CARCASS — Despicable (review)

CARCASS — Despicable album cover EP · 2020 · Melodic Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
UMUR
"Despicable" is an EP release by UK, Liverpool based death metal act Carcass. The EP was released through Nuclear Blast in October 2020. It´s the successor to the "Surgical Remission / Surplus Steel" EP from 2014, which is a release featuring leftover tracks from the band´s comeback album "Surgical Steel (2013)". "Despicable" was however originally not meant to be the next Carcass release as the band had already recorded a full-length studio album, with the tentative title "Torn Arteries", which they had plans to release in the summer of 2020. They even released the teaser single track "Under the Scalpel Blade" in December 2019 to promote the release of the album. The Covid-19 pandemic hit though and Carcass and Nuclear Blast opted to postpone the release of their next full-length album until 2021, to be able to tour in the wake of freshly released material. Carcass felt they had to fulfil the promise made of new material in 2020 though, and hence the release of "Despicable".

"Under the Scalpel Blade" is included on "Despicable" along with 3 other tracks, which are outtakes from the recording sessions for "Torn Arteries". Carcass have usually had the habit of releasing an album and then subsequently releasing an EP with leftover material (or at least they´ve done it quite a few times), but as a consequence of the circumstances they´ve done the opposite this time around. It´s too soon to say if any of the four tracks on the EP will be included on the forthcoming album, but if any my guess would be "Under the Scalpel Blade". It´s quite the brilliant death metal track and stylistically sits somewhere between the sound of the material on "Necroticism - Descanting the Insalubrious (1991)" and "Heartwork (1993)".

The three remaining tracks: "The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue", "The Long and Winding Bier Road", and "Slaughtered in Soho", are predominantly mid-paced, heavy, and slightly more traditional heavy metal/thrash metal influenced, while of course still being placed firmly in the death metal camp. Jeff Walker´s raw snarling vocals are intact, the guitar harmonies, the solid and heavy playing rhythm section, and the great guitar solos are all there and accounted for, so fans of the band won´t be disappointed with the musical direction, although I personally hope for slightly more memorable material to be featured on the forthcoming album.

"Despicable" features a heavy, powerful, and detailed sounding production job, and it´s a sound which is perfect for the material. Upon conclusion "Despicable" is yet another high quality release from Carcass, and although I wouldn´t call it a mandatory listen, it´s still great to finally hear some new material from the band. A 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is deserved.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Hin helga kvöl Atmospheric Sludge Metal
SÓLSTAFIR
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Cycles of Suffering Black Metal
BURIAL OATH
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Suns of Perdition - Chapter IV: To Shadow Zion Black Metal
PANZERFAUST
Buy this album from MMA partners
Facilis Descensus Averno Death Metal
SAEVUS FINIS
Buy this album from MMA partners
Merciless Crossover Thrash
BODY COUNT
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

DAWN OF REVENGE - Sanctuary [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Farewell [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Curtain of Death - [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Vengeance [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - I Need You [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed