DEAD METAL

Carcass is well over thirty years old now, and is one of the all-time death metal greats. Not a band which has ever stood still creatively - every album is different. But they're all great in their own ways (from the second album onwards at least), and don't let anyone tell you different. A particular highlight from their back catalogue is Necroticism ( Earache, 1991 ): Their latest release is also worthy of special mention -  Surgical Steel ( Nuclear Blast, 2013 ) was their first album in 18 years, so it had a lot to live up to; and it did not disappoint. Fingers crossed for a new Carcass album soon.

Here we have the first Carcass full-length for eight years. Album number seven was originally scheduled to see the light of day last year, but it was delayed due to the pandemic. Worth the wait? Of course it was. Liverpool's finest can do no wrong, in our books at least. The title is an homage to their original drummer, Ken Owen, who once had a solo project called Torn Arteries. It probably-inevitably has more in common with Surgical Steel than any other release, but it features elements that feel like they have been resurrected from earlier works as well. Carcass has also never been a band to stand still, creatively, and this is no exception - there have been a lot of subtle tweaks/additions to 'the formula' (when it comes to groove, melody, instrumentation, dynamics...) Overall, it is a varied-but-consistent (and, most importantly, a very strong) offering. A definite contender for album of the year, from one of the all-time greats. You can hear one of the singles below, ...

16th October - Benediction  ( UK, death metal ) - Scriptures ( Nuclear Blast ) 30th October - Carcass ( UK, death metal ) - Despicable ( Nuclear Blast ) 11th November -  Soulskinner ( Greece, death metal ) - Seven Bowls Of Wrath  ( Xtreem ) 27th November - Sodom  ( Germany, thrash metal ) - Genesis XIX ( SPV/Steamhammer )

01  Krypts  -  Remnants Of Expansion  ( Dark Descent ,  2016 ) 02  Evoken  -  Atra Mors  ( Profound Lore ,  2012 ) 03  Antichrist  -  Pax Moriendi  ( Iron Bonehead ,  2018 ) 04  Blood Incantation  -  Starspawn  ( Dark Descent ,  2016 ) 05  None  -  Damp Chill Of Life  ( Hypnotic Dirge ,  2019 ) 06  Carcass  -  Surgical Steel  ( Nuclear Blast ,  2013 ) 07  Immolation  -  Atonement  ( Nuclear Blast ,  2017 ) 08  Necrot  -  Blood Offerings  ( Tankcrimes ,  2017 ) 09  Burzum  -  Belus  ( Byelobog ,  2010 ) 10  Spectral Voice  -  Necrotic Doom  ( Dark Descent ,  2015 )

01 Worm - Gloomlord (Iron Bonehead) 02  Old Tower  - Seelenasche /  The Last Eidolon  / Plague Harvest (Various) 03  Beast Of Revelation  -  The Ancient Ritual Of Death  (Iron Bonehead) 04  Sodom  -  Genesis XIX  (Nuclear Blast) 05  Carcass  -  Despicable  (Nuclear Blast) 06  Scour  - Black (Housecore/Nuclear Blast) 07  Transcendence  -  Towards Obscurities Beyond  (Blood Harvest) 08  Soulskinner  -  Seven Bowls of Wrath  (Xtreem) 09  Necrot  -  Mortal  (Tankcrimes) 10  Ringarë - Sorrow Befell  (Iron Bonehead) *edit* Incantation - Sect Of Vile Divinities should have made this list

Decade-old Danish death metallers Undergang have produced a very solid album here. It's also a very disgusting album - the band bring a lot of old school grindcore elements to the table (think early Carcass). But there's a healthy dose of doom in the mix as well; and even the occasional moment of melody. Misantropologi is an extremely well-produced assault on the mind and soul, too. Me Saco Un Ojo have released the vinyl version pictured above (which is available here ); Dark Descent have handled the CD release; and several labels have produced cassettes. Oh, and you can hear the album for yourself below.

01 Worm - Foreverglade (20 Buck Spin) 02 Mortiferum - Preserved In Torment (Profound Lore) 03  Rothadás - Kopár Hant​.​.​. Az Alvilág Felé  (Me Saco Un Ojo/Pulverised) 04  Darkthrone  -  Eternal Hails  (Peaceville) 05  Clandestine Blaze - Secrets Of Laceration (Northern Heritage) 06  Carcass  -  Torn Arteries  (Nuclear Blast) 07  Můra - Doom Invocations And Narcotic Rituals  (Caligari) 08  Decrepisy - Emetic Communion  (Seed Of Doom/Life After Death/Chaos) 09  Old Tower  -  The King Of Old Witches  (Hospital) 10  Inhuman Condition - Rat°God  (Listenable Insanity/Spiritual Beast/Black Serpent) *edit*  Vaticinal Rites - Vaticinal Rites  and Apparition - Feel should have made this list