Only Heavy Metal

The cover artwork for "Surgical Steel", the comeback album from reactivated British extreme metal pioneers CARCASS, can be seen below.

"We went back to working with Ian Tilton, who is an iconic English photographer famous for working with THE STONE ROSES," stated CARCASS bassist/vocalist Jeff Walker. "He actually did the front cover for [1991's] 'Necroticism - Descanting the Insalubrious' as well. We've deliberately tried to evoke the feeling of that album and [1993's] 'Heartwork'."

"Surgical Steel" will be released on September 16 in the U.K., September 13 in the rest of Europe and September 17 in North America via Nuclear Blast Records. The effort was produced by Colin Richardson (FEAR FACTORY, MACHINE HEAD, NAPALM DEATH, SLIPKNOT, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE) and mixed by Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, ACCEPT, EXODUS, ARCH ENEMY).

British extreme metal pioneers CARCASS have parted was with guitarist Ben Ash and have replaced him with Tom Draper (POUNDER, ex-ANGEL WITCH, PRIMITAI).

Draper, who is from the United Kingdom but currently resides in California, made his live debut with CARCASS this past weekend at the Netherlands Deathfest at 013 in Tilburg. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

2019-12-13 - English death/grind legends CARCASS are gearing up to headline the closing night of Decibel Magazine’s “Metal & Beer Fest: Los Angeles” on December 14th. In preparation, the band has released a new single called “Under The Scalpel Blade” on streaming services today! The track is the band’s first new song in 6 years and was originally released as part of Decibel’s “Flexi Series” accompanied with the magazine’s January issue. “Under The Scalpel Blade” was recorded during sessions for their upcoming 7th studio album that’s due out in 2020.

Jeff Walker about the single:
"It’s always difficult trying to decide what new song to expose people to, especially given an absence of nearly seven years???? With that in mind here’s a slow throw away number we cobbled together, and NO the title was NOT plagiarized from the DISORDER album of the same title before you ask!"

Stream “Under The Scalpel Blade”: https://nuclearblast.com/carcass-scalpel

CARCASS’ new single “Under The Scalpel Blade” is a taste of what’s to come from the band’s long-awaited 7th full-length album. It follows the release of several classic albums over the years, including Decibel Magazine “Hall of Fame” inductees Heartwork and Necroticism – Descanting the Insalubrious, and their influence has changed the face of extreme metal with every consecutive release. Whether it was inventing gore-grind (i.e. Reek of Putrefaction, Symphonies of Sickness) or creating the template for melodic death metal (i.e. Heartwork), CARCASS has always made records by which bars were set and rules were broken. Upon the band’s dismantling in 1996, fans mourned the loss of the seminal act and longed that the group would return again one day. In 2007, the metal world got its wish as CARCASS reformed to play several sold-out reunion shows around the globe. Once again re-motivated to administer a shot of cynicism and infectious riffs into the arm of a sickly metal scene, founding members Bill Steer and Jeff Walker recorded the next chapter of their influential career, 2013’s Surgical Steel. Following the critically acclaimed release, the band toured the world extensively, including recent performances with SLAYER on their final world tour. Now the band that broke barriers 25 years ago has returned to the studio to tear them all down again with their 7th record, which will undoubtedly be one of next year’s most anticipated heavy metal albums.

Well there's no way our new album is gonna get released in August now, what with the ongoing pandemic, CD & vinyl manufacturers have closed and label distribution has been put on hold for the foreseeable future. There's more pressing things to be concerned with right now, correct? Bunker down, look after yourselves, let's see the next few months through and we'll get the album released as soon as there's some kind of return to "normality". Enjoy this tune in the meantime.

2020-08-21 - English metal legends CARCASS will return this fall with their first collection of new music, “Despicable,” in 7 years. The forthcoming EP features 3 brand new tracks, including “The Living Dead At The Manchester Morgue” that was released today, as well as the previously revealed song “Under The Scalpel Blade.” The EP is scheduled for release on October 30th from Nuclear Blast and will be available digitally, on CD and limited edition cassette and vinyl, which can be pre-ordered now here: http://www.nuclearblast.com/carcass-despicable