Out of the many admirable traits still lingering in the heart of UK's grindcore overlords, the passion in these tracks stands out the most. The technical proficiency and breakneck paces of the band still work to keep the blood pumping, and Barney, a top-tier vocalist with some of the most unique barks ever put down on tape, sounds excellent as always. Most of "Apex Predator - Easy Meat" falls directly under the grindcore blanket Napalm Death spent the last thirty-five years weaving with blast beats and fury. Some of these songs are surprisingly enjoyable, namely the early burst of the catchy "Smash a Single Digit" and the complex sequences of "Metaphorically Screw You." Familiar territory, but far from redundant, even for a band that has an ungodly amount of unique cuts penned at this point. Traditional Napalm Death fare has yet to expire from spoilage.

Some of these songs, however, naturally fall flat from the retracing act. Bits and pieces of the record's second half especially go in one ear and out the other without making too much of an impression. This, again, is due to having such an extensive catalog in the grindcore niche; they've done some of this stuff before. Not horrible tunes, but certainly limited. I find myself enjoying the odd ones here, specifically the eerie, crawling riffs of "Dear Slum Landlord," a track similar to "Morale" and other slow ones. "Hierarchies" is another keeper, probing a mid-paced route and finished off by a rare guitar solo and a chant-like chorus. "Adversarial / Copulating Snakes" ends the album in monstrous fashion, as the screamed vocals and twisting riffs make it a solid way to shut the whole thing down.