The origins of Carcass go right back to 1985 when guitarist Bill Steer and drummer Ken Owen formed their first band together, Disattack. Bassist Jeff Walker joined in 1986 and the band soon changed their name to Carcass, issuing the legendary Flesh Ripping Sonic Torment demo the following year. The band then came to the attention of UK indie label Earache who issued their debut album Reek Of Putrefaction in 1988. Although mired by muddy production, the album’s extreme sound and shocking artwork helped make it something of an overnight sensation and generated the sort of publicity which set the band on their way to becoming extreme metal legends.
The band’s second album Symphonies Of Sickness, released in 1989, saw their sound begin to shift from grindcore to death metal, a trend which continued on 1991’s Necroticism - Descanting The Insalubrious and which concluded with the much slicker and more straightforward Heartwork, released in 1993. By this time, Carcass had become well-established as a twin-guitar band with Swedish axeman Michael Amott having joined their ranks in 1990. In 1994, the band signed with Columbia Records, a major deal which should have allowed them to break out of the underground. Instead, Amott’s departure following Heartwork, a lack of focus within the band and constant label interference culminating in a withdrawal of their support led the band to split up before their final album - 1996’s Swansong - was even released.
The band eventually reformed in 2007 with drummer Daniel Erlandsson replacing Ken Owen whose illness prevented him from taking part. In the years since their original demise, Carcass’ influence has continued to grow making their reunion shows some of the most hotly anticipated in recent times.
Wages Of Sin (2001), Anthems Of Rebellion (2003), Doomsday Machine (2005) and Rise Of The Tyrant (2007) have all seen Arch Enemy continue to expand their fan base, the latter being the band’s highest charting album to date. They are currently working on an album of re-recorded songs from the pre-Gossow era.
For one night only, two of death metal’s biggest names are set to bring mayhem to Bloodstock in what will surely go down in festival history as a truly unforgettable spectacle.
CARCASS vs. ARCH ENEMY – To The Death! - BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2009.
Line up so far: AMON AMARTH, APOCALYPTICA, ARCH ENEMY, BATTLELORE, CANDLEMASS, CARCASS, DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER, ENSLAVED, GWAR, KATATONIA, MILLION DOLLAR RELOAD, MUNICIPAL WASTE, SATYRICON, SAXON, TURISAS, THE HAUNTED, SABATON, WINTERSUN.
Date: 14th, 15th, 16th August 2009-01-26
Location: Catton Hall, Walton on Trent, Derbyshire
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www.bloodstock.uk.com
