it up, and wasn’t disappointed by the wonderfully-produced plastic that brought every good quality of a live recording in full-circle. A great song list, awesome production, and spot-on playing are just small parts of what this great CD has within.

“Punishment In Capitals” was recorded about twenty years after Napalm Death suited up for what would become their genre-defining sound. And with this special mark in the band’s career, Napalm Death showcases a surprisingly-large set containing songs from every release at this point in time. Whether they’re grinding through a collage of “Scum” material or newer death metal tracks, Napalm Death keeps the track list enjoyable, unpredictable, and definitely fun to hear. After all, thirty tunes from the gods of grindcore should keep anyone entertained; if that doesn’t, then the mini-solos, the various cover songs including “Nazi Punks Fuck off,” and the Celtic Frost reference will. This here is a golden hour of slaughtering metal filled with an incredible list of tracks that will make any fan of Napalm Death faint, or jump for joy at the very least.

Live recordings must meet a certain number of non-performance guidelines in order to be considered passable by the slightest degree; this includes several items, but production is by far the most important. “Punishment In Capitals” thankfully benefits from the wide scale of wonderful production this CD offers, mainly because each member brings his own set of cacophony to the table without coming off as a sloppy performance. Everything is clear and easy to here, yet one thing separates this baby from the rest: the utter rawness. Napalm Death is a group that lives for sounding rough, unpolished, and uncooked for the sake of originality, yet the group’s chewy rareness is what builds up this record’s content. It’s like diving into a big, greasy burger knowing you’ll get a bit messy, but love it nonetheless.

Alas, Napalm Death manages to benefit from a strong overall performance. All thirty tunes are jacked with high doses of speed, flexibility, and comfort with the group’s signature ripping riffs, Barney Greenway’s low growls, and raw bass audio. The common death metal characteristic of playing fast is definitely something to expect, but the quick transitions between tracks is also something to take note of. Also, Barney doesn’t hesitate pumping up the crowd by offering the coming tracks or just joking around with the fans. The entire band has all the attitude, charisma, skill, energy, and crowd interaction only a Napalm Death show could offer.

Being a fan of live CDs myself, I need to say “Punishment In Capitals” is definitely one of the better items available on the performance shelf. It sure is amazing to hear this legendary faction dish out tune after tune with ease, and without leaving any breathing room or gaps of excellence. Truly a disc you’ll want to own if live records make you smile, or you have a place in your heart for Napalm Death.

For the benefit of animals - 83%

a8o, June 30th, 2005

“I’d like to say thanks to everyone out there for coming down and supporting the welfare of animals” explains vocalist Mark Greenway as this massive live album begins. A death metal/grindcore band playing an 80 minute set for the welfare of animals.

Recorded live at the University of London on April 12, 2002, the legendary Napalm Death rip through tracks spanning their entire career as well as a couple of covers - the Dead Kennedys, Death and Raw Power - which has been in the setlist for some time. A particular highlight is "Back from the Dead" in this regard: given a raw production the original by Death never had.

The production really brings out the ferocity of this album and shows how tight the band really is. They cruise through some songs, twisting the screws on others but its overall pretty even. Dan Hererra on drums is a mayhemic standout, the riffs are just as any Napalm Death studio album sounds, but rawer. The setlist is finely chosen, even though it does concentrate on newer material. However, like any 80 minute album, it's a test of stamina and lacks the visual presentation the DVD medium provides enhancing this same show for a much more impressive package.

There is really no reason to own this over the DVD, but for what it is "Punishment in Capitals" is crushing Napalm Death - you should know what to expect.

For those that like live albums - 89%

toofargone, April 9th, 2004

For those that have the DVD, this CD is something they can live without (unless you got the CD first like, then you’ll probably want to see the show live). For those that don’t usually go for live albums for whatever reason, they should probably pass this by, but if you like these kind of albums, there’s more than a decent offering here, especially for fans of the group.
All the Napalm Death elements are here. Danny Herrera shows why he’s the best drummer the band ever had, Jesse Pintado delivers crunchy riffs, Mitch Harris does the same but also adds something special with his high-pitched screams, Shane Embury plays his bass with ease and perfection, and Greenway growls and screams in the way that only he knows how.
“Punishment In Capitals” is a great live album, with a nice raw sound to it. Despite Greenway’s vocals not being what they could be, and the tracks on selection in need of some older material than it has, “Punishment In Capitals” is a pleasure to listen to, simply because it’s both well played and raw. Jesse, Mitch and Shane all put on a great show with extremely good guitar/bass playing, with Mitch also screaming like a little girl, Danny’s drum playing is perfect as he keeps the band in-time and Greenway’s vocals are heavy with a unique sound to them. Basically, they show why they’re considered to be one of the greatest death/grind bands to ever bless us with their music.
So, if you haven’t already seen the DVD, “Punishment In Capitals” is worth listening to. I’d only really recommend this if you like live albums or you want to hear what’s on offer on the DVD version, either way, if you like what you hear, than checking the DVD and it’s extra features, would be the next step. For a live album, this is excellent.