The fathers of grindcore, Napalm Death pushed the envelope of metal to new extremes of ear-splitting intensity, rejecting all notions of subtlety to forge a brand of sonic assault almost frightening in its merciless brutality. Formed in 1981, they trafficked in the usual heavy metal fare for the first few years of their existence, but by the mid-'80s they began to expand their horizons, incorporating elements of hardcore and thrash into the mix, culminating in the release of 1992's acclaimed Utopia Banished. More influences crept in as the years progressed, with career-defining efforts like Utilitarian (2012), Apex Predator: Easy Meat (2018), and Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism (2020), embracing crust-punk, noise-rock, and industrial and death metal, adding nuance to the group's eye-opening sociopolitical lyrical commentary.