UMUR
"Corpus In Extremis: Analysing Necrocriticism" is the 2nd full-length studio album by Swedish goregrind/death metal act General Surgery. The album was released through Listenable Records in March 2009. General Surgery were originally active in the 1988-1991 period and released three demos and the "Necrology (1991)" EP before disbanding. The members have since been part of other prolific Swedish death metal and grindcore acts such as Dismember, Afflicted, Crematory and Regurgitate. General Surgery reformed again in the early 00s (although it was only guitarist Joachim "Jocke" Carlsson and lead vocalist Grant McWilliams who remained from the lineup who recorded the "Necrology (1991)" EP) and have been putting out a string of releases since 2003.
There have been two lineup changes since the release of the band´s debut full-length studio album "Left Hand Pathology" from 2006, as bassist Glenn Sykes has been replaced by Andreas Eriksson, and lead vocalist Grant McWilliams has been replaced by Erik Sahlström. McWilliams had been unstable for a while, and was in the end unable to continue with the band. In keeping with the pathology/Gore concept all band members are credited with the Dr. title.
Stylistically "Corpus In Extremis: Analysing Necrocriticism" pretty much continues where "Left Hand Pathology (2006)" left off. It´s (early) Carcass influenced goregrind/death metal performed by skilled musicians and featuring a well sounding production, which provides the listener with a better opportunity to hear what is going on, than what the late 80s/early 90s goregrind releases by artists like Carcass, Nuclear Death, and Impetigo could offer. "Corpus In Extremis: Analysing Necrocriticism" is not a polished release by any means though, and the powerful production is still suitably raw and brutal.
While the stylistic development is minimal between this album and its predecessor, I still think "Corpus In Extremis: Analysing Necrocriticism" is the stronger and slightly more varied release. The core style is pretty one-dimensional but General Surgery manage to put in some mid-paced heavy sections, and other details to keep things relatively interesting for the duration of the 15 track, 36:22 minutes long album. So upon conclusion "Corpus In Extremis: Analysing Necrocriticism" is a good quality goregrind/death metal release and a 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.