VARIOUS ARTISTS „Gods of Guts – A Tribute to Carcass”

Music: Death/Grind/Gore
Country: Poland
Website: https://www.metalcentre.com
Duration: 49.19


Cool Songs: Devilyn – Heartwork, Cremaster – Rot n Roll, Mala Fides – Incarnate Solvent Abuse, Requiem – This Mortal Coil.

It seems as though my last few weeks have been spent listening to and reviewing either Reunion comeback albums or tribute affairs. I like a good cover version, but I don’t normally seek out such releases, nor do I really consider them essential purchases. Like the reunion album, the tribute album also seems to be drawn from proverbial bottomless well – name any long standing metal band and you’ll most likely be able to find some sort of full length affair (several for some – eg. Iron Maiden) laid down by their peers in their honour.

Furthermore, the tribute album can be produced by just about anyone – from mainstream metal acts to the extreme underground. Gore grind cum classic metallers ‘Carcass’ have received their fair share of ‘tributes’ over the years, but probably not quite like this release from Poland’