Description
Carcass – Despicable – 10 Inch Red Vinyl Record
Carcass’ Despicable (2020) is an EP released by the influential British death metal and grindcore band as a teaser for their highly anticipated full-length album Torn Arteries. The EP marks the band’s first release since 2013’s Surgical Steel and showcases their signature blend of melodic death metal and grindcore elements. With Despicable, Carcass reaffirms their position as pioneers of the extreme metal genre, while also evolving their sound to incorporate modern metal influences.
Despicable continues Carcass’ exploration of melodic death metal mixed with their grindcore roots. The EP balances technical proficiency with aggressive, fast-paced riffs, heavy distortion, and intricate solos. Carcass’ trademark blend of brutal riffing and melodic guitar work is on full display. The band’s musicianship is tight and polished, with a precise yet chaotic energy. The production is crisp, allowing every note to cut through while maintaining a dense, punishing sound. This contrasts with their early, raw grindcore releases, showing how far the band has come in terms of technical skill and production values. While maintaining the intensity expected of Carcass, Despicable features some surprisingly catchy grooves and hooks. The band incorporates more mid-tempo sections, allowing for a blend of heaviness and melody, which makes the songs memorable without losing their edge.
Key Tracks
“The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue”: The opening track is a blend of technical riffing and melodic death metal elements. With its intricate guitar work and galloping rhythms, the song showcases the band’s ability to craft brutal yet melodic compositions. The title pays homage to a 1974 horror film, a nod to the band’s longstanding fascination with horror themes.
“The Long and Winding Bier Road”: One of the more melodic tracks on the EP, this song features intricate harmonized guitar lines and a memorable groove. The melodic approach contrasts with the heavier, grindcore-infused sections, highlighting Carcass’ versatility. Lyrically, the song carries a dark sense of humor, with themes of death and mortality woven throughout.
“Under the Scalpel Blade”: Originally released as a single, this track leans heavily into the death metal side of Carcass’ sound. With punishing riffs, blast beats, and guttural vocals, the song delivers a relentless assault. Its surgical theme ties into the band’s long history of using medical and anatomical imagery in their music.
“Slaughtered in Soho”: A faster, more aggressive track that channels Carcass’ grindcore roots. The song’s raw energy and sharp, cutting riffs make it one of the heavier tracks on the EP. The track’s title refers to the London district of Soho, continuing Carcass’ penchant for geographical references and grim imagery.
True to Carcass’ legacy, the lyrics on Despicable are filled with gruesome imagery related to death, disease, and medical procedures. The band has long been known for their creative and grotesque wordplay, and the EP continues this tradition with titles like “Under the Scalpel Blade” and “The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue.” While the lyrics are often grotesque, they are also laced with a dark sense of humor. Carcass has always balanced their extreme imagery with a tongue-in-cheek approach, making their lyrics both horrific and playful. Themes of mortality, decay, and the inevitable march toward death permeate the EP. These themes are explored through both literal and metaphorical lenses, with vivid depictions of bodily decay and references to societal collapse and corruption.
The dual guitar work of Bill Steer and Tom Draper is a standout feature of Despicable. Their ability to shift between fast, grinding riffs and melodic solos gives the songs depth and complexity. The technical precision of their playing, particularly in the harmonized lead sections, is a testament to the band’s musicianship. Jeff Walker’s distinctive snarling growls remain a defining element of Carcass’ sound. His vocals on Despicable are as biting and aggressive as ever, delivering the grim lyrics with venom and intensity. The drumming by Daniel Wilding is fast, precise, and relentless, providing the backbone for the chaotic guitar work. The rhythm section adds weight to the songs, with punishing blast beats and tight, rhythmic shifts that keep the listener engaged.
Despicable represents Carcass’ continued relevance in the extreme metal scene. After their reunion and the success of Surgical Steel (2013), this EP reaffirms that the band is still a major force in death metal. The EP bridges the gap between their early grindcore style and the more polished melodic death metal sound they developed later in their career.
Carcass has long been a pivotal band in the development of grindcore and melodic death metal. Despicable shows their ability to maintain the influence they have had over the years while evolving their sound to keep up with modern metal trends. As a precursor to their full-length album Torn Arteries, Despicable helped generate excitement among fans and critics alike. It serves as a strong indication that Carcass still has plenty of creative energy and innovation left.
Despicable by Carcass is a powerful EP that highlights the band’s continued dominance in the death metal and grindcore genres. With its mix of technical guitar work, brutal vocals, and dark, medically-themed lyrics, the EP serves as a fitting continuation of Carcass’ legacy. Fans of the band and extreme metal alike will appreciate the blend of melody and aggression that defines Despicable, as it captures everything that has made Carcass one of the most influential bands in metal history.
Limited to 1.250 copies. Of these, 350 were earmarked for Europe.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic
Track Listing
The Living Dead At The Manchester Morgue
The Long And Winding Bier Road
Under The Scalpel Blade
Slaughtered In Soho
