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Carcass: Swansong

27/02/04 || Statik Majik

Few years after the classic “Necroticism”, Carcass released “Heartwork” which basically was a milestone of somekind for their career. They took sligthly different approach to music with it, and continued that with Swansong. No more long, brutal in your face deathmetal with wierd medical lyriclines. Songs became much catchier and you could say that they became easier to approach for wider audience as well. I think I read somewhere that they described their slightly changed direction as “Rot & roll”. Yeah, I know, they even made a song titled as that during the “Heartwork” sessions and released it in the “Heartwork” single. But I also think that describes the music pretty well. The songs are catchy as hell, have more cleaner, “professional” production than their earlier material had, except for the “Heartwork” album which has very similar sound to Swansong.

What I slightly miss both in “Heartwork” and “Swansong” is Bill Steer´s guttural growls. After “Heartwork” they left the vocal duties solely to Jeff´s shoulders. Well, to be honest, that might be good solution concerning the music ain´t that much of regular deathmetal anymore. And right after “Heartwork” Mike Amott left the band and joined Arch Enemy. He was replaced by Carlo Regadas. I don´t know is it because of this or not but there ain´t that much of melodic harmonies/solos in “Swansong”. Not that there were much of those in “Heartwork” either. They concentrate more on the shorter songs with catchier riffs. Just listen to songs like “Black Star”, “Room 101” or “Polarized” and try to compare to them for example to “Incarnated Solvents Abuse” from Necroticism album. Then you´ll know what I´m talking about. It´s in your face rock´n roll played with heavier attitude. That´s the best way to describe it.

What I don´t miss though is the hard-to-understand lyrics. Jeff has totally different style for lyrics here. I wouldn´t call these the basic (death)metal lyrics, but they fit the music damn well. And are quite refreshing when compared to “blood-and-guts-hail-satan” or “I hate you and myself so much – my life is so fucken depressing” lyrics alot of bands today seem to have. And at least to me it sounds like Carcass never had overwhelmingly serious attitude with the lyrics. As you´ll probably notice from the song titles too. Even if they threw the medical dictionary into the trashcan, the attitude towards songwriting remained. Which is a good thing, if I may add.

My favourite lines are probably from the last song, “Go To Hell”. The whole song has good, well thought points. For example: “The sins of the flesh sound so appealing, so let me wallow in my guilt. Your hell will be my heaven, so let´s turn up the heat, let eternity begin, and go to hell…” You get the point. Hopefully. And no, personally I don´t think this song has any antireligious message, more like living your life here on earth and taking all good aspects of it without feeling any guilt for what ya choose to do. But all this written in slightly humorous way.

The album title gave a small hint what happened after this album. That´s right, they called the quits. Earache released one compilation album after this, but “Swansong” definatelly was their… well, swansong. And even though I am not aware of all the reasons why they ended Carcass, I think they did it with style. This is fucken strong album if you ask me. Not the best effort from them, but still. And I´d take “Necroticism” over “Swansong” (or “Heartwork”) any given day, for what it´s worth.

7 /10

Information
Released: 1996
Label: Earache
Website:
Band
Jeff Walker: bass, vocals
Bill Steer: guitar
Carlo Regadas: guitar
Ken Owen: drums

Tracklist
01. Keep on Rotting in the Free World
02. Tomorrow Belongs To Nobody
03. Black Star
04. Cross My Heart
05. Childs Play
06. Room 101
07. Polarized
08. Generation Hexed
09. Firm Hand
10. Rock the Vote
11. Don´t Believe a Word
12. Go To Hell

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