Napalm Death Premiere New Song “Backlash Just Because”

Napalm Death have debuted “Backlash Just Because,” the first single from their forthcoming Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism. Although frontman Barney Greenway recently said that the album finds the band “heading into the noise-rock territory, loosely,” that’s not especially evident from this track. What is especially evident from this track, however, is that Napalm Death can still kick you ass into next month.

Says Greenway of “Backlash Just Because”:

“This song in particular really spurred me on when I was writing lyrics for the album overall. It’s raucous and traditional, but also quirky and discordant and ultimately catchy-as-anything in the context of rampaging noise. Lyrically it was directed at the spiteful art of creating easy targets and fomenting paranoia and revulsion, which is something that I feel has become de rigueur in very recent times. I really let loose on the more sporadic vocals at the end of the song – it’s a real barkfest at that point. Lovely.”

Interestingly, the press release, once again, makes no mention of guitarist Mitch Harris, who announced a hiatus from the group in 2014 “Due to illness within his family.” So we still dunno who’s playing the guitar here. I can’t for the life of me figure out why this information is being downplayed (if not outright withheld), but sooner or later, they’re gonna have to address the guitarist’s absence… won’t they?

Ponder than as you check out out “Backlash Just Because” below. Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism comes out September 18 on Century Media. Pre-order it here.