From Enslavement to Obliteration
Encyclopedia
From Enslavement to Obliteration is the second album by grindcore
band Napalm Death
, released in 1988.
as the sole vocalist, where he offers the low, grunting vocals and from time to time in songs, he will scream in an odd-pitched tone, not unlike static. He is considered one of the first extreme metal
vocalists to alternate between guttural growls and high-pitched screams, a technique that would be elaborated on by fellow grind act Carcass
(who are often given credit for the invention of this vocal style) and imitated by countless bands in the future (one prominent example being Corpsegrinder
of Cannibal Corpse
). This album is credited as a huge influence in the second wave of death metal bands that followed this release. This album, along with Scum, is considered to be one of the most brutal records of all time by fans and critics.
Shane Embury remembered:
The lyrical themes ranged from a variety of social and political topics, including: misogyny
/sexism
("It's a M.A.N.S World" and "Inconceivable?"), animal rights
("Display to Me…"), racism
("Unchallenged Hate"), materialism
("Private Death" and "From Enslavement to Obliteration"), and capitalism
("Make Way!"). The album calls for social change, as seen in the song "Uncertainty Blurs the Vision," quoting Rudimentary Peni
at the song's conclusion. This and the former one focus primarily on political problems, while the next releases will focus more on religion (with an atheist background).
s list of essential European grindcore albums. Writer Jonathan Horsley described it as marking "the genre's perilous rite of passage through Britain's post-industrial urban landscape."
Music critic Piero Scaruffi includes From Enslavement to Obliteration at number 6, after Jane's Addiction
's Nothing's Shocking
and before Fear Factory
's Demanufacture
, in his classification of the best metal albums of all times.
by the grindcore
band Napalm Death
, included in the initial copies of the From Enslavement to Obliteration LP
, which was released through Earache Records
in September 1988.
Grindcore
Grindcore is an extreme genre of music that started in the early- to mid-1980s. It draws inspiration from some of the most abrasive music genres – including death metal, industrial music, noise and the more extreme varieties of hardcore punk....
band Napalm Death
Napalm Death
Napalm Death are a death metal band formed in Birmingham, England in 1981. While none of its original members remain in the group, the lineup of vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway, bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Mitch Harris and drummer Danny Herrera has remained consistent for most of the band's ...
, released in 1988.
Background
From Enslavement to Obliteration is the only Napalm Death album to feature Lee DorrianLee Dorrian
Lee Dorrian is a singer from Coventry, England. Originally the editor/publisher of the Cov punk fanzine "Committed Suicide" he then went on to be the singer and lyricist with Napalm Death and recorded one and a half albums with them, namely the second half of Scum and From Enslavement to...
as the sole vocalist, where he offers the low, grunting vocals and from time to time in songs, he will scream in an odd-pitched tone, not unlike static. He is considered one of the first extreme metal
Extreme metal
Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. The term usually refers to a more abrasive, harsher, underground, non-commercialized style or sound nearly always associated with genres like black metal,...
vocalists to alternate between guttural growls and high-pitched screams, a technique that would be elaborated on by fellow grind act Carcass
Carcass (band)
Carcass are an extreme metal band from England, who formed in 1985 and disbanded in 1995. A reunion was enacted in 2008 without one of its original members, drummer Ken Owen, due to health reasons....
(who are often given credit for the invention of this vocal style) and imitated by countless bands in the future (one prominent example being Corpsegrinder
George Fisher
George Fisher may refer to:*George Fisher , American politician*Rev George Fisher British arctic scientist*George Fisher , Serbian born Mexican and American citizen*George P...
of Cannibal Corpse
Cannibal Corpse
Cannibal Corpse is an American death metal band from Buffalo, New York. Formed in 1988, the band has released eleven studio albums, one box set, and one live album...
). This album is credited as a huge influence in the second wave of death metal bands that followed this release. This album, along with Scum, is considered to be one of the most brutal records of all time by fans and critics.
Shane Embury remembered:
The lyrical themes ranged from a variety of social and political topics, including: misogyny
Misogyny
Misogyny is the hatred or dislike of women or girls. Philogyny, meaning fondness, love or admiration towards women, is the antonym of misogyny. The term misandry is the term for men that is parallel to misogyny...
/sexism
Sexism
Sexism, also known as gender discrimination or sex discrimination, is the application of the belief or attitude that there are characteristics implicit to one's gender that indirectly affect one's abilities in unrelated areas...
