Grindcore ground zero at its filthiest. Nearly 40 years on, few heavy classics remain as elementally atomizing as Napalm Death’s blast-obliterated debut LP, Scum. While comprising vastly different line-ups on each side of the record — snare-exploding founding skinsman Mick Harris is the only constant — Scum set the ground rules for one of the U.K.’s most prolific and beloved extreme outfits. Featuring 3-second juggernaut “You Suffer,” the record instilled that Napalm’s beats would be blindingly fast, the fuzz would be corrosive, and the lyrics would foment with political fury. Sporting future members of Godflesh, Cathedral and more, it’s likewise an early peek at some other greatness to come.
Vinyl from Earache Records.