Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 13/9/2013
Label: Nuclear
Blast
“Surgical Steel” CD//DD//LP track
listing:
1). 1985 (1:15)
2). Thrasher's Abattoir (1:50)
3). Cadaver Pouch Conveyor System (4:020
4). A Congealed Clot Of Blood (4:13)
5). The Master Butcher's Apron (4:00)
6). Noncompliance to ASTM F 899-12 Standard (6:06)
7). The Granulating Dark Satanic Mills (4:10)
8). Unfit For Human Consumption (4:24)
9). 316 L Grade Surgical Steel (5:20)
10). Captive Bolt Pistol (3:16)
11). Mount Of Execution (8:25)
The Review:
Carcass returned to the stage
over half a decade ago now, but this album is the first of their studio efforts
since Messrs Steer and Walker were musically reunited. The last record that
Carcass (with original drummer Ken Owen) put out was” Swansong” way back in the mid 90's. I remember being distinctly
underwhelmed by it at the time and the benefit of distance has not really
improved it. What preceded it, though, were two of the finest albums in metal's
history. Both “Heartwork” and “Necroticism...” were bona fide
classics.
I
had a copied tape of “Heartwork”
shortly after its release in 1993, probably the first extreme metal album I
ever heard- unless you count “Chaos AD”-
and was blown away. In many ways, it can actually be said to have changed my
life. Never before had I heard vocals that harsh or beats that fast. Naturally,
I heard their earlier works in the months and years that followed and although
I enjoyed “Necroticism...” hugely
and “Reek...” and “Symphonies...” to a lesser extent, they
never truly compared to “Heartwork.”
(For me, I know others would disagree). That album was, and is, a monument to
power, huge sounds, harsh vocals... and melody. Indeed, while there were
progressive bands around in the death metal genre at the time (Death!
Cynic! and, er, other lesser known bands) melodic refrains would not really
come to the fore until maybe “Slaughter
of The Soul” a couple of years later.
The
point of this lengthy introduction is to state that Carcass are one of the most
influential death metal bands of all time due to their pushing the boundaries
of the genre in several ways: more melodic, more brutal, better songs, superb
production and so on. The question is, then, does this album cut it? The answer
is a resounding yes. For that we can all breathe a sigh of relief; too many
times “reunion” records have been abysmal failures/boring re-treads. We get
Colin Richardson producing again and he does a sterling job. Crystal
clear sounds; no click tracks no “computers playing what the musicians cannot”
that creep into a LOT of death metal and
deathcore these days. The band themselves were explicit about this, apparently,
and it shows as the playing is sublime and precise yet organic at the same
time.
Those
worried about Steer having played in the southern fried Firebird for the last few years
need not worry; this is very much Steer's album and he absolutely excels
himself. The leads are melodic and shredding by turns, the riffs are both
bludgeoning and razor sharp. The fire he displays here is just awe inspiring. A
legend living up to the legend. A rare thing indeed. Walker
“1985” opens proceedings with a
wistful instrumental guitar piece before “Thrasher's Abattoir” kicks
things into top gear and rips open your ears. “Cadaver Pouch Conveyor System2
follows with more brutality; “A Congealed Clot of Blood” carries
on the trend and is then followed by the complex and catchy (!) “The
Master Butcher's Apron”. The halfway point of “Non Compliance to ASTM F
899-12 Standard” keeps incomprehensible song titles alive while the
tempos shift and melodic leads abound. It is easy to see that the album is
indeed one of two halves; an opening shock and awe and then a search and
destroy mission, if you like or brutality followed by more measured material,
if you prefer.
“The
Granulating Dark Satanic Mills” is a towering Walker
"Unfit
for Human Consumption" has riffs to burn and brings in rhythms
definitely harking back to those halcyon days of the early 90's; atrabilious chimneys,
anyone?! The fret work is brilliant here; complex but not cluttered, the time
changes unpredictable, the leads soaring. “3161 Grade Surgical Steel” provides
a title track of sorts and doesn't disappoint. The rhythms are unusual, the
vocals oddly catchy and the whole effect is heavy but with a sense of light and
shade... oh Carcass,
how we have missed thee.
“Captive
Bolt Pistol”
(released
prior to the rest of the album) fires out of the chamber with thrash pacing
that gives way to grinding blasts and switches back and forth. As a
straightforward representation of what Carcass do it works very well indeed. Great
bass drum work (particularly as no click is being used).
“Mount
of Execution”
is the
last official album track (the special edition features one more) and starts
with acoustic guitars and then an intro of wistful sounds. The main refrain is
strong too; melodic and half stepping like Zeppelin or Metallica (first four).
For
people who want more pick up the special edition as you get the bonus “Intensive
Battery Brooding”. It is of no
lesser quality than the rest of the album but is slightly different in tempos
and approach (even the vocal line is a little different). In this regard you
can see/hear why it is not part of the album proper. I view this as a nice
collectible that is well worth having. Two decades have passed since the last
worthwhile Carcass
album; why not spend an extra pound or two for a snazzy digipack and an extra
track?
Speaking
of which, it is interesting that the band thank “anyone who bought a physical
copy” of the album. I am one of those dinosaurs; buying it at an ACTUAL SHOP,
no less, and forking out the extra £1 for the special edition. The artwork is
excellent, harking back to the 1992 (I think) “Tools of The Trade2 EP. Like the music contained herein the sleeve
is shiny, sinister and thoroughly modern looking... or should I say classic?!
Overall,
I could not have expected any more from this record: it combines what I love
about “Heartwork” and “Necroticism...” in particular. The song
writing, musicianship and production are all there. I should mention here that
on reading the liner notes I see that the record was engineered by a certain
Carl Bown at Treehouse
Studios, Derbyshire. I played in a death metal band with Carl back
in the mid to late 90's in Humberside. I have not seen Carl since 1997 (!) but
were I to run into him tomorrow I would ask him about this record, as I would
love to hear about the process of making it. All of us in the band were Carcass
fans and the fact that all those involved are still involved in music in one
way or another speaks volumes about the quality of our inspirations.
Only
the greatest of bands inspire others to pick up instruments and start making
music and playing gigs. In this regard, Carcass are death metal royalty. A British
band that transcended a DIY scene to inspire musicians around the world with a
unique progression of their chosen genre. Peerless then, peerless now.
“Surgical Steel” is available to buy here
