Carcass - Reek Of Putrefaction

This record is a good example of when undesired production quality ends up adding something to the end result, at least for some people. Initially when this came out, I thought that the 'production' on it was intentional. However, after having a conversation with Bill Steer at a Carcass gig in 1989, he made it clear that the production was not as they intended, and in fact (as hinted at in the album credits for the studio), it was a struggle for them to just get something on tape - apparently they had to rerecord parts of it and generally struggle with the recording. Carcasses later records probably show the bands desired sound, much more defined and 'sharp' sounding.

However, intentionally or unintentionally, the sound of this release just fits in perfectly with the concept. It sounds raw, indistinct, purified. In the fast sections, the instruments decay into one claustrophobic mush, only the cymbals and vocals escaping the soup.

Getting past the splattered mush of sound, the album has some classic mid tempo 'mosh' sections (perhaps the best example is in "Psycopathologist"), and early use of the pitch shift effect making the vocals sound like the undead from Evil Dead II and 'Bub' from "Day Of The Dead" are on vocals. There are some crazed out-of-nowhere kill frenzy guitar 'solos', and even though there are usually many tempo changes and sections in each track, there seems to be a point to the intricacies, and the tracks hang together through the changes.

Finally, through all the heavy riffage and gargling, the humor in this release is unmistakable, which just tops it off nicely.

"Burnt to a crisp,
Your hair is singed,
Devouring your scalp,
Receding your fringe"

Top marks.