("It's a M.A.N.S World" and "Inconceivable?"), animal rights
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
("Display to Me…"), racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
("Unchallenged Hate"), materialism
Materialism
In philosophy, the theory of materialism holds that the only thing that exists is matter; that all things are composed of material and all phenomena are the result of material interactions. In other words, matter is the only substance...
("Private Death" and "From Enslavement to Obliteration"), and capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
("Make Way!"). The album calls for social change, as seen in the song "Uncertainty Blurs the Vision," quoting Rudimentary Peni
Rudimentary Peni
Rudimentary Peni are a British anarcho-punk/deathrock band formed in 1980.-Line-up:*Nick Blinko - guitar, vocals, artwork, lyrics*Grant Matthews - bass guitar, lyrics*Jon Greville - drums-History:...
at the song's conclusion. This and the former one focus primarily on political problems, while the next releases will focus more on religion (with an atheist background).
Reception
In 2009 From Enslavement to Obliteration was ranked number 1 in TerrorizerTerrorizer Magazine
Terrorizer is an extreme music magazine published by Dark Arts Ltd. in the United Kingdom. It is released every four weeks with thirteen issues a year and features a 'Fear Candy' covermount CD, a twice yearly 'Fear Candy Unsigned' CD, and a double-sided poster.-1993:Terrorizer published its first...
s list of essential European grindcore albums. Writer Jonathan Horsley described it as marking "the genre's perilous rite of passage through Britain's post-industrial urban landscape."
Music critic Piero Scaruffi includes From Enslavement to Obliteration at number 6, after Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction is an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985. The band's original line-up featured Perry Farrell , Dave Navarro , Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins . After breaking up in 1991, Jane's Addiction briefly reunited in 1997 and again in 2001, both times...
's Nothing's Shocking
Nothing's Shocking
Nothing's Shocking is the first studio album by the American alternative rock band Jane's Addiction, released on August 23, 1988 through Warner Bros. Records. Nothing's Shocking was well received by critics upon release and is often cited as the band's best album. Despite this, it peaked at number...
and before Fear Factory
Fear Factory
Fear Factory is an American industrial metal band. Formed in 1989, they have released seven full-length albums and a number of singles and remixes. Over the course of their career they have evolved from a succession of styles, as well as steadily pioneered a combination of the styles death metal,...
's Demanufacture
Demanufacture
Demanufacture is the second studio album by the Los Angeles industrial metal band Fear Factory. This is the band's first album with their classic line-up adding new bassist Christian Olde Wolbers. Many regard it as the band's best album and a heavy metal classic...
, in his classification of the best metal albums of all times.
Track listing
The Curse
The Curse is a free 7-inch extended playExtended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
by the grindcore
Grindcore
Grindcore is an extreme genre of music that started in the early- to mid-1980s. It draws inspiration from some of the most abrasive music genres – including death metal, industrial music, noise and the more extreme varieties of hardcore punk....
band Napalm Death
Napalm Death
Napalm Death are a death metal band formed in Birmingham, England in 1981. While none of its original members remain in the group, the lineup of vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway, bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Mitch Harris and drummer Danny Herrera has remained consistent for most of the band's ...
, included in the initial copies of the From Enslavement to Obliteration LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
, which was released through Earache Records
Earache Records
Earache Records is a heavy metal-oriented record label based in Nottingham, UK and New York, USA. It helped to pioneer extreme metal by releasing many of the earliest grindcore and death metal records in the period 1988-1994.-History:...
in September 1988.
Track listing
- The song "Morbid Deceiver" is a re-recording of the song Deceiver, originally on the album Scum.
Personnel
- Lee DorrianLee DorrianLee Dorrian is a singer from Coventry, England. Originally the editor/publisher of the Cov punk fanzine "Committed Suicide" he then went on to be the singer and lyricist with Napalm Death and recorded one and a half albums with them, namely the second half of Scum and From Enslavement to...
– vocals - Shane EmburyShane EmburyShane Embury is a British bassist and member of Napalm Death.-Napalm Death:Embury is the only member left who has been in the band since the Scum tour, replacing previous bassist Jim Whitley in 1987...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Bill SteerBill SteerBill Steer is an English guitar player, and a founder of British Metal band Carcass...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Mick HarrisMick HarrisMick Harris commonly known and credited both as Mick Harris or occasionally M.J. Harris, is an English musician....
– drums - Steve Bird – engineeringAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
- Mark Sikora – cover art
- Mike Marsh – masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...