On March 7th, Electric Brixton was undeniably the place to be for fans of heavy music, as Napalm Death stormed London with their iconic grindcore sound. The legendary Birmingham band, known for their crashing music, crazed energy, and politically charged lyrics, delivered a relentless set. They tore through a mix of genre-defining classics like “Prison Without Walls” and “You Suffer” from their album “Scum” released in 1987, alongside newer tracks that hit just as hard, showcasing the band’s ever-evolving sound while staying true to their roots.
Adding to the intensity of the night were Crowbar, the powerhouse metal band from New Orleans. Their performance perfectly warmed up the crowd for the chaotic onslaught that followed. From start to finish, the night was a full-force, unrelenting attack on the senses – loud, fast, heavy, and absolutely brutal, just the way fans had hoped it would be.
Crowbar
Crowbar was the perfect opener for Napalm Death, delivering a powerful and energetic set that started the night superbly. From the moment the band took the stage, mosh pits quickly formed and crowd surfers poured into the pit at the front of the venue. Fans, eager to be part of the action, leaned over the barrier, arms in the air, screaming along to the opening track “To Build a Mountain”. Between songs, as the band took a moment to connect with the audience, the pit in the center of the room would occasionally calm down, but the crowd was always quick to pick themselves back up, ready for the next onslaught.
About halfway through Crowbar’s set, fans were treated to a surprise when Shane Embury of Napalm Death joined the band onstage for a performance of “High Rate Extinction”. Crowbar then wrapped up their set “All I Had (I Gave),” leaving the audience perfectly primed for what was to come.
Later in the evening, Kirk Windstein, Crowbar’s lead singer, was spotted mingling in the crowd. Fans surrounded him, eager to meet the legendary frontman. His presence added a personal touch to an already unforgettable night of intense performances.
Napalm Death
Next up was Napalm Death! They took to the stage at Electric Brixton with an intense opening performance of “Multinational Corporations, Part II,” setting the tone for a politically charged set. Lead singer Barney Greenway immediately engaged the audience, discussing pressing global issues and the disparity between the wealthy members of society and their lack of empathy for lower classes. He passionately expressed his frustration with the world’s current state, stating, “Those at the top live very nicely and everyone underneath eats shit”. Greenway called for “a dignified world for everybody, not just for yourself,” reinforcing the band’s long-standing message of social and political injustices.
As the set continued, Napalm Death ramped up the energy, and before launching into “Nazi Punks, Fuck Off,” Greenway once again highlighted the relevance of the song in today’s world. The crowd responded enthusiastically to the call for unity and resistance against hate. The band’s performance came at a perfect moment. With politics at the forefront of many people’s minds, being in that crowd surrounded by others supporting the right side of politics felt empowering.
Napalm Death Setlist
Venue: Electric Brixton, London
Set:
- Multinational Corporations, Part II
- Silence Is Deafening
- Lowpoint
- Vision Conquest
- Contagion
- Twist the Knife (Slowly)
- Resentment Always Simmers
- Narcoleptic
- When All Is Said and Done
- Amoral
- The World Keeps Turning
- Retreat to Nowhere
- Social Sterility
- Dead
- Suffer the Children
- Pride Assassin
- Necessary Evil
- Backlash Just Because
- Fuck the Factoid
- Scum
- Prison Without Walls
- You Suffer
- Nazi Punks Fuck Off
- Unchallenged Hate
