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Carcass - Swansong Audio CD

A fair review of the Carcass "Swansong" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Carcass reviews here, or go back to the Carcass tabs.

Carcass Band: Carcass
Title: Swansong
Rating:
Release Date: 1996-06-04
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Keep on Rotting in the Free World 2: Tomorrow Belongs to Nobody 3: Black Star 4: Cross My Heart 5: Child's Play 6: Room 101 7: Polarized 8: Generation Hexed 9: Firm Hand 10: R**k the Vote 11: Don't Believe a Word 12: Go to Hell

A great metal band a the peak of their creativity
Considering what they went through to get this record out and the fact that it wasn't even fully mastered is mind blowing. I don't know why I overlooked this in 1996, but the recent tour inspired my purchase. Heavy riffs, good lyrics, great melodic guitars. . . . . buy it. It adds well to the previous two albums, Necrotisism and Heartwork.


Everyone hates this album except me...
I still don't understand why. For those who love Carcass, when you speak the words "Swansong", most will shutter and pretend the album never existed. Because there are no fast parts or blast beats? So what. . . Let's look at what else is still there. . . Heavy guitar tone; check. Growling vocals; check. Incredible recording production; check. Slick guitar leads; check. Downtuned guitars; check. . .

So, the majority hate this album because Carcass replaced blast beats with a forward driving rhythm feel? It's absurd to me. It's not like the guys in Carcass pulled a Metallica and completely changed EVERYTHING fans loved about them and tried to appeal the masses. Wait, don't stop me and say "yes they did, this was their attempt to appeal to a major label audience. . . " Do those vocals sound "appealing" to a mass audience to you?

Oh, and let's forget about the fact that Swansong has one of the most incredible heavy guitar tones ever produced. Yeah, let's somehow overlook that. . .

This is what I hate about most "alternative" genres of music, including metal, hardcore, punk, etc. . . Eventually, its fans can somehow become the very antithesis of what their beloved genres are supposed to be about. . . thinking outside the box, and being bold enough to try something new. Nope nope, we don't want that at all. We want more of exactly the same from our heroes and artists.

Give me a break. Swansong is a bold and creative statement that works well in its own right, and I love Carcass that much more as a whole for giving it to me. And I'll take it and run with it, because apparently I'm the only one who thinks so.
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a metal classic
If you don't have this, do yourself a favour and pick this up, its the real deal, some of the best riffs ever, amazing solos too. Incredible album, along with heartwork. Check out Barbed Wire Soul by BlackStar too ( the band most of these guys moved onto after this one )

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Fun


The technical skill is not particularly impressive (with some recycled guitar solos), some metal fans might be scared off by the sometimes comical, and at other times hardcore/punk inspired lyrics (mainly centering around the decadence and apathy problems in western culture) and this is definatly not the type of music you can get angry or inspired by - but the album has some value as being just plain fun to listen to, with some very addictive grooves and great sing along parts. As long as you don't go out of your way trying to overanalyze, seek for deep meanings or some sort of philosophical statement within Swansong, what you have here is definatly an entertaining metal album.

You'll find yourself singing along to Swansong in your best imitation Carcass Jeffrey Walker voice, especially to the very catchy "keep on rotting in the free world" and "generation hexed. " I dont really understand why some Hessians think Carcass 'sold out' with this album, I never really took them as a serious underground force in the first place that held some sort of sacred 'trve kvlt' vow. Carcass was always about headbanging, and they continue in that tradition with Swansong.

Just don't come into Swansong expecting the same band from Symphonies Of Sickness; the creators of the goregrind genre now sound a lot more like a traditional heavy metal band influenced by mainstream rock, punk, hardcore, death metal and grindcore. The end product sounds quite unique, although it almost loses its underground edge. Listen to Swansong to be entertained and the tendency to call Carcass sellouts slowly evaporates.

Also i'm pretty sure there is several parts in Swansong where a cowbell is used, and you can't beat that.


swansong rules
It's Swansong! And it's not grind or death or melodic death. It's not Reek or Symphonies or Necrotism or Heartwork. It's M-E-T-A-L. Dig? Sick riffs, great singing, and awesome production. If songs like Tomorrow Belongs to Nobody, Cross My Heart, Don't Believe a Word, and Black Star don't rock your world, then your world doesn't rock. End of story. .


You can see a complete list of all Carcass discography, or go back to the Carcass tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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