Napalm Death / Whiplash / The Varukers / Dopelord – LIVE
Napalm Death / Whiplash / The Varukers / Dopelord
Birmingham O2 Institute
01/03/26
Review by Toby Gravell, Photos by Rob Lindesay @rock.the.lens
A Little Bit Loud, A Tiny Bit Proud
Finalising their ‘Campaign for Musical Destruction’ tour in their hometown, Brummie grindcore pioneers Napalm Death are the headliners of a sort of ‘heavy metal buffet’, that brought Doom and Stoner Metal, Hardcore Punk, Thrash and Grindcore all to the Birmingham O2 Institute tonight.
Dopelord
The first act of the night, Polish doom metal band Dopelord, arrived on stage to a backing track of a psychedelic 1975 Ted Lucas classic, ‘It’s So Nice to Get High’, perfectly setting the tone for the music that was to come. This was my first introduction to Dopelord, and I was very happily surprised as they opened with ‘The Chosen One’ from their latest album, “Songs for Satan.” It’s slow but heavy riffs, and unrelenting, headbang-worthy drums accompanied by lead singer Piotr Zin’s clean, melodic vocals. This very Sabbath-esque opening ensured that tonight would be a night that appreciated the diversity of metal subgenres, and Dopelord received a warm welcome from the Birmingham crowd, a crowd you could feel was itching to break out into a few mosh pits.
https://www.facebook.com/Dopelord666
The Varukers
Next up on the menu was the classic Hardcore Punk quartet, The Varukers, who brought aggressive speed and political messaging that has remained as poignant as it was when the band formed in 1979. With an undeniable stage presence, and almost hypnotic aggression, frontman Anthony ‘Rat’ Martin led the band through their first few numbers of ‘How Do You Sleep’ and ‘Led to The Slaughter’, where the first moshpit of the night broke out. Their classic Punk sound quickly shifts to a much more aggressive Hardcore Punk feel, best seen in their last number of the night, ‘Damned and Defiant’ from their latest album of the same name.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551204827533
Whiplash
The energy that was stirred up by Dopelord, and commanded by The Varukers, was then unleashed when New Jersey Thrash band Whiplash graced the stage. With break-neck speed, the trio wasted no time playing ferocious renditions of their debut album classics, ‘Last Man Alive’, ‘Spit on Your Grave’ and ‘Red Bomb’. Frontman/guitarist Tony Portaro made a statement about the ‘Thrash, Doom, Punk and Grindcore’ platter that we were being treated to, which led to the biggest circle pit of the night so far. This electric energy culminated in their last song of the set, ‘Power Thrashing Death’.
https://www.facebook.com/WhiplashThrash
Napalm Death
Finally, undeniable heavy music scene legends Napalm Death took to the stage, with an unapologetic and contagious energy, opening with ‘Instinct of Survival’ from their debut, 1987 legendary status album “Scum”. Sticking to their Grindcore roots, the band ran through track after track with a ferocity that would put most younger bands to shame. There was a noticeable absence of bassist Shane Embury on this tour, however his substitute, Adam Clarkson, did a great job in his own right. Lead singer and frontman Barney Greenway was as maniacal on stage as ever. With limbs flailing and a growl that has held up for decades now, his energy and infectious command on stage are one of the primary reasons Napalm Death are the live musical force they are today.
The band’s setlist was slightly unforgiving for new fans, to the pleasure of the crowd, who seemed to be mostly long-time fans. The quartet ran through a healthy mix of classics like ‘Scum’ and ‘Suffer the Children’, and new material that, when played live, sent a clear message that the band is as strong creatively as they were 40 years ago. Tracks like ‘Contagion’ and ‘Narcissus’ particularly were highlights of the night for me. Barney’s calm, Brummie accent would often break out to offer some classic British dry and sarcastic humour, with his final request of the crowd to be ‘a little bit loud, a tiny bit proud’ in their shouting of ‘Nazi Punks Fuck Off’, the band’s signature Dead Kennedys cover, which inevitably broke out into circle pit mayhem.
Politically fuelled and historically significant, Napalm Death are as powerful a force within music as ever, and brought a night of heavy music goodness to the city that is recognised as the home of heavy metal.
https://www.facebook.com/officialnapalmdeath
SET LIST:
01. Instinct of Survival
02. Strong-Arm
03. Continuing War on Stupidity
04. Everyday Pox
05. Contagion
06. Plague Rages
07. Narcissus
08. Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism
09. When All Is Said And Done
10. Amoral
11. I Abstain
12. Practice What You Preach
13. Mentally Murdered
14. Dead
15. Suffer the Children
16. Greed Killing
17. Incinerator
18. Scum
19. Moral Crusade
20. You Suffer
21. Nazi Punks Fuck Off (Dead Kennedys cover)
22. Persona Non Grata / Smear Campaign
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Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Toby Gravell and Ever Metal. Photography the property of Robert Lindesay @rock.the.lens. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.