Surgical Steel deluxe

17 years after releasing their 1996 effort "Swansong", legendary British death metal masters Carcass have finally returned in an absolute big time way with their phenomenal comeback release "Surgical Steel", and one thing that I have to say is that it has definitely reached all of my listening expectations ever since I first bought it. This album is without a shadow of a doubt the best death metal album of 2013, but also the absolute best metal album of 2013 hands down in my opinion as well. It is just absolutely phenomenal and downright epic in every single aspect, I just freaking love this album, in fact I've had this album spinning in rotation in my CD stereo player ever since first buying it back in September and I've been cranking it up and listening to it almost every day. Now the album itself as I've said before is just flat out phenomenal, it is 100% full proof that Carcass (who have since reformed back in 2007) have definitely not lost their edge one bit at all whatsoever. Every classic Carcass trait and element is all present on "Surgical Steel": Massive, grinding, scorching, head crushing riffs, soaring and majestic NWOBHM melodies and epic face melting guitar solos, intense skull pounding drum work, throat scraping growls and snarls, disturbing song titles and lyrics, believe me it's all on here. And of course not to mention that the production on this album is very slick and top notch throughout thanks to main producer Colin Richardson and with help from Andy Sneap handling the mixing and mastering as well. Jeff Walker's trademark raspy, throat scraping growls and snarls are more vicious than ever before and they just really make you wanna rip someone's face off. He sure has never sounded so better as far as I'm concerned, and he also provides some strong bass work throughout as well. Bill Steer's guitar work on here is just absolutely eargasmic and shows that he is truly at the top of his game with his massive, scorching, in your face riffs and blazing, face melting and also at times melodic leads and solos and soaring melodies. Meanwhile new drummer Dan Wilding proves to be an excellent choice for the job as he pounds and blasts his way throughout with perfect timing and precision throughout. Plenty of hammering death/grind blast beats, blazing thrash metal style tempos, and double bass kicking throughout on this beast here.The songs:Now as far as the songs on this epic beast go, they're all highlights for sure. There's definitely not one single bad song on here whatsoever. It all kicks off with the melodic guitar intro "1985" which sets the tone for and leads straight into the near 2-minute headbanger "Thrasher's Abattoir" which is an absolute straight up onslaught of slashing, trail blazing death/thrashing power and madness that will just rip your face right off, while the following track "Cadaver Pouch Conveyor System" is another thrashing beastie that boasts ridiculously catchy guitar leads, hammering drums, slashing riffs and melodic soloing. Next up, we've got "A Congealed Clot of Blood" which slows the pace down a bit with slow punishing grooves, rolling double bass fills, crunchy power chords, as well as a great melodic solo. The following track "The Master Butcher's Apron" is another highlight which features an opening onslaught of slaughtering blast beats before shifting into a monster pounding groove with massive, pounding riffs until the blazing speed and thrashing intensity picks up afterwards. Then up next, we have "Noncompliance to ASTM F899-12 Standard" which is my favorite track on here that is highlighted by an awesome melodic guitar lead opening followed by fiery tremolo riffing backed by pummeling blast beats, as well as more thrash style percussioning and a pair of memorable guitar solos to boot. Another highlight, track seven "The Granulating Dark Satanic Mills" features a catchy and powerful chorus along with catchy melodic guitar riffing, meanwhile "Unfit For Human Consumption" keeps the supreme viciousness coming with more vicious, raging power chords, bloodthirsty vocals, and a blazing solo backed up by a pummeling thrash tempo. Following that is track nine "316L Grade Surgical Steel" which has become my 2nd favorite track on here that features more fantastic riffing throughout, some melodic and some aggressive, as well as an outstanding melodic guitar solo (probably my favorite guitar solo on the album), more blistering thrash tempos, and some very catchy growl a long lyrics at the end. Track ten "Captive Bolt Pistol" (which I'm very sure everyone has heard by now) is another slashing, blazing death/thrash fest that boasts fire blazing riffs, shredding solos, blasting drums, and seething vocals that just slash everything in it's path, and then we finally reach the album's epic 8+ minute prog-ish sounding finale "Mount of Execution" which ends this beast of an album on a very strong and powerful note from it's acoustic guitar intro that gives way to a mammoth yet steady mid paced metal beatdown to it's steady yet pounding outro that will have your head bobbing in unison.All in all, "Surgical Steel" is an all around immense and epic tour de force from these British death metal legends, and it proves that 17 years after the last album, Carcass are once again firing on all cylinders and have not lost their touch whatsoever. To put it straight and simple, this album kicks ass, and it also has my pick for metal album of the year as far as I'm concerned. Anyways if you're a longtime fan of Carcass, then by all means "Surgical Steel" will not disappoint you whatsoever. To all the new bands out there, if I were in your shoes, you'd better start taking notes, cuz the surgeons are back in business...Strongly Recommend!!!\m/

