Napalm Death - Utilitarian

I'm not going to break any records, but I own a decent number of Napalm Death albums. I used to buy everything I could find, despite not having much legitimate interest in some of the EPs or compilations. Most of it is pretty enjoyable, but for their last 5 albums they've been on a streak of consistency bordering on the predictable. So in 2011, for the first time since I became a fan, I didn't even bother to check out their new album, Utilitarian.

Part of that decision was based on the advanced track I heard, "Analysis Paralysis". In retrospect it's one of the less exciting, and I don't know why they chose it. Luckily I came across a youtube link of another song - "The Wolf I Feed". Within an hour I had downloaded the album, and within two more I had ordered it from Amazon.

Utilitarian isn't a radical departure from the last couple albums, but to my ears it's the most inspired they've been in years, and there are just enough surprises to keep things fresh. "The Wolf I Feed" remains one of my favorite tracks, containing a Fear Factory esque chorus and some manic vocals from Mitch (who also appears on "Orders of Magnitude", not coincidentally, another of my favorites). Another highlight is John Zorn lending a couple squealing sax solos to "Everyday Pox".

I wouldn't say Napalm Death is pushing any boundaries here, but everyone is on top of their game, the production sounds great, and the songwriting is as strong as it's been since the early days of the band. It's kind of heartwarming seeing these guys blast so hard into their 30th year as a band.

I will make one qualifying statement: in preparation for this album, I spent a few days getting reacquainted with 2009's Time Waits for No Slave. It turns out it's pretty damn solid as well. So maybe I'm going to feel equally indifferent by the time 2013 or 2014 rolls around and another ND album is on the way.

Anyway, as it stands right now I would put this on the shortlist of essential albums spanning Napalm's career:

Scum

Utopia Banished

Fear Emptiness Despair

Utilitarian

I'm sure it's blasphemy to leave Harmony Corruption off, but Utopia Banished covers their short-lived pure death metal phase well enough, and I've always preferred it.