Carcass - Swansong

Swansong is the sound of Carcass walking away from death metal with a grin and a swagger, the 1996 album that traded gore for groove and still divides fans in the best possible way.

After Heartwork in 1993, the band signed with Columbia and set out to make their major-label debut. The partnership collapsed, the record went back to Earache, and by the time it reached shops the band had come apart, which made the title feel painfully apt. Recorded with producer Colin Richardson at Rockfield and Battery Studios, it is the only Carcass album with guitarist Carlo Regadas and the last with drummer Ken Owen.

What they made is a death 'n' roll record, packed with hard rock hooks and bluesy swing. "Keep On Rotting in the Free World" opens with a strutting riff that would not be out of place on a classic rock station, while "Tomorrow Belongs to Nobody" and "Black Star" lean on chunky, singalong choruses. "Room 101" takes its title from Orwell and rides a grimy, mid-paced groove. Jeff Walker's sneering vocals and Bill Steer's melodic leads keep the band's bite intact even as the songs loosen up.

Time has been kind to it, and many metalheads now call it an underrated gem. This Earache pressing is the perfect excuse to hear it again.