Name: Napalm Death
Album: Utopia Banished
Released: 18 May 1992
The other day I was sitting and listening to this incredible record, and somehow a spiral of thoughts began, centered on myself and my circle of acquaintances. The reflection that emerged concerned the outlook held by many people around my age, close to forty or slightly above, without this limiting the scope, since many older people behave in the same way, as do quite a few younger ones. This is particularly noticeable in the country we live in, and that matters, because those who have lived abroad do not share the same frames of reference and therefore have a different picture of everyday life here, which I believe acts as the catalyst for what I want to address.
Within this age range, I observe many angry people, or rather a mixture of anger, disappointment, and indignation, which in my view is driven by the exhaustion they experience across many areas, economic, emotional, and so on. Of course, the human psyche is not a simple matter, nor is it easily defined, and the line of thought I am describing concerns a specific manifestation and is obviously based on subjective criteria.
Many people in my surroundings express in an intense manner an opposition, not unfounded but largely tense, voicing their annoyance at all these agendas that are being pushed nowadays. This has always happened, but it is now more obvious, which leads to more frequent and louder reactions. I am referring to issues of artistic expression and to what extent, according to the criteria of the people I am describing, these creations are now targeted and no longer characterized by freedom, but by the servicing of an agenda, whether it is called woke, feminism, or whatever else. The majority here are men, as is the writer, although I do not count myself among those who are ready to explode over what they perceive as injustice in art and in the world at large.
Indeed, there are many examples where the industry, whether film, television, video games, book and comic publishing, or music, promotes elements that are so poorly integrated, so clumsy and artless, that the end result feels like a checklist rather than a coherent work. By this I mean that when something is created, it should first stem from the necessity of the act itself and only afterward from anything else. This opens up a much broader discussion, so I will not pursue it further here.
However, it is not only these products that are offered to the recipient, the consumer, call them what you will. There is a great deal of material out there that does not adhere to these shortcomings, and I can say with certainty that it is the majority, even if it does not enjoy the promotion it deserves. This is not to say that there are no commercial successes that are not standardized, canned products serving interests. With this in mind, the aforementioned indignation is not entirely justified, yet in trying to explain its existence I arrive at conclusions that are, unfortunately, rather bleak.
This opposition, then, may stem from a personal grievance, from a sense of injustice that has less to do with the works themselves and more with why these individuals did not fulfill certain personal desires. This is especially true of those who actually tried to realize their expectations, and I say expectations in the past tense because, usually, particularly after a certain age, most people abandon their hobbies, either because life and responsibilities force them to, or because what they expected to receive, most likely recognition, never came, at least not in the form they had imagined. In this way, they externalize their anger in that direction, not unjustly, I repeat, because any attempt to restrict or externally distort creation is, in my opinion, condemnable, and certainly all works that conform to such constraints are also worthy of criticism.
That is why I wonder, in this extended introductory part of the text, since I have not yet said a word about the Napalm Death record, whether it would be wiser to seek what lies behind what irritates us rather than to focus on what is immediately visible. What is hidden usually causes more serious problems, because what is visible is at least easier to understand. Even the counterargument that these things are no longer hidden but thrown in our faces still involves concealment, as they present a false truth, no matter how much they try to frame it as something else. It is false because, if it were reality, it would express the majority and not just a segment. It is important not to confuse passing trends, which come and go, with what holds true over the long term. Most things in life move in cycles, some arrive and some depart, and what remains is us, changed or altered or, to some extent, the same, and when we are gone, others will replace us.
Everything begins with the self, and what lies beyond follows. It is like fighting the waves of the ocean, no matter what you do, you will not change the storm. You can wait for it to subside, and if you have nothing to hold on to until that happens, then all that remains is to accept it as a condition and, at the first opportunity, through actions rather than words, shouting, or displays of anger, show the world, with whatever means you have, always within the law, what you have to offer as a counterargument, not as outbursts of temper.
Why did I choose this record to say all of the above? I did not choose it exactly; listening to it simply triggered these thoughts, which I then tried to put in order and express here. Nevertheless, thematically it revolves around notions of social alienation and oppression. Through the lyrics, the discomfort of this modern way of life becomes apparent, and it remains strikingly relevant even today, despite being a work that is more than two decades old. If I had to summarize its content in a single sentence, I would say that it explores the division that arises through certain mechanisms of society. The word division, I am certain, is one of the most important concepts we must take seriously if we want to preserve our humanity. Unfortunately, there are many well-laid traps out there that mislead and distract, and instead of remaining united we look for ways to accuse and judge, as if that alone could solve a problem. Questioning, a defining trait of Western civilization, bears fruit only after understanding has taken place, after data have been cross-checked, after you have spent time with yourself seeking perspectives on whatever issue concerns you from various sources, and after you have studied history. I believe the conclusion one reaches in this way is far more substantial than pointing fingers and believing that someone is forcing you to consume something you do not want, especially in the arts, where it is even simpler. If something does not resonate with you, you move on. It is not for you; it is for someone else. Surely, out there, you will find something you like.
Utopia Banished, like so many other Napalm Death albums, through the power it emits, both musically and lyrically, always leads me to introspection and questioning, and that is a gift I cannot fail to appreciate. I feel deep gratitude for the presence of this band in my life. I understand how difficult it can be for someone who does not listen to this kind of music, grindcore with death metal foundations, but for anyone who is generally curious and happens not to have engaged with it, I would suggest not overlooking it.
If you truly love music, do not rely solely on streaming.
Whenever your finances allow it, offer your support and purchase an album.
It matters.
Favorite Song: Idiosyncratic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag0bkYvmdaA&t=1423s
https://napalmdeath.bandcamp.com/album/utopia-banished-remastered
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