What is impressive about “The Code Is Red…Long Live The Code” isn’t that it’s a ground breaking release, but that it’s a well executed punishing one and after umpteen releases, that’s really all that NAPALM DEATH needs to do.

Throughout their lengthy career, NAPALM DEATH have been through a variety of musical changes, evolving from a pure Grind band into to a Death Metal band and even some weird Death Metal lite for a couple of records (which didn’t exactly work for the most part) and then back to a more Grind encrusted sound for the last few albums. On this one, NAPALM DEATH have started to lean back towards a more Death Metal influenced sound, but with enough Grind thrown in to keep everyone happy.

The whole disc is a treat from beginning to end, with just one passable part on “The Great And The Good”, but tracks like “Diplomatic Immunity”, “All Hail The Grey Dawn” and the title track will ensure that this disc winds up in heavy rotation in your playlist.

After nearly two decades of churning out some of the world’s most aggressive music, it’s refreshing to see that the band can do so without missing a beat, when so many other bands lose all relevance so easily. (Online April 29, 2005)