Up next is a band that I would definitely put in my top 10 and more importantly needs to have all their albums on Spotify. The band on the chopping block is Carcass and they are long overdue for a review. They are one of those that if you are into or just getting into death metal need to be on your radar. So here we go…..
Reek of Putrefaction- so I would say what this album is mostly known for is the cover and that is a collage of different body parts and what not. I guess frontman/bassist and guitarist Bill Steer were looking through medical textbooks and thought this was a good idea and it was. Now how’s the album itself? Well, it pretty much sounds like a lot of those old death metal albums production wise. That being said, the talent is definitely there and honestly it’s actually one of the better ones out there and going back now and listening to it I have a better appreciation for it. This is also one of the first albums to combine death metal and grindcore making it one of the first goregrind albums. Overall, not a bad debut album and it gets 8/10
Standouts: Genital Grinder, Pyosisified (Rotten to the Gore), Vomited Anal Tract
Symphonies of Sickness- I feel like this one continues where Reek left off. The production is much better on this one and however the songs are relatively the same here. It’s also the last to really have that goregrind sound on it. On here, the both Ken and Jeff have improved on their instruments and Ken Owen’s drumming is also tighter. Definitely a step up from before and it gets 9/10
Standouts: Exhume to Consume, Slash Dementia, Empathological Necroticism
Necroticism Descanting the Insalubrious- so I feel like this one and Heartwork are people’s favorites. Mine personally is the former but this was my introduction to Carcass and I must say that this is a tough one as to which is my favorite. The production is definitely better on here and they are now moving from the goregrind sound they had on the last 2 albums. I mean there are definitely elements on here that’s for sure but it’s got more of a death metal feel going for it. Most of the songs also start with some sort of medical conference dialogue and then go right into it. This is also the first album to feature Michael Amott on second guitar. So with him on guitar, the songs are also more technical and longer. It’s a great album and is one to definitely listen to. I give this 10/10
Standouts: Inpropagation, Carneous Cacoffiny, Pedigree Butchery
Tools Of The Trade- this is basically an EP that was made between Necroticism and Heartwork. It’s actually found in the deluxe edition of Necroticism but I think you can actually get it separately. It’s only got about 4 songs but they are good songs. I give it 10/10
Standouts: Tools of the Trade
Heartwork- this is it. The one that everyone should know about. The production here is top notch and the band is at the top of their game. Gone is the goregrind sound that was present on the older albums and instead this is a death metal record. This is the album that really got me into these guys and it’s an absolute masterpiece. Sadly, this would be the last album with Michael Amott on second guitar before he goes off to form Arch Enemy. This is one of those albums where I would even say it’s essential listening and it easily gets a 10/10.
Standouts: Carnal Forge, Embodiment, Doctrinal Expletives
Swansong- for the longest time, I had heard that this wasn’t worth listening to because it’s not up to par with the other albums. While yes that is true to some extent, I personally like this one and it did take a few listens to actually appreciate this one. This is the first album without Michael Amott on second guitar and was replaced with Venom guitarist Mike Hickey during the Heartwork tour and for the album Carlo Regadas played second guitar and he does a good job. The album itself is actually a very good death metal record and if you are in fact expecting another Heartwork or Necroticism then you won’t like this album very much. Overall, a very under appreciated record and it gets 8/10
Standouts: Keep one Rotting in The Free World, Blackstar, Childs Play
So before we get to the next album, it should be known that drummer Ken Owen suffered a cerebral hemorrhage which forced him to stop playing drums and before the band released Swansong, they actually broke up. During the post Carcass years, they did other projects and in fact, Owen, Walker, and Regadas formed a short lived band called Blackstar and Bill Steer formed the hard rock band Firebird. Jeff Walker also released a country covers album called Welcome To Carcass Cuntry. In 2007, there were rumors of a Carcass reunion and in 2008, we had a full on reunion with Jeff Walker, Bill Steer, Michael Amott, and Arch Enemy drummer Daniel Erlandsson. Shortly after these reunion shows, Michael and Daniel left to focus on Arch Enemy and the band recruited Aborted drummer Daniel Wilding to make a new album and in 2013, we got….
Surgical Steel- to say that this is album is overdue is an understatement. Unlike some bands who wait long periods of time to release new material and it turns out crappy, Carcass prove that they still got it. This is a great album and I would definitely put it up there with an album like Heartwork. Now it could be that they are trying to make an album that makes you appreciate their older works while staying modern but whatever the case may be, this is a great album and is the perfect follow up to Swansong. I will say that the second half of the album does tend to be a little bit on the melodic side but overall, this is a great album. I give this one 10/10
Standouts: Thrasher’s Abbatoir, Captive Bolt Pistol, Cadaver Pouch Conveyor System
Surgical Remission/Surplus Steel- another EP which basically contains left over songs from Surgical Steel. Overall, the five songs aren’t bad but I can see why they were left off the main album. I will say though that this is a great accompaniment to Surgical Steel and while this isn’t a must have EP like Tools of the Trade, it’s still pretty good. It gets a strong 7/10
Standouts: Zochrot, A Wraith in the Apparatus
This is a review that was long overdue. Going back and listening to their older albums I can definitely appreciate them more than before. Jeff Walker has a very unique voice in death metal and Bill Steer is a very underrated guitar player. I was actually lucky to see their 2008/09 reunion with Jeff, Bill, Michael, and Daniel and the first one at the House of Blues Sunset was easily one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. I even got picks from Jeff, Michael, and Bill. I would highly recommend you going to see these guys live because they definitely bring it.
Final Grade: A
Album Rankings:
- Heartwork
- Necroticism Descanting the Insalubrious
- Surgical Steel
- Tools of the Trade
- Swansong
- Symphonies of Sickness
- Reek of Putrefaction
- Surgical Remission/Surplus Steel
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