Whether or not Napalm Death actually invented grindcore will always be debatable-Siege and Repulsion both have legitimate claims to that frenzied patent of unintelligible vocals and lighting fast blast beats. But with the invaluable help of wildly influential BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel, Napalm were certainly the first to bring extreme music to the masses. Let's just call the Birmingham quintet the most important band in extreme music's two-decade history. Inspiring everyone from Morbid Angel to the Locust along the way, Napalm weren't afraid to adopt influences of their own, evidenced on this two-CD collection capturing the celebrated Brits in all their crushing shapes and sizes.

Although Noise for Music's Sake suffers without material from their post-Earache 21st century revitalization, it still demonstrates just how utterly devastating tracks from their often rebuffed mid-to late '90s "experiential" period really are. Moreover, the mid-paced grooviness of "Hung," "Breed to Breathe" and "Next of Kin to Chaos" all sit comfortably alongside earlier grinders like "Unchallenged Hate" and "Deceiver." Yeah, the stylistic differences are pretty undeniable, but Napalm never compromised an iota of extremity.

The second disc displays the rare stuff, including the only studio recording of "Scum" (from the long out of print North Atlantic Noise Attack compilation) showcasing the "classic" lineup of bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Bill Steer, drummer Mick Harris and vocalist Lee Dorrian and a live version of the Godflesh track "Avalanche/Master Song" featuring Justin Broadrick on guest vocals. But it's Shane Embury's personal bootleg recordings of Napalm from the legendary Birmingham pub The Mermaid in 1986 that are the real gems. Sure, they aren't exactly crystalline but, at the very least, the raw energy present is irrepressible. If you're looking for something more refined, however, get the band's last two studio albums and hear why Napalm remain just as relevant almost 20 years later.