Fear, Emptiness, Decibel: Carcass Dominate the October Issue of Decibel

Before there were blogs there were these things called magazines, and the only metal magazine we still get excited about reading every month is Decibel. Here’s managing editor Andrew Bonazelli…

It takes a special band to warrant both a Decibel cover story and flexi in the same issue. Last month, that band was Watain, but even those filthy degenerates would have to agree that the October issue is some next-level shit. Carcass take over in a big way.

Metal Archives lists the Liverpudlians as “Goregrind/Grindcore (early), Melodic Death Metal (mid), Death ‘n’ Roll (later),” and once they hear crazy-anticipated comeback Surgical Steel, they’ll have to tack on a “Melodic Death Metal (current).” How did Jeff Walker and Bill Steer get their mojo back a whopping 17 years after the roundly reviled Swansong, much less do so without the aid of Michael Amott, who’s back with Arch Enemy (possibly for good)? J. Bennett gets the scoop from Steer, Walker and new recruits Dan Wilding and Ben Ash. As usual, Jeff steals the show (“I hear what’s going on in modern metal, and I know what I don’t like”), but everyone offers substantive insight into the evolution of one of the most important bands in extreme music history.

There’s certainly a level of competitive arrogance in the Carcass comeback. Do they back it up? Find out for yourself by spinning “Zochrot,” an exclusive B-side that won’t be available anywhere but the Flexi Series. We’re not streaming this one, so if you wanna hear it, head to the Decibel webstore stat. There are only a handful of copies of the issue containing the flexi still available.

The October 2013 issue of Decibel also features High on Fire, Gorguts, and Napalm Death. You can purchase it here. But why not just get a full subscription to ensure that you never miss an issue?