Carcass

goregrind, death metal, melodic death metal · Liverpool

Founded

1985

City

Liverpool

Hub region

English Midlands

Status as of 5 September 2026

active; Torn Arteries (2021); summer 2026 tour

Connections

20 edges, 20 distinct neighbors · betweenness 0.029 (rank 18 of 371) · people and production 0.086 (rank 3)

Confidence

High · sources: [W] [WSY] [WHW] [MIC] [PEL] [DGR] [MA] (register)

Reek of Putrefaction (1988) and Symphonies of Sickness (1989, Slaughterhouse, Colin Richardson) define goregrind; Necroticism (1991) and Heartwork (1993, Parr Street, Richardson) with Michael Amott make Carcass the band most often named as the first melodic death metal act. Heartwork is a Decibel Hall of Fame album. Jeff Walker and Bill Steer run the Necrosis imprint that releases Repulsion and Carnage.

Connections

People and personnel

• founderBill Steer1985 to present
• foundedNecrosis RecordsWalker and Steer's imprint1989
• joined fromMichael AmottNecroticism, Heartwork1990 to 1993
• produced byColin RichardsonSymphonies of Sickness, Necroticism, Heartwork1989 to 1993

Lineage

• came out ofNapalm DeathBill Steer, full time from July 19891989
• came out ofCarnageMichael Amott1990
• spawnedArch EnemyAmott after Heartwork1995

Recording credits

• recorded atSlaughterhouse StudiosSymphonies of Sickness1989

Influence

• influencedAt the GatesHeartwork as the first melodic death metal album in the usual account1993
• influencedExhumedGoregrind template1990
• influencedKillswitch EngageNamed by Adam Dutkiewicz1999

Labels, festivals, tours, collaborations

• collaborationCadaverThe Necrosis split with Carnage1990
• collaborationEntombedUK dates in June 1990 and Europe with Godflesh1990
• collaborationDecibelHall of Fame, Heartwork2013
• labelCombat RecordsUnited States release of Symphonies of Sickness1990
• labelEarache Records1988 to 1996
• labelNuclear Blast2013 to present
• festival, venue or tourJohn Peel sessionsTwo sessions; Peel champions Reek of Putrefaction1988, 1990
• festival, venue or tourGrindcrusher tour1989
• festival, venue or tourHellfest2026