Carcass - Surgical Steel

(CD Album Review)

*****
The Daddies of Death Metal return!

I don't live in the past, I believe whatever the genre be it Pop, Hip Hop or Grindcore it doesn't matter. I believe some of the best music ever made is being made now. The problem lies with those at the top marketing what is easy to sell. In a time were so many mediocre supposed Death Metal bands are catapulted to the fore front for nothing. With this Carcass who left such a legacy in 1996 have returned with this pride obliterating bitch slap of an album.

The five albums Carcass made during their original incarnation we're all so different yet all had that Carcass sound. From the Grindcore milestone 'Reek of Putrefaction' to the Melodic Death Metal classics 'Necroticism - Descanting the Insalubrious' and 'Heartwork' to the Rock album 'Swansong' when listened to in order and with hindsight one can see the evolution and the common thread that runs through those albums.

With 'Surgical Steel' you see the band coming full circle and combining everything great about those albums and loosing anything that didn't quite work. Everything that people love this band for is here tenfold.

It's like the album has three beginnings. Opening with a melodic Instrumental '1985' then straight into the balls out Grind of 'Thrashers Abattoir' Carcass are back, it's like they never left. Then in under two minutes we arrive at 'Cadaver pouch Conveyor System' which is vintage Carcass.

It's Death Metal at it's purist, full of riffs, time changes and leads that Thin Lizzy would love to have written. That's what so great about Carcass they have just as much in common with Budgie as they do Napalm Death. If you are in a Metal band just listen to the first fourty seconds of "noncompliance..." then the way they lead into the verse and you will want to give up! New drummer Dan Wilding (Trigger the Bloodshed, The Order of Apollyon) fits perfectly the bands new line-up.

Considering they could have picked pretty much any Metal drummer in the world he had a pretty daunting task but he has the Carcass style nailed and is all over the kit. All the guitar is handled by Bill Steer showing just what an under rated guitarist he is.

Anyone who thought the band couldn't match their past glory without Michael Amott can consider themselves well and truly silenced. The almighty Jeff Walker sounds as venomous as ever you only have to read the lyrics of 'Thrashers Abattoir' to see he hasn't lost his black humor either. The album sounds awesome but with production from Colin Richardson and the album being mixed by Andy Sneap what more would you expect?

From the beginning to the end the album is just awesome. It's varied, full of hooks and chorus' and full of instant classics. I recently watched a ninety minute live set and I hardly noticed the difference when they played a track from this album. The songs gel with the old classics effortlessly.

Jeff Walker said in an interview on the reunion that Carcass shouldn't have to reform "young bands should be blowing old farts like us away" in his cynical way but he has a point for a band to release nothing for seventeen years then drop this and end up straight back on the top of the pile says a lot. As I've said on other albums I rate this high it's everything I want from a modern metal album. Just get it! Welcome back Carcass. Keep on Rotting!

Review by Joe Denby