First off, if you were expecting Carcass to make Reek of Putrefaction or Symphonies of Sickness- you'll be disappointed.Yes, there's even a part of me that wishes for at least one track in that vain, but we can't get everything we want, can we?Having said that, Surgical Steel could possibly be the best thing I've heard in 2013. That is, because I was one of those people that didn't cringe post Necroticism. I accepted each evolution this band has made with each record. And while I like some releases more than others- (I didn't like most of Swansong, although even that release had a few cool moments) the strength of Surgical Steel is at has all of what's cool about each Carcass release without plagiarizing themselves.It's not a 'walk down memory' lane record- it's relevant- especially with the gore/grind that's basically followed post Carcass' inception. Take for example a track "Noncompliance..." which seemingly is another throwaway track hearkening back to Necroticism's geeky medical dictionary inspired subject matter- only to have it be poking fun of all that's arrived in the wake of what Carcass' was doing. There's lots of moments where Jeff Walker's lyricism seems to be taking the **** out of the genre of death metal all the while- playing some pretty visceral but melodic death metal...Bill Steer who in my opinion is one of the most under-rated frets-men in metal in general- really has out done himself on Surgical Steel. One could say on Swansong- his riffing and lead playing was turning more towards 'rock n roll'- but on here- he's just shredding- grinding and all the while making it look very easy. As a guitarist, let me tell you, it's not...Sadly, the only the thing that makes me sorta bummed when listening to this album from beginning to end is the absence of Ken Owen's distinctive drumming style. No disrespect to Dan Wilding - who did an absolutely amazing job- but there's just no replacing Ken- and perhaps the band knew this going in. The spirit of Ken is definitely here- who does actually make somebacking vocal appearances along with Bill Steer. (Welcome back to the vocals Bill!)Some might cry foul that Mike Amott isn't present on here as well- but as much as I would have liked him to be included- he really was only on two studio albums. Oh well.Most of the record borders between pretty damn good to absolutely amazing. I have to admit that a couple like "Mount of Execution" I'm still taking in. But there's so many highlights that it's hard to name them all when they happen. Direction-wise if I had narrow down what I thought this album was- it's kinda the missing link between Necroticism and Heart Work. Definetly good company. It might not be my favorite Carcass album- but it's still damn good.Highlight tracks: "Thrasher's Abattoir", "Unfit for human consumption", "Captive Bolt Pistol"...

Excelente todo!!!

What a comeback after 17 years, i didn't expect for this to be that good but this is just excellent.I am Carcass fan from 'Necroticism' and 'Heartwork' follower, and by listening to this it throw me back to these albums.The production here is so good, Andy Sneap never disappoint, sound so good that i want to listen to it again and again.The album is not easy to digest at all, you need a few spins to get use to it, and considering i write this review a bit late, i did gave it a few spins.Each time i listen to it i like it more and more, musically is all what you can ask for from a death metal legend, the drums here are an eargasm, Walker's vocals are brutal and harsh but also enjoyable like 17 years ago, and of course the bass, the riffs, the solos all are pleasure to the ears.Lyrically, that language is very hard to understand, the meaning of it, just for looking at the title tracks with numbers and capital letters like someone forgot to turn off the caps lock, and it the same experience i had with 'Necroticism', but that keep it mysterious.Artwork is interesting, seeing all those tools gives you the experience you about to explore inside, which is important to me apart of the music.From the first opener with the intro Carcass are here to say they are back and they are back to do what they know to do the best.I like all the tracks, hard to me to pick a favorite, i just prefer to play it in one play and enjoy.

In 2008 we all hoped this would happen. Is it worth it? A big yes. Very much a yes. Yes!So how good is it? Well they have been away a long time and with some gigs over the last few years filling time they must be right back up at where they left off. And that is how it feels. Swansong for many was not a good album but these ears loved the album and the first half of the album follows a little bit on from that album. Intro "1985" feels a little bit like Judas Priest and I do feel that was the intention. More of a nod than a rip off. "Thrasher's Abattoir" has everything from the bands last five album mixed in one. Backed up with a nice production job as ever from Colin Richardson. Of course the drums sound fantastic and at times this old bass player is thinking of packing in the four stringer as I would never keep up. Riffs are also here "Cadaver Pouch Conveyor System" has that melodic guitar sound from later albums but still backs up the music with serious guitar riffing and time changes.Fans of the bands last two albums will hate "A Congealed Clot Of Blood" back to the more melodic side and very few blastbeats on this one. I could even compare it to a few slower Sabbath numbers. Metal fans will love it, 17 years is a long time between albums and I do feel old disgruntled fans will come round.Blastbeats and classic gore lyrics were the bands start and it is back in "The Master Butcher's Apron". The production stops it from sounding to messy. Track six or "Noncompliance to ASTM F 899-12 Standard" for me is a real highlight. Technical death metal without the wankyness that come into that style. Some nice classic rock textures that could get a Thursday rock night grooving.Dan Wilding does a great job on drums and with is time on a drum stool you would expect nothing less. "Unfit for Human Consumption" is as tight as you can have a band this heavy and vocals trying to tell a story or just tell it as it is. The vocals never sound rushed at all and do sound very much from the 90s (a good thing).Last track is a nice ending to the album and clocking in over 8 minutes it has some extras thrown in. Acoustic guitars helping to launch the last track into very much a symphonic style of death metal tear jerker. There is no letting up on the riffs or even the vocals so do not be worried. It does work and helps take the album up to a 47 minute mark. I have read there are another four track recorded and I wonder when and where they will come out.But a solid album and some real replay value on this, if this it the first you have heard of this band then you are in for a treat and get ready to buy a few more of there albums. If you have them all and the reissues and also the reissues with the DVD like me then you really can relax. IT IS REALLY GOOD!

God this is brutal. After a 17 year gap between albums I was not sure what to expect. Admit I only purchased this album last week for first time. However this is 100% the Carcass I love from 'Symphonies / Necroticism' era. As fast, heavy and in your face as they were 20 years ago. Incredible album which has been incredibly well produced. 45 minutes in the gym with this tonight, just the thing after a dull day at the office!!

So pleased they decided to produce another album. This could be seen as the album between Heartwork and Swansong in terms of the style, but really such thoughts are negligible in the grand scheme of things. This is such a good flowing album and the song writing is razor sharp. I'm delighted they replicated the Heartwork guitar tone as it really stood out back in 1993 and still sounds powerful today