CARCASS “Despicable”

Nuclear Blast, 2020

Music: Death Metal / Melodic Death Metal / Death‘n’Roll

Website: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialCarcass/

Duration: 18:53 minutes (4 tracks)

Country: United Kingdom

CARCASS return to the mortuary with their first collection of new songs in seven years. “Despicable” contains three new tracks and the previously released “Under The Scalpel Blade.” The days of releasing gore grind albums such as “Reek of Putrefaction” and “Necrotocism-Descanting the Insalubrious” are over and the era of “Heartwork” is still in full force. Although CARCASS released “Heartwork” 27 years ago, “Despicable” could have been the follow up album if they had not put out the death ‘n roll “Swansong.”

Melodic leads were a major facet of “Heartwork,” something that inspired the oncoming rush of melodic death metal. Those leads are apparent from the first notes on opener “The Living Dead At the Manchester Morgue.” These first notes also draw attention to the crunchy guitar tones of  Bill Steer and Tom Draper. There is a slow build in action with Daniel Wilding executing fills before the song takes off in a gallop. The music ends with a crescendo of blasting, Jeff Walker screams and bumble-bee guitar heroics.

“The Long And Winding Bier Road” also starts with a twin axe melodies and has the type of melodic death metal feel that was an inspiration for Michael Amott to form ARCH ENEMY. “Slaughtered in Soho” begins in a similar fashion. Although Jeff Walker takes the same gnashed-teeth vocal approach as he did on “Heartwork,” there are noticeable differences in his voice on “The Long And Winding Bier Road.” He roars near the end of the track without as much snarl as in other places. Also Walker’s bass is worth noting on this track as it mildly cuts through the mix.

In addition to the melodic leads, “modern” CARCASS (“Heartwork is 27-years-old) is also rife with groove. “Under The Scalpel Blade” subsists on scraping grooves. It also contains some of the hardest death metal elements on the album such as blasts and churning riffs. Even though Walker belts out some of his loudest screams on the EP, “Slaughtered in Soho” shows the most death ‘n roll influence, apparent in the grooves, percussion and leads.

“Despicable” doesn’t throw a curve ball in any sense. It’s exactly what listeners have come to expect from the Liverpool, England band. Fans of “Heartwork” and their last LP “Surgical Steel” will revel in the groove, twin axe melodies, blasts and snarling vocals on “Despicable.” It may not be a full platter of splatter, but there are some choice cuts on “Despicable.”

Tracklist:

1. The Living Dead At the Manchester Morgue

2. The Long And Winding Bier Road

3. Under The Scalpel Blade

4. Slaughtered in Soho

Line-up:

Bill Steer – Guitars
Jeff Walker – Bass/Vocals
Daniel Wilding – Drums
Tom Draper – Guitars

Rate: 8.0/10