Post by thesoundmonitor on Jun 21, 2004 8:31:01 GMT -5
CARCASS
Choice Cuts
(Earache)
Sprouting from the UK underground in the late-eighties/early-nineties, Carcass fused a neo-political punk aesthetic with indecipherable metal projected onto a palette of medical terminology and word-play, resulting in the term and sub-genre, pathological grind. While revered for being unmusical, splatter-happy grindfreaks in their early recordings, the band were equally admired for turning to melodic, NWOBHM-inspired death metal concentrating on their later albums, and as such collated fans from two relatively disparate audiences.
And while a posthumous collection of outtakes and b-sides is already available in Wake Up and Smell the Carcass, this latest collection of macabre musings is the band’s preferred ‘best of’, though perhaps a little unnecessary.
Originally slated for 1999 release, the album was shelved due to drummer and project coordinator Ken Own becoming ill. Now with good health on his side, Owen has returned to the studio to compile what he perceives as the quintessential Carcass cuts together with two Peel Session recordings.
Taking two tracks from each of their full lengths, as well as the occasional b-side, Choice Cuts highlights the vast musical strides the quartet made with each release. From the raw gore of ‘Genital Grinder’ and ‘Maggot Colony’ (from Reek of Putrefaction) to the twin guitar interplay of Swansongs’ ‘Keep on Rotting in the Free World’ and ‘R**k the Vote’, Carcass stood out amongst it’s appears like a severed thumb. Guttural vocals, clinical melodies and carefully timed blast beats give the tracks a timeless quality few other death metal albums can claim.
With members originating from Napalm Death and moving onto Arch Enemy, Spiritual Beggars, Blackstar and Freebird Carcass are a veritable who’s who of extreme music and as such demand attention.
By Warren Wheeler
Choice Cuts
(Earache)
Sprouting from the UK underground in the late-eighties/early-nineties, Carcass fused a neo-political punk aesthetic with indecipherable metal projected onto a palette of medical terminology and word-play, resulting in the term and sub-genre, pathological grind. While revered for being unmusical, splatter-happy grindfreaks in their early recordings, the band were equally admired for turning to melodic, NWOBHM-inspired death metal concentrating on their later albums, and as such collated fans from two relatively disparate audiences.
And while a posthumous collection of outtakes and b-sides is already available in Wake Up and Smell the Carcass, this latest collection of macabre musings is the band’s preferred ‘best of’, though perhaps a little unnecessary.
Originally slated for 1999 release, the album was shelved due to drummer and project coordinator Ken Own becoming ill. Now with good health on his side, Owen has returned to the studio to compile what he perceives as the quintessential Carcass cuts together with two Peel Session recordings.
Taking two tracks from each of their full lengths, as well as the occasional b-side, Choice Cuts highlights the vast musical strides the quartet made with each release. From the raw gore of ‘Genital Grinder’ and ‘Maggot Colony’ (from Reek of Putrefaction) to the twin guitar interplay of Swansongs’ ‘Keep on Rotting in the Free World’ and ‘R**k the Vote’, Carcass stood out amongst it’s appears like a severed thumb. Guttural vocals, clinical melodies and carefully timed blast beats give the tracks a timeless quality few other death metal albums can claim.
With members originating from Napalm Death and moving onto Arch Enemy, Spiritual Beggars, Blackstar and Freebird Carcass are a veritable who’s who of extreme music and as such demand attention.
By Warren Wheeler
