Carcass: Necroticism 12″

Description

Liverpool’s legendary death metal pioneers Carcass have issued several classic albums over the years, including Decibel Magazine “Hall of Fame” inductees Necroticism: Descanting the Insalubrious (1991) and Heartwork (1993). Whether it was inventing gore-grind (Reek of Putrefaction, Symphonies of Sickness) or creating the template for melodic death metal (Heartwork), Carcass has always made records by which bars were set and rules were broken. The band’s classic third slab, Necroticism: Descanting The Insalubrious is an exhibition in expansive gore with mammoth production from Colin Richardson (Slipknot, Cannibal Corpse, Behemoth). The unnerving medical lyrics are still prevalent but a much more precise musical approach is in evidence here as well thanks to the addition of guitarist Michael Amott (Arch Enemy) who makes his Caracass debut.

Our take: Earaches revolving reissue schedule again lands on Carcasss landmark 1991 album Necroticism, so if you dont already have the vinyl in your collection, now is as good a time as any to pick it up. In case you arent deep into Carcass, they started out as one of the most extreme and nastiest grindcore bands, but their sound evolved across their full-length releases. With such a diversebut uniformly excellentdiscography, Carcass fans might name any of their albums as their favorite, but Necroticism frequently gets the nod. Its not unlike the melodic Swedish death metal that would take over the metal scene a few years later, but Carcass is less cheesy than something like At the Gates; Carcasss riffing style is more angular and quirkier, not to mention heavier. Ill leave it to someone more knowledgeable than me to say something new about this record, but Ill just note its an undisputed metal classic and Im stoked to have a few copies on the shelf.