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Rating: A year after the excellent "Necroticism," Carcass return to the recording studio. Whether as a divertissement or to test the synergy between the two axe-men Bill Steer and Michael Amott, the Englishmen bring to life the "Tools of the Trade" EP, one of the lesser-known episodes in the career of this band. The EP could be described as an appendix to "Necroticism," as it revisits the classic gore themes and maintains the style of the previous full-length album.
The content (four songs under twenty minutes) is, all in all, enjoyable, although at the end of the listen, there's a lingering bitter aftertaste. You might wonder why I express myself this way... and I'll promptly answer: in this small work, our guys seem like talented youngsters mimicking the real Carcass. This is confirmed when listening to "Tools of the Trade": if you exclude the title track, which is closer in style to "Symphonies," the other songs are rehashed material, like "Pyosisified (Still Rotten to the Gore)", which, as the title suggests, is nothing more than a re-recording of "Pyosisified (Rotten to the Gore)". Riffs heard and reheard even in "Hepatic Tissue Fermentation II", which borrows something from "Carneous Cacoffiny", just for a change. Finally, to end on a high note, what do we find? ...but of course, "Incarnated Solvent Abuse", a single from "Necroticism", also placed here for our delight.
In short, the album is good, it's still Carcass, not just any band; the only flaw is the lack of innovation, but it's also understandable, given that we're dealing with an EP. I recommend it to those familiar with Carcass even if they've never heard it before and to those in search of a smooth and enjoyable listen.
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Tools of the Trade (03:06)
Steel skin clips,
Forceps, grooved awl, retractors, needles
Gouges and saws,
Intestinal clamps, blunt dissectors,
Scalpels, pins, toothed directors.
Tools of the trade, forceps and blades
Skillfully lathed, for us to maim.
Bone levers, spikes, malleable scoops,
Plates and chisels, screws and spoons,
Drills, respatories, files and durettes,
Guillotines, gags and compression forceps.
Tools of the trade, ripping the rib-cage,
To remissly lustrate, so pleased to maim.
Retractors, mallets, rugines and benders,
Chisels, rods, sharps and catheters,
Trephines, undines, irons and styrups,
Depressors, tongues, sterile catgut.
Tools of the trade, stainless steel blades,
Painstakingly lathed, we're so pleased to maim.
02 Incarnated Solvent Abuse (04:44)
"If visible identification
Is not possible, the
Pathologist may be able
To take fingerprints from
The body. If decay has set
in,things become more
complicated..."
Intenacious
Intersecting
Reaving fats from
Corporal griskin
Culled for sodden
Gelatine brayed
Skeletal groats
Triturated
Desinently
Exsiccated
Sere glutenate brewed
For frivolous solvent abuse
Derogate coarse remains
For glue to dry
Despoiled marrow razed
A truculent shamble
So severe
Extravated bone
As adhesive incarnate
A pellucid quietus
Nocuously I create
Corporal glue
Breathe in the fumes
Mucilage vapours
Toxic fumes to savour
-Solo-
Comminuted remains
A gum to dry
A lissom gel so glazed
A truculent shambolic affair
The exsanguine esprit
Shorted as snuff
Rheumic oils forever
Bonded together as gum
Human glue
Choke on the fumes
Noxious vapours
Slaughterous labour
-Solo-
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