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)
Success
Napalm Death Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Upward social mobility
Consume the lies "It's what you need"
Vicious circle of mindless greed
Where is your success gained from?
What of the lives you're shat upon?
An artificial life but who's to blame?
The song "Success" by Napalm Death is a thought-provoking commentary on the idea of success and the price one pays for it. The opening lines "Climb the ladder, your security, upward social mobility" hint at the idea that people feel the need to constantly climb the social ladder in order to attain a sense of security and belonging. The line "consume the lies 'It's what you need'" highlights the fact that often what society deems as success is not necessarily what individuals truly want or need for fulfillment.
The chorus "Where is your success gained from? What of the lives you're shat upon?" brings to light the dark side of success and the fact that oftentimes it comes at the expense of others. The lyrics depict success as a "vicious circle of mindless greed" which is an interesting paradox. Success should bring happiness and fulfillment but it is depicted as a vicious cycle of wanting more.
In the end, the artist asks "An artificial life but who's to blame?" This is an important question, as it forces the listener to think about the societal pressures that drive individuals towards a sense of success that is often superficial and unfulfilling. The artist's use of abrasive vocals and fast-paced drums adds to the overall sense of urgency and frustration with the status quo.
Line by Line Meaning
Climb the ladder, your security
Strive for higher success to ensure stability in life
Consume the lies "It's what you need"
Believe in false promises to continue feeding the endless desire for more
Vicious circle of mindless greed
A never-ending cycle of selfishness with no thought for others
Where is your success gained from?
Question the source of one's success and what has been sacrificed to achieve it
What of the lives you're shat upon?
Consider the negative impact one's success has had on others
Caught in the web you'll play the game
Trapped in a system that forces one to conform in order to succeed
An artificial life but who's to blame?
Wonder who is accountable for the shallow and meaningless existence brought on by the relentless pursuit of success
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Bowie, Ricky Gardiner, Iggy Pop
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SobeCrunkMonster
Climb the ladder, your security
Upward social mobility
Consume the lies "It's what you need"
Vicious circle of mindless greed
Where is your success gained from?
What of the lives you're shat upon?
Caught in the web you'll play the game
An artificial life but who's to blame?
Source: LyricFind
@DamonMacready
The middle part is just outa this world. Super chords and sound, and crazy good lyrics!
@Treblinka818
Spent the summer of 1995 drunk...and this album was my anthem.
Lol...takes me back.
@LifeGrindcore
The lyrics aged like the best wine ever.
@SobeCrunkMonster
Climb the ladder, your security
Upward social mobility
Consume the lies "It's what you need"
Vicious circle of mindless greed
Where is your success gained from?
What of the lives you're shat upon?
Caught in the web you'll play the game
An artificial life but who's to blame?
Source: LyricFind
@gergelyfliegauf5287
The most badass guitar riff ever. 00:17
@neilbottles2597
Good old school tune
@niikpagano9019
WHERE IS YOUR SUCCESS GAINED FROM WHAT OF THE LIVES YOUV'E SHAT UPON
@guidooctavio3982
Es como escuchar a mis dos abuelos con disfonía discutir a los gritos mientras rompen las cacerolas de metal con palos.
Es una puta obra de arte ❤️
@childintime6453
I love modern grind bands very much, but this old stuff has some special atmosphere about it that is hard to pin down. Maybe it's the shitty production that does the trick idk
@perseapina
"shitty" aka just perfect for this