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<\/p>\nGrindcore legends Napalm Death, quite possibly the best band in the world, returned to Japan for another win.<\/p>\n
Extreme the Dojo with Napalm Death, Merzbow and Growl of Clown at Club Quattro, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan on 27th April 2026<\/p>\n
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The choice of Growl of Clown, a young Mongolian deathcore band, as the opening act, is very Napalm Death. Giving interesting emerging bands a chance is something that Napalm Death is known for. I didn\u2019t know what to expect, but meeting the Mongolian lads backstage before the gig, I knew the members of this unsigned band were going to make the most of this opportunity. Once on stage, they didn\u2019t disappoint. The band, formed on a rural Mongolian cattle farm in 2014, performs modern, hard-hitting deathcore. They certainly won some new Japanese fans with this show.<\/p>\n
Merzbow, a.k.a. Masami Akita, is a Japanese straight-edge legend in the harsh noise rock space. At an ear-shattering volume, Merzbow, dressed in a bucket hat and a Defiled t-shirt, created a lot of noise when he took over the stage. While not exactly my cup of tea, the Merzbow set was certainly an interesting and loud experience.<\/p>\n
Minutes before the mighty British grindcore masters Napalm Death hit the stage, I asked Barney Greenway backstage if he had done his vocal warm-up. \u201cNah, I don\u2019t need it. It doesn\u2019t do anything for me\u201d, came the answer.<\/p>\n
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When it was time for Napalm Death to kick off, the audience was more than ready. Napalm Death, quite possibly the best band in the world, always delivers, especially in Japan. This time was no different. The band\u2019s longest-serving member, bassist and songwriter Shane Embury, was back on stage with the band for the first time in a year. He was ready. The audience was ready. Japan is like a second home to Shane, who has a Japanese wife and two kids. He wasn\u2019t going to miss these Japanese shows, no matter what. He walked on stage to the audience\u2019s cheer. They love this band and they certainly love Shane. Seeing him back on stage performing with his band mates Barney Greenway on vocals, John Cooke on guitar and Danny Herrera on drums was such a delight.<\/p>\n
Napalm opened strongly with \u201cInstinct of Survival\u201d from the band\u2019s 1987 debut album \u201cScum\u201d. The fabulous setlist also featured songs such as \u201cNarcissus\u201d, \u201cAmoral\u201d, \u201cPractice What You Preach\u201d, \u201cMentally Murdered\u201d and \u201cSuffer the Children\u201d. \u201cMoral Crusade\u201d is back in the setlist for this tour for the first time since the late \u201880s.<\/p>\n
Throughout the gig, Barney ran back and forth across the stage in his trademark restless routine. This excellent Napalm Death show also included two cover songs: Dead Kennedys\u2019 \u201cNazi Punks Fuck Off\u201d and the less obvious but excellent choice \u201cIncinerator\u201d by Canadian punk band Slaughter.<\/p>\n
Before it was all over, we, obviously, also got treated to \u201cScum\u201d and \u201cYou Suffer\u201d. Napalm Death finished off a terrific show with \u201cPersona Non Grata\u201d and \u201cSmear Campaign\u201d. This band always delivers. It was so good to see Shane Embury back on stage with them.<\/p>\n
Hail the wonderful and charming chaos that is Napalm Death.<\/p>\n
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https:\/\/www.napalmdeath.org<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/officialnapalmdeath<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/theofficialnapalmdeath<\/a><\/p>\n