Carcass
Reek Of Putrefaction

THE REVIEW

Shocking.

This is the adjective that best suits "Reek of Putrefaction," the debut album by the British band Carcass.

Released in 1988, "Reek of Putrefaction" is one of the first Grind albums in chronological order alongside the legendary "Scum" (Napalm Death, 1987), and a fundamental album for the development of the genre.

In the lineup, we find the explosive drummer Ken Owen (working here with a single bass drum), Jeff Walker (vocals/bass), and especially the former Napalm Death member Bill Steer (vocals/guitar), already heard on the B-side of "Scum."

The album is a true sonic massacre that in less than forty minutes can amaze the listener: in addition to the music, there are morbid yet even “funny” (?) lyrics and artwork depicting putrescent bodies.

Let's move on to the music: the album seems to open quietly, with a sinister synth in the background, but just a few seconds go by, and some heavy chords introduce us to "Genital Grinder", an instrumental opener that, in a cursed crescendo, leads us straight to "Regurgitation of Giblets," where Bill Steer's guttural growl and Owen's blast beats show us what Carcass is made of.

For the rest, analyzing the album track-by-track proves as futile as it is arduous because the songs are very short, fast, chaotic, and homogeneous and there are no drops until the end.

It’s a debut, so it has some typical limitations, such as tracks that may at times seem boring or alike or decidedly poor production, but that’s also what makes it appealing and "true" (a term borrowed from Black Metal).

Don’t expect an ultra-technical album like Necroticism, which will come out in ’91: what you will find in this album is violence, speed, and perversion.

Recommended for those who have already heard "Scum" and for those who think "Reign in Blood" is the most violent album ever.