Napalm Death is an English grindcore band that was formed in Meriden, West … Read Full Bio ↴Napalm Death is an English grindcore band that was formed in Meriden, West Midlands in 1981. Since 1986, none of the band's original members have remained in the group. However, starting from their album "Utopia Banished" (1992), the lineup of bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Mitch Harris, drummer Danny Herrera, and lead vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway has remained consistent for most of the band's career. From 1989 to 2004, Napalm Death briefly expanded to a five-piece band when Jesse Pintado joined as a replacement for former guitarist Bill Steer. Following Pintado's departure, the band reverted to being a four-piece.

The band is recognized as pioneers of the grindcore genre, blending elements of crust punk and death metal. They are known for their noise-filled sound, characterized by distorted, down-tuned guitars, grinding overdrive bass, high-speed tempo, blast beats, and vocals consisting of incomprehensible growls or high-pitched shrieks. Their songs are exceptionally short, often featuring sociopolitical lyrics. Napalm Death gained substantial influence in the global metal community with the release of their debut album "Scum" in 1987, which was issued by Earache Records. Notably, their track "You Suffer" holds the Guinness World Record for the shortest recorded song, lasting a mere 1.316 seconds.

Over the years, Napalm Death has released sixteen studio albums and is recognized by Nielsen SoundScan as the seventh-best-selling death metal band in the United States.

Studio albums
Scum (1987)
From Enslavement to Obliteration (1988)
Harmony Corruption (1990)
Utopia Banished (1992)
Fear, Emptiness, Despair (1994)
Diatribes (1996)
Inside the Torn Apart (1997)
Words from the Exit Wound (1998)
Enemy of the Music Business (2000)
Order of the Leech (2002)
The Code Is Red...Long Live the Code (2005)
Smear Campaign (2006)
Time Waits for No Slave (2009)
Utilitarian (2012)
Apex Predator - Easy Meat (2015)
Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism (2020)

Cause and Effect
Napalm Death Lyrics

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What are your motives,
For your abuse,
What can they be?
Accused of things
I've never done,
This seems strange.

Your motivation, for my humiliation.

I'm pressurised,
So many times
By your presence,
Your very existance
Has become
My obsession.

My infatuation with you damnation.

I experience
Dangerous thoughts,
That are all too real,
How can one man
Inflict in me
So much hate.

My obsession with your destruction

Overall Meaning

These lyrics from Napalm Death's song "Cause and Effect" explore the theme of abusive behavior and the impact it can have on its victim. The singer questions the motives behind this abuse and wonders why someone would choose to inflict pain and humiliation on another person. The accusation of something that has never been done adds another element of injustice to the situation, highlighting the senselessness of the abuse.

The lyrics also discuss the impact of this behavior on the victim's mental state, with the constant presence of the abuser becoming an obsession that leads to dangerous thoughts. The singer's infatuation with their own potential for destruction shows the extent to which this behavior has affected them, and the psychological toll it has taken.

Overall, "Cause and Effect" is a powerful exploration of the damaging effects of abusive behavior and the psychological impact it can have on its victim. It highlights the emotional turmoil and obsession that can result, and the senselessness of this type of behavior.

Line by Line Meaning

What are your motives,
I question your intentions,

For your abuse,
Regarding the mistreatment you've inflicted,

What can they be?
I wonder what drives you to act this way,

Accused of things
Blamed for actions,

I've never done,
That I'm innocent of,

This seems strange.
It all feels odd and confusing.

Your motivation, for my humiliation.
You desire to embarrass and belittle me.

I'm pressurised,
I'm constantly under intense scrutiny,

So many times
Repeatedly,

By your presence,
Simply from being in your proximity,

Your very existance
Your being alive and present,