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)
Stalemate
Napalm Death Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm met with countless obstructions.
An external vacuum distorts my observance,
Sucking me to the rat race.
A weakness makes me gullible.
Constantly lured to their traps,
Dismanting my motivation,
Taking my destination to another step back.
The lyrics of Napalm Death's "Stalemate" deal with the struggle to achieve individual freedom while facing various hindrances that keep the singer from moving forward. The first line suggests that the song's narrator is on a journey towards personal liberation but is confronted with "countless obstructions." These obstructions could be anything from societal norms, bureaucratic procedures, or even personal afflictions that prevent them from reaching their goals. The second line emphasizes that the singer's vision is also distorted by some external vacuum. This can be interpreted as the influence of others' opinions, which can distract the singer and make them susceptible to hopping on to the rat race.
The third and fourth line of the lyrics further elaborate on this idea, as the singer expresses that they feel weak and gullible, constantly lured to other people's traps. These traps can refer to the external pressure the singer feels to conform or to compete with others, which leads them to dismantle their motivation and take a step back from their goals. Overall, "Stalemate" speaks to the universal human experience of confronting obstacles and struggling to break free from limitations in the journey towards self-realization and self-actualization.
Line by Line Meaning
On the path to individual freedom,
While pursuing personal liberty,
I'm met with countless obstructions.
I face numerous hindrances on my journey.
An external vacuum distorts my observance,
The pressure of society alters my perception.
Sucking me to the rat race.
Drawing me into a cycle of competition and conformity.
A weakness makes me gullible.
A vulnerability in my character renders me susceptible to manipulation.
Constantly lured to their traps,
Frequently tempted by their deceptive schemes.
Dismanting my motivation,
Undermining my drive and enthusiasm.
Taking my destination to another step back.
Pushing me further away from my intended goal.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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