Year: 2021
Total Time: 49:00
Label: Nuclear Blast
The return of the British Death Metal legends CARCASS in 2013, with the album “Surgical Steel”, was undoubtedly triumphant, placing them once again at the top, despite the several years of absence, during which their legend had been preserved and grown. Since then, it took eight years to release their new album “Torn Arteries”, which we would have had in our hands last year if the pandemic hadn’t burst. The band of course made sure to sweeten our bitterness for the delay by releasing the excellent EP “Despicable”.
Expectations for “Torn Arteries”, after so many years of waiting, were at their highest and the British made sure to confirm them once again. The album is a mixture of the last three CARCASS albums combined with some new elements. The compositions are arranged mainly in mid-tempo rhythms, while some small Death/Gring outbursts are not missing. The opening title track “Under the Scalpel Blade” and “The Scythe’s Remorseless Swing” have the aura of “Heartwork” and “Surgical Steel”, while a pleasant surprise is “Kelly’s Meat Emporium” in which we hear elements borrowed from the album “Necroticism – Descanting the Insalubrious”.
The rest of the songs are being characterized by a more “progressive” mood with groove riffs, which are a mixture of Hard Rock, Blues and Doom filtered through the musical personality of CARCASS, excellent solos and melodic passages. So songs like “Dance of IXTAB”, “The Devil Rides Out”, “Eleanor Rigor Mortis” and “Wake Up and Smell the Carcass / Caveat Emptor” will thrill those who loved “Swansong” album. “Flesh Ripping Torment Limited” deserves a special mention, which is the longest composition in CARCASS’ career so far, with a duration of nearly ten minutes and an “epic” progressive atmosphere, while its main characteristic is the uproarious massive groove rhythm.
A rhythm that we find in “In God We Trust”, a composition that reminded us of “Keep On Rotting in the Free World”. In terms of mixing and production, they have really touched the perfection while the cover artwork, although quite different from what we are used to from CARCASS, is beautiful.
“Torn Arteries” is a very high quality and inspiring work from the Brits, but a step down compared to “Surgical Steel”. It looks to the future by taking a few “shy” glances at the past. CARCASS once again stand out from the general set, releasing a great album worthy of their musical heritage. At the same time, it is also the most easily accessible and safe album for someone who hasn’t heard them before, an element that I’m sure will bring them new fans. Jeff Walker and Bill Steer have chosen not to rest on the laurels of their previous, very successful album and dare to present us something different, which from “miles away” screams that it is… CARCASS!
Rating: 7,5/10
Editor: Nikos Manousis
Related Link: CARCASS – Facebook Page
