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)
Pride Assassin
Napalm Death Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Expected mass production
All cloned to obey without fail
To question means breaking the mould
To turn back that courage you lack
Or live in pretense
An open sore cursed with their social infections
Absorb to be seen as a failure
Not fit to breathe the air we take in
Pride assassin
True feelings call for deviation
But could you face mass condemnation?
Pride assassin
Backed into a corner
Why should you adhere
To their illusions and their orders?
Willing to dictate, yet for themselves exemption
Evaluate your brain form your own opinions
To be an individual, compassionate and free
The lyrics to Napalm Death's song "Pride Assassin" deal with themes such as conformity, rebellion, and individuality. The opening lines "Brought forth into an acceptance/Expected mass production/All cloned to obey without fail" refer to the societal pressure put on individuals. The use of the word "cloned" implies that society wants individuals to conform and be identical to each other. However, the next few lines suggest that questioning this conformity is what takes courage. It is also a deviation from the norm, and therefore it is seen as something taboo.
The lines "In youth, confused prime for manipulation/An open sore cursed with their social infections" suggest that young people are easily manipulated and influenced by society. They may feel like an "open sore" because they are not conforming to the expectations that are put on them. The lines "Absorb to be seen as a failure/Not fit to breathe the air we take in" suggest that those who do not conform are seen as outcasts or failures, and therefore they do not belong in society.
The chorus, "Pride assassin/True feelings call for deviation/But could you face mass condemnation?" suggests that to truly be oneself, one must make a deviation from what is expected of them. However, the question is whether one is willing to face the consequences that come with being different. The final lines "To be an individual, compassionate and free" suggest that the alternative is to be true to oneself, to think for oneself, and to be compassionate to others.
Line by Line Meaning
Brought forth into an acceptance
Forced to conform to societal norms and expectations at a young age
Expected mass production
Society demands uniformity and obedience from individuals
All cloned to obey without fail
Individuality and deviation from norms is not accepted or appreciated
To question means breaking the mould
Challenging societal norms and expectations requires courage and a willingness to deviate from the norm
To turn back that courage you lack
Without enough strength or determination, one may choose to follow the crowd instead of standing out
Or live in pretense
Pretending to be someone you're not in order to fit in and avoid social rejection
In youth, confused prime for manipulation
Young people are particularly vulnerable to societal pressures and expectations, which can be exploited and used against them
An open sore cursed with their social infections
The pressures and expectations of society can be toxic and damaging to one's mental health and wellbeing
Absorb to be seen as a failure
Individuality and deviation from norms may be viewed as a weakness or a mistake
Not fit to breathe the air we take in
Individuals who don't conform to societal norms may be seen as unworthy or undeserving
Pride assassin
Those who cling to societal norms and expectations are killing their own sense of pride and individuality
True feelings call for deviation
Being true to oneself requires a willingness to deviate from societal norms and expectations
But could you face mass condemnation?
The fear of being rejected and ostracized from society for deviating from norms can be overwhelming
Backed into a corner
Feeling trapped and without options or choices for individuality or freedom
Why should you adhere
Questioning why conformity is necessary or desirable is an important step towards individuality and freedom
To their illusions and their orders?
The expectations and demands of society are not always truthful or beneficial
Willing to dictate, yet for themselves exemption
Those who enforce societal norms and expectations often don't have to adhere to these rules themselves
Evaluate your brain form your own opinions
Think for yourself and form your own beliefs, rather than simply accepting what's expected or demanded of you by society
To be an individual, compassionate and free
Being true to oneself, showing kindness and empathy towards others, and living with a sense of freedom is the goal of rejecting societal norms and expectations
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jesse Pintado, Mark Greenway, Mitchell Harris, Shane Embury
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Seth Kaicer
My house was possessed by a ghost I chased it out of my house by jamming Napalm death until my speakers recoiled in fear
Seth Kaicer
@trevor reznik well bow down before the one you serve by friend. You're going to get what you deserve! I hope it's all good too brother. Peace and love Seth death
trevor reznik
awesome story! :)
my house was re-posessed by humans :)
Kathy-anne Ross
My favorite song from Napalm fucking Death
Mungos
ND rules! Greetings from Serbia.
DeeJa’s Art
Ew I hate this! Metal has no feeling. Blues and Rock and sometimes punk rock is the real deal
Birthed From Offal
@DeeJa’s Art i think you meant, you’re an incel
DeeJa’s Art
@Slayd 37 I think I meant ‘Death Metal’
Slayd 37
listen to Heartwork by Carcass and then say that metal doesn't have any feeling