Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 09.08.2013 at 13:39
Death... The Brutal Way was their reunion album and not Deathhamer

Oh, I knew that! It's just that I find Deathhammer to be a slightly better album. ...The Brutal Way is a good album too though.

Written by X-Ray Rod on 08.08.2013 at 21:54

Written by Angelic Storm on 08.08.2013 at 21:46
But it's definitely one of the best reunion albums from a classic metal band that I've ever heard. Tempo Of The Damned is the only other one I can think of off-hand where an old band has reunited for a new album, and it deserves a place amongst their classic material.

Asphyx and Autopsy would like a chat with you.
Then again, Autopsy's album was too long, their real return to force is the latest one!

I suppose that you haven't heard the new Gorguts.

Written by D. Monique on 13.08.2013 at 12:59
I suppose that you haven't heard the new Gorguts.

Never really cared about them... but I'll re-check their older stuff as well as the latest.

Written by X-Ray Rod on 13.08.2013 at 13:23

Never really cared about them... but I'll re-check their older stuff as well as the latest.

Maybe you should start with the new album. I think it's a bit more accessible than Obscura (probably their best release) but more interesting than their early stuff. I have heard only the leaked version of the new album but I will definitely buy the original CD as soon as it is officially released.

Relistened the album a couple of times again. Although the music is quite okay (not great though) it sounds too sterile and is missing the sharp and rough edges which it needs to e better.

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 15.08.2013 at 03:51

Relistened the album a couple of times again. Although the music is quite okay (not great though) it sounds too sterile and is missing the sharp and rough edges which it needs to e better.

You and your sharp edges

Written by Daniell on 27.08.2013 at 12:12

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 15.08.2013 at 03:51

Relistened the album a couple of times again. Although the music is quite okay (not great though) it sounds too sterile and is missing the sharp and rough edges which it needs to e better.

You and your sharp edges

So many puns

Just heard the album for the first time. It would be fair to say that my jimmies are rustled.

Written by musicalkaratekid on 01.09.2013 at 15:21

Just heard the album for the first time. It would be fair to say that my jimmies are rustled.

Carcass tends to do such things to one's jimmies.

Fucking great album! Been looking for a favourite 2013 album, just found it.

I've been meaning to get into Carcass' work sometime, I should check this out!

Album streaming.

As comback album wery powerful. Might be hight in the ranks, pity it will be ovareted of fan boys, but stil deacent DM peace, seems band knows what they are doing,

Yeah not as impressive as I was expecting. The single they released was really good but so far the others tracks aren't living up to it, and a lot is lost in that shiny production.

Written by Guest on 07.09.2013 at 23:04

... and a lot is lost in that shiny production.

Don't let Daniell read that part But I totally agree with you. That shiny production took away the edge/

Production is a little pale, but it's a minor error in an otherwise prime cut album.

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 07.09.2013 at 23:51


Don't let Daniell read that part But I totally agree with you. That shiny production took away the edge/

I almost let it go in that song they released, but everything is so forward in and in your face that any depth a more organic production job could, and should, have had is lost pretty quickly. It's just flat.

Tracks 6 and 9 are my favourites from this. A solid album overall.

Written by Guest on 08.09.2013 at 01:00

Production is a little pale, but it's a minor error in an otherwise prime cut album.

Yep... Could the production be better? Absolutely. However, musically the album is very strong, and the production definitely isn't weak enough to seriously hamper the listening experience. Different types of metal suits different types of production, and seeing as Surgical Steel is like an amalgamation of all the different sonic aspects of Carcass' past, producing it in a way that would enhance the whole variety of it's sonic qualities would be very difficult. It's the more aggressive, grind-like parts which suffers the most with this type of production, but those parts only make up maybe 15%-20% of the music on the album, which is why I don't find the production to be hugely detrimental to the album.

Ideally, the album would have a sound similar to that of Necroticism, where the production is clear and dynamic enough for the proggy and more melodic parts not to sound buried, but has just enough of a raw edge to give the harsher parts real bite and incisiveness.

In the end though, I think the album is a success due to the great songwriting which is featured on the album. It's certainly a better album than Swansong at any rate, and I'd probably put it just above Heartwork too. I won't count Reek, seeing as the bad production hampers that album so badly it's impossible to really judge the music itself fairly.

I'm listening to the stream of the full album right now and I'm impressed. Definitely not a bullshit comeback.

The more I listen to this the more I love it. Welcome back, Carcass! Necrotism and Heartwork were soundtracks to my younger years and I'd say this is right up there in terms of quality.

I was extremely lucky to see them back in 1992 in Berkeley, California. Crossing my fingers that they tour for this sweet puppy because they are sooooo good live.

I'm going to have to agree with Marcel and Joe on this one. The production really takes away any edge this album would have had, and the songwriting isn't anything that really wowed me either. Probably a low 6 as it stands, but more listens could push that down. I won't call this disappointing, because I wasn't really expecting anything special...

Raw production can't save average songwriting

My God!!
I am very happy to see that after years of opening old group will enter the studio

Still have not heard the new album, "Today you will listen ..
I think it is a good album
I hope

It is good, but it is nowhere near Necroticism. To me it sounds like a watered down version of Heartwork. Anyway it is still enjoyable. Nice to hear something new from these guys after so many years...

btw, there is no Grindcore on this one for sure, someone please reedit style section!

My brain has just been fucked, this album will be among the classics when i listen it a few more times

This one is definitely a grower, but for me it's bound to be an album of the year contender with a few more listens.

This is my album of the year so far, for sure..... and def. my favorite Carcass release.

Some people complain about songwriting here. While I can imagine (even though I disagree 100%) that the production may be too sharp and crisp for those who loved Symphonies of Sickness, I'm surprised some people find the music subpar. This is Carcass at their best, incorporating elements of Necroticism (quite a few, fortunately) and Swansong (much fewer, also fortunately) into Heartwork. Of course, those who have different preferences, with contest the "their best" part...

While I was waiting for Surgical Steel to come out/leak, I did a thorough recap of their back catalogue. Over and over again... If I were to rank the albums, it'd look as follows:
Reek of Putrefaction - 6.5
Swansong - 7.7
Symphonies of Sickness - 7.8
Surgical Steel - 8.8
Heartwork - 9.2
Necroticism - 9.5

What is truly great about Necroticism in my opinion is the way it alloys brutality with catchiness and subtlety.
Heartwork sells me on switching the proportions - more catchiness, less brutality, to almost equally brilliant effect.
Surgical Steel is a perfect re-working of these ideas. But 20 years later. If you think that any band can be as good as they were two decades ago, you've got another think coming. Panta rhei guys.

Possibly the album of the year for me. 'Thrasher's abbatoir' and 'Captive bolt pistol' rip my ears apart then lull me to sleep with those melodic leads. It's certainly good to have Carcass back:banger: