Day 94
Band Origin: Liverpool, England
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Label: Earache Records / Columbia
Running Time: 42 minutes
Release Date: October 18, 1993
Best Part: That dark atmospheric groove.
Favorite Tracks: Carnal Forge, Heartwork, Doctrinal Expletives, Buried Dreams, Arbeit Macht Fleisch, and Blind Bleeding the Blind
Grade: 5.0
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Heartwork in way more than 20 words or less:
Carcass' fourth full-length release was not only their best production, but a defining moment for a band that had already helped pioneer one genre, and would now help pioneer one of metal's most distinguished genres.
The Band:
Carcass is a four member metal band from Liverpool who have the distinction of not only helping to pioneer one, but two genres of metal. Formed in 1985, Carcass' earliest work served as a pioneering force in grindcore but also more specifically of goregrind because of they're gruesomely morbid lyrics and artwork on Reek of Putrefaction and Symphonies of Sickness. It was on their second album where Bill Steer, Jeff Walker and Ken Owen would move ever slowly from grindcore to using elements more characteristic of death metal. With the addition of Michael Amott in 1990, the band would go on to release their third album and at that point essentially forgo the grincore formula for that of death metal. But the biggest change was release of 1993's Heartwork, which no longer featured Steer's deep vocals but only the screams of Walker and had a stronger emphasis on layered guitar work. In 1995 Carcass disbanded following mounting problems with their record label causing delays to their fifth album which was ironically called Swansong. In 2007 Walker, Steer and Amott would reunite and together with drummer Daniel Erlandsson would go on to play a number of festival dates between 2007 and 2010, as well as re-issuing their entire catalog in 2008.
Carcass is a four member metal band from Liverpool who have the distinction of not only helping to pioneer one, but two genres of metal. Formed in 1985, Carcass' earliest work served as a pioneering force in grindcore but also more specifically of goregrind because of they're gruesomely morbid lyrics and artwork on Reek of Putrefaction and Symphonies of Sickness. It was on their second album where Bill Steer, Jeff Walker and Ken Owen would move ever slowly from grindcore to using elements more characteristic of death metal. With the addition of Michael Amott in 1990, the band would go on to release their third album and at that point essentially forgo the grincore formula for that of death metal. But the biggest change was release of 1993's Heartwork, which no longer featured Steer's deep vocals but only the screams of Walker and had a stronger emphasis on layered guitar work. In 1995 Carcass disbanded following mounting problems with their record label causing delays to their fifth album which was ironically called Swansong. In 2007 Walker, Steer and Amott would reunite and together with drummer Daniel Erlandsson would go on to play a number of festival dates between 2007 and 2010, as well as re-issuing their entire catalog in 2008.
Jay's Take on Heartwork:
Playing an influential role in the evolution of a genre is enough of a distinction for any band, but to be at the heart (no pun intended) of two within such a short span of time is a testament to the staying power of Carcass throughout the years. Heartwork was a defining step in Carcass' evolution as a band and would grow to become one of the pioneering albums in melodic death metal alongside The Gallery by Dark Tranquility, The Jester Race by In Flames and Slaughter of the Soul by At The Gates. While many attribute the rise of melodeath and its standard elements to be most congruent with the albums to come out of Gothenburg, Heartwork was released nearly two years prior to the trio of seminal works from Sweden and encompasses many of the same elements that put it in the same class. The elimination of the early grindcore formula that the band had built in the late eighties came slowly over the course of their first three records, with slow shifts towards a more death metal oriented style. The end result of these changes was a sound that relied heavily on the layered guitar work built entirely by Steer which began to take root on Necroticism, and the vocal focus on Walker's raspy screams. Heartwork took the melodic elements of Necroticism and pushed them to the next level. Steer and Amott's guitars filling tracks that are iconic of the dual lead guitar style in melodic death metal, Owen's steady and still technical drum work filling out the remainder of the background, and Walker's vocal work inspiring many a young metal enthusiast to scream until they spit up blood the next morning trying to imitate those hoarse, raspy screams. This is an album that is a must have in the collection of any death metal fan - or anyone that considers themselves a metalhead to begin with.
Sample of the Day:
A little loving for Single's Awareness Day, the title track and the tracks Carnal Forge.
- J
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