Carcass

Released in November 1989, Symphonies of Sickness is the second full-length from Carcass. There is an atmosphere of horror throughout the album, from the intro to the dreary, oppressive riffs that define much of its sound. Even when they play fast, the riffs themselves feel slow and grim. Beneath the frantic picking and cacophonous blast beats lies a lurching melodic structure, built around slow, descending chromatic shapes that feel almost funereal in tone. These aren’t riffs that race; they drag themselves forward like a corpse, creating an illusion of speed layered over slow-moving musical ideas. “Reek of Putrefaction” showcases this perfectly, pairing frantic drums with riffs that crawl beneath the surface.

“Exhume to Consume” stands out with an eerie, rotten solo that adds perfectly to this feeling of horror and dread. “Embryonic Necropsy and Devourment” and “Slash Dementia” further demonstrate the band’s skill in blending fast playing with grinding riffs that feel slower and more deliberate. The raspier vocals suit the album’s atmosphere much better than the deeper ones, though the mixture isn’t bad.

The band would go on to become 'more serious' and added a new guitarist, but all they did was become more of a polished commercial product that lacked just about everything that made them matter. Symphonies of Sickness remains the best record Carcass ever released and is an essential piece of late ’80s death metal. This is definitely recommended.

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