CARCASS

CARCASS
HEARTWORK (1993)
256 KBPS

This album ranks in my top 50 Metal albums of all time and as far as I'm concerned it was the next stage in Carcass evolutionary progression. I love Necrotiscm...Descanting the Insalubrious. The combination of Sludgy C-Tuned riffs, light-speed solos and morbidly humorous lyrics make it an excellent album.
But it is Heartwork that I keep going back too. From the opening Buried Dreams it is clear that this is a band on a mission to make the best damn album of their careers. And they suceed. Highlights are plentiful - my picks are Buried Dreams, Heartwork, Arbeit Macht Freisch and Blind Leading the Blind (the solo trade off at the beginning is classic). Michael Amott and Bill Steer trade fluid guitar solo lines over crushing warp speed riffs (e.g Heartwork) and sludgy grinding mid-tempo numbers (e.g No Love Lost). Drumming colossus Ken Owen cements his reputation as one of the best(and most underrated) drummers in Metal with a phenomenal performance and as always Jeff Walker's accessible rasping vocals adds an air of the sinister to proceedings as he barks out much more listener friendly lyrics than on previous albums. Kudos to Producer Colin Richardson whose work showcases the undeniable power and ferocity of the band. Apparently the guitar parts for this album were actually not recorded in the studio but on a smaller demo type recording rig in one of the band members attics!
All in all a fantastic album by a band at the top of their game. Swansong wasn't a patch on this album which is, in my opinion one of the top Metal albums of all time. Many of my friends who detest Death/Grind love Heartwork because while it is accessible it is still bloody heavy.

1. Buried Dreams
2. Carnal Forge
3. No Love Lost
4. Heartwork
5. Embodiment
6. This Mortal Coil
7. Arbeit Macht Fleisch
8. Blind Bleeding the Blind
9. Doctrinal Expletives
10. Death Certificate
11. This Is Your Life