About this album
Where they were
Released on July 1, 1987, 'Scum' is Napalm Death's debut album, marking the beginning of their influential career in the grindcore genre. At this point, the band was transitioning from their early hardcore punk roots into a more aggressive sound that would define extreme metal. The album helped establish Napalm Death as a pioneering force in both grindcore and death metal scenes.
Why it matters
'Scum' is often regarded as one of the first grindcore albums, influencing countless bands and shaping the direction of extreme music. The track 'You Suffer' famously holds the Guinness World Record for the shortest song ever recorded, highlighting the band's avant-garde approach to song structure and brevity. The album's raw production and political themes resonated with fans, earning critical acclaim and solidifying its place in metal history.
Essential tracks
- "You Suffer" — Clocking in at just four seconds, 'You Suffer' epitomizes the band's ethos of brevity and intensity, becoming an iconic piece of music history.
- "Multinational Corporations" — This track critiques corporate greed with unrelenting speed and aggression, setting a tone for the political commentary throughout the album.
- "Scum" — 'Scum' showcases the band’s signature blend of speed and heaviness, encapsulating their innovative grindcore sound and lyrical themes.
- "Instinct of Survival" — With its relentless pace and visceral lyrics, this track highlights the band's focus on survival instincts in a harsh world.
Release Date
July 1, 1987
Artist Origin
United Kingdom
Tracklist
- 1 Multinational Corporations 1:06
- 2 Instinct of Survival 2:26
- 3 The Kill 0:22
- 4 Scum 2:38
- 5 Caught… in a Dream 1:47
- 6 Polluted Minds 0:58
- 7 Sacrificed 1:06
- 8 Siege of Power 3:59
- 9 Control 1:23
- 10 Born on Your Knees 1:48
- 11 Human Garbage 1:32
- 12 You Suffer 0:04
- 13 Life? 0:43
- 14 Prison Without Walls 0:38
- 15 Point of No Return 0:34
- 16 Negative Approach 0:32
- 17 Success? 1:08
- 18 Deceiver 0:28
- 19 C.S. 1:14
- 20 Parasites 0:23
- 21 Pseudo Youth 0:41
- 22 Divine Death 1:20
- 23 As the Machine Rolls On 0:42
- 24 Common Enemy 0:16
- 25 Moral Crusade 1:32
- 26 Stigmatised 1:03
- 27 M.A.D. 1:36
- 28 Dragnet 1:01