NAPALM DEATH: 20th Anniversary Edition Of' Scum' To See Light Of Day Next Year

Earache Records has confirmed reports that it will be issuing a "20th anniversary" edition of NAPALM DEATH's "Scum" album. According to Earache head honcho Digby Pearson, the reissue will include "a full remaster job and an exclusive bonus DVD with interviews with Nik [Bullen], Mick [Harris] and Justin [Broadrick] — yet to be filmed — getting their thoughts on the 20th anniversary of the recording of 'Scum'. Should be a good way to re-introduce a new generation to the legendary album that kick-started extreme music and coined the grindcore genre. Look for it early 2007."

In a recent interview with Sweden's CriticalMass.se webzine, NAPALM DEATH bassist Shane Embury commented on the upcoming reissue, stating, "Our old drummer Mick Harris sent me a text message the other week saying that he'd refused to take part in it. I'm not sure why they're doing it, but it seems Earache are repackaging and re-releasing old albums left, right and center these days.

"I've been doing some stuff with Jeff [Walker] from CARCASS lately, and he's been going through a real nightmare trying to get paid and Earache's still reissuing their old albums. It's ridiculous. So it doesn't really suprise me that they're trying to do a DVD for 'Scum'. What surprises me a bit though is that I haven't been contacted about it. I was there when they recorded it, you know — being friends with them and a big fan before I even joined — and I'm probably the only one who can really remember what really happened, too. There's no reason why they should or shouldn't do a DVD, but I don't know who else they could get to do it now that Mick's refusing. Maybe Lee [Dorrian] would do it, I don't know. But whatever, I think it's still kind of bullshit to do that. I guess it would be cool in a documentary sense of the word, it would be cool if they did out of the love and respect for the album, but I just know it's just about making some extra money to keep the label alive. I mean, how many times is he gonna do this reissuing shit? If he'd been cool to his bands in the first place he might not have to resort to this kind of stuff anyway. He can say whatever he wants — things like that the last few NAPALM DEATH albums didn't do that well, which may be true. But still, towards the end, he'd long since lost sight of it all and become greedy and didn't give any of the old bands the support they deserved. So it doesn't surprise me really."