Carcass – Torn Arteries
Release Date: 17th September 2021
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Death Metal, Metal, Grindcore.
FFO: Exhumed, Impaled, Death, Dying Fetus.
Review By: Ian Sky
Voir dire: After my own slight disappointment that we had to wait nearly a year for these Liverpudlian madmen, to finish up Torn Arteries (Although The Despicable EP was lovely and somewhat thirst quenching!) Carcass has delivered a truly masterful concoction of audio slaughter!
Opening statements: Not unlike the Gothenburg Metal champions, At The Gates, Carcass was one of the bands I had always wanted to see live but wasn’t able to as they had separated just after their dynamite 1996 album, Swansong.
Then in 2008 (Which was a miraculous year for Metal!) Carcass returned with the absolutely fantastic Exhumed To Consume Tour and at last, I was fortunate enough to actually witness these mad doctors’ surgical work in person!
Now, on to new business…
They say facts speak for themselves and the fact of the matter concerning Torn Arteries is that Carcass have outdone themselves once more! Every track is as varied, inspired and brutal as they could be. The whole of the album flows seamlessly and beautifully from one successful surgery to the next.
Cross examination: ‘Uncanny’ was the first word to come to mind after listening to Torn Arteries. And, after listening to it many, many times, I do believe that it is the most fitting word to describe Carcass‘ Seventh full length album. It is jubilant, shredding and explosive and that alone describes only the opening title track! The madness quickly reaches a fevered pitch and blinding speed and barely lets you up to breathe. Jeff Walker sounds incredible, period! His voice is as brilliant and brutal as it ever has been and his bass playing is pure dynamite. Likewise Bill Steer and Tom Draper have created some truly unbelievable and mesmerizing guitar work. I am still particularly astonished by the sick, beefy chops in Kelly’s Meat Emporium. And… I’ll be goddamned if Dan Wilding‘s drum work is anything short of bang the fuck on! Everything is perfectly played and aptly displayed. I don’t think we could have asked for anything more from them!
Closing arguments: The madness and brilliance of the music is matched perfectly by the lyrical themes and performances. Torn Arteries features every style of Carcass‘ sound and is a fantastic combination of Death/Thrash/Grind/’N’ Roll. Beyond which lies such unorthodox variations and accents that it is difficult to digest everything that you’re hearing the first time. But, trust me, you’ll be happy to listen to this diamond of an album many times over!
Verdict: Wake up and smell the in-fucking-credible! I am still blown away by how stellar a job Carcass has done. I expected this album to be impressive (It is Carcass after all!) but I feel like I underestimated exactly how intense Torn Arteries is and for that I apologize!
Additional: And if you want a laugh and a quick look at Carcass from back in the day, check out the British comedy Red Dwarf (Series 3, Episode 5: Timeslides.) and thank me later!
(5 / 5)
