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)

If Symptoms Persist
Napalm Death Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Fate has brought us here
Picture getting clear
See right through you
I see right through you
I feel for no-one
Where have my feelings gone?
All too powerful
Witness this as I stand the test of time

In eternal sleep
You gave me your word
More than life itself
I breathe new life
Help save me from life-taking actions which will destroy myself
I can't destroy myself
There is no defence like this confidence
Ideas dawn upon, seeking relevance

There's no turning back
There's no turning back

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Napalm Death's song "If Symptoms Persist" seem to be about self-destructive tendencies and the struggle to overcome them. The first two lines suggest that the singer has found themselves in a situation they did not anticipate, but the picture is becoming clearer. Then the tone of the song turns to a more accusatory one, with the singer saying they see right through the person they are addressing. The next lines suggest a lack of feeling on the part of the singer, which may be a contributing factor to their self-destructive tendencies. They suggest that they feel for no one and that their feelings have disappeared or been replaced by something more powerful.

As the song progresses, the singer seems to be asking for help, saying that they need to be saved from "life-taking actions which will destroy myself." They acknowledge that there is no defense like confidence and that they are seeking new ideas that will give their life relevance. The final chorus suggests that they are aware that there is no turning back from this path they are on, but they seem to be trying to find a way to navigate it without completely self-destructing.

Line by Line Meaning

Fate has brought us here
We are in this situation due to circumstances beyond our control

Picture getting clear
The situation is becoming more evident

See right through you
I understand your true intentions and motivations

I see right through you
I am not easily deceived by you or your actions

I feel for no-one
I have lost my ability to empathize with others

Where have my feelings gone?
I am struggling to connect with my emotions

All too powerful
A feeling of being overwhelmed by the situation

Witness this as I stand the test of time
I am determined to overcome this and prove myself

In eternal sleep
A metaphor for death

You gave me your word
You promised me something

More than life itself
You made a very important and significant promise