Released between the grinding fury of Utopia Banishedand the more experimental, industrial Diatribes, Fear, Emptiness, Despair is something of a transitional album for Birmingham grindcore pioneers Napalm Death, with the fast-paced blur of their earlier material beginning to give way to a sludgier and groovier approach that they'd explore further on records like Inside The Torn Apart and Words From The Exit Wounds. Fear, Emptiness, Despair shouldn't be overlooked as a mere stepping stone, however. It's an important part of the band's evolution, and creates a dark, ominous atmosphere that's unlike anything else in their discography. Threatening mid-paced stompers like "Hung" seemingly owe more to Helmet than they do Siege, proving what a versatile and dynamic band Napalm Death truly are.
CD from Earache Records.