| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    [1] |
| Blabbermouth | 9.5/10[2] |
| Chronicles of Chaos | 9/10[3] |
| The Metal Forge | 9/10[4] |
| Sea of Tranquility | [5] |
Smear Campaign is the twelfth studio album by grindcore band Napalm Death. It was recorded with producer Russ Russell at Foel Studios, Wales, and was released on 15 September 2006. It was released as a regular CD, and as a digipak edition featuring two bonus tracks and a sticker of the cover artwork. Differently coloured versions of the cover art exist.
Shortly before the release, Barney Greenway mentioned that the album features a guest appearance by Anneke van Giersbergen, ex-vocalist for the Dutch rock band The Gathering, saying, "[She] has offered up a few parts to a track, which I've yet to hear. But before some people recoil in horror about Napalm going operatic rock or whatever, this was done for good effect and relevance to the track. It will work. It will rock. I'm sure. And we're grateful to Anneke (who is an awesome vocalist in her own right) in advance for giving it a stab."[6]
Smear Campaign is a concept album criticising religion in general.[7]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Weltschmerz" | Greenway | Harris | 1:27 |
| 2. | "Sink Fast, Let Go" | Greenway | Mitch Harris | 3:22 |
| 3. | "Fatalist" | Greenway | Embury | 2:50 |
| 4. | "Puritanical Punishment Beating" | Greenway | Harris | 3:25 |
| 5. | "When All Is Said and Done" | Embury | Embury | 3:00 |
| 6. | "Freedom Is the Wage of Sin" | Greenway | Harris | 3:08 |
| 7. | "In Deference" | Greenway | Harris | 3:13 |
| 8. | "Short-Lived" | Greenway | Embury | 3:05 |
| 9. | "Identity Crisis" | Greenway | Harris | 2:43 |
| 10. | "Shattered Existence" | Embury | Embury | 3:10 |
| 11. | "Eyes Right Out" | Greenway | Harris | 3:13 |
| 12. | "Warped Beyond Logic" | Greenway | Embury | 1:59 |
| 13. | "Rabid Wolves (For Christ)" | Greenway | Embury | 1:23 |
| 14. | "Deaf and Dumbstruck (Intelligent Design)" | Greenway | Harris | 2:45 |
| 15. | "Persona Non Grata" | Greenway | Embury | 2:46 |
| 16. | "Smear Campaign" | Greenway | Embury | 2:47 |
Personnel
Chart positions
| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| French Albums (SNEP)[8] | 158 |
References
- ^ Prato, Greg. Napalm Death: Smear Campaign > Overview at AllMusic. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
- ^ Bergman, Keith. "Napalm Death 'Smear Campaign'". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
- ^ Smit, Jackie (22 August 2006). "Napalm Death - Smear Campaign". Chronicles of Chaos. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
- ^ Donnelly, Justin (5 October 2006). "Napalm Death - Smear Campaign". The Metal Forge. Sumner, Queensland. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
- ^ Pardo, Pete (21 August 2006). "Napalm Death: Smear Campaign". Sea of Tranquility. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
- ^ Official Napalm Death forum
- ^ "Napalm Death: 'Smear Campaign' Track Listing Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. 24 July 2006. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – Napalm Death – Smear Campaign". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 11, 2014.