Carcass (band)

Carcass
Carcass in 2024
Carcass in 2024
Background information
Also known asDisattack (1985–1986)
OriginLiverpool, England
Genres
DiscographyCarcass discography
Years active
  • 1985–1996
  • 2007–present
Labels
Spinoff ofNapalm Death
Members
Past members

Carcass are an English extreme metal band from Liverpool, formed in 1985. The band have gone through several line-up changes, leaving guitarist Bill Steer and bassist-vocalist Jeff Walker as the only constant members. They broke up in 1996,[2][3][4] but reformed in 2007 without original drummer Ken Owen, for health reasons.[5] To date, the band have released seven studio albums, two compilation albums, four EPs, two demo albums, one video album, and six music videos.

Carcass are regarded as among the pioneers of the grindcore and melodic death metal genres.[6][7] They are also described as one of the earliest and most important of the new generation of grindcore and death metal bands.[8] Their early work was also tagged as "splatter death metal",[9] and "hardgore"[10] on account of their morbid lyrics and gruesome album covers. Their fourth album, Heartwork (1993), is considered a landmark in the melodic death metal genre.[6] Carcass were also one of the few death metal acts to sign to a major label, with Columbia Records handling North American distribution for Heartwork, while the album was distributed worldwide by Earache who released all of the band's albums up to and including Swansong (1996).

  1. ^ Unger, Matthew (2016). Sound, Symbol, Sociality : The Aesthetic Experience of Extreme Metal Music. London, UK: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 23.
  2. ^ "Carcass' Jeff Walker". Exclaim.ca. 27 August 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  3. ^ "Bill Steer of Carcass chats with The Age of Metal". Theageofmetal.com. 28 August 2013. Archived from the original on 10 January 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  4. ^ "Q&A: Carcass On Surgical Steel, The Pitfalls Of Legacy, And First Aid Kits". Stereogum.com. 17 September 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  5. ^ "Reunited Carcass confirmed for next year's Wacken Open Air". Blabbermouth.net. 6 October 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2007.
  6. ^ a b Norton, Justin. "Carcass Profile". About.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  7. ^ "Carcass". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  8. ^ Phillips, William; Cogan, Brian (2009). Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal Music. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. p. 50. ISBN 978-0-313-34801-3.
  9. ^ Filho, Fernando Souza (1993). "Os novos rumos do Death Metal". Rock Brigade. 12 (85): 56.
  10. ^ "Carcass: Symphonies of Sickness". Spin Magazine. 7 (3): 62. 1991.