Carcass
Reek Of Putrefaction

THE REVIEW

In a time not so long ago, there was a musical movement born from what they called the most extreme fringe of hardcore, namely crust punk. At this point, from this genre that fascinated many people, emerged in turn the most extreme part of crust punk! That is, what we would also define as the most fanatical area of metal.

In 1987, the cries of grindcore emerged from Napalm Death, very inclined towards punk/hardcore. But in another part of the world, there was a band called Carcass. They gave life in 1988 to the album in question. Our fellows were inclined to a more decayed and metallic sound compared to others. "Reek of Putrefaction" is like a piece of bread filled with nails, which, as soon as chewed, brings horrendous pains, the sound influenced by both death and hc, makes this album one of the most violent ever created in music. It’s mathematical just for the fact that the atmosphere it creates is somewhat dark as it is humorous, but not of the Humor that makes you laugh. Extremely low guitars, a bass that is not always absent, and a machine gun instead of drums. Genital Grinder introduces the listener to this room (when I use these euphemisms, it's only to indicate the tracks and the album), tied to a little bed and unable to react, sweating in front of the "classic" sadistic surgeon, leaning on the door with a tool in hand, ready to operate on you. Regurgitation of Giblets, Maggot Colony, Vomited Anal Tract, and Festerday are the songs I can mention in this album just to avoid turning the review into poetry.

The impression this album gave to the metallers of those times was almost one of paling. Even people accustomed to Death and Obituary were taken aback by an album of this kind. The ultra-fast tempos give rise to an atmosphere of suffering and sadism, with some hints of the pornographic but never vulgar, if anything, it can be Grand Guignolesque. Reading the lyrics may seem scandalous, but it never leaves a sense of fear and anguish. But the strength of this album is simply that, if you do not read the lyrics and if you listen to the whole album, it can also seem dark and gloomy. Perhaps Carcass might have seemed somewhat incapable of playing. But if you have hearing, and even a little, you can glimpse the musicians' ability to play. They can be like a punch in the face to those who only listen to Black Metal albums, believing it to be the most extreme of all; the guitar solos have that certain something of technicality, but not too much, mind you.

"Reek of Putrefaction" is fascinating in its splatter and extreme imagery, almost poetic (be careful, I'm not saying these guys are Ugo Foscolos, it's the imagery that appears to have a poetic vein, the cynicism and nihilism above all, but not the lyrics, mind you, because otherwise the poetry goes to ruin if these WERE poets in 1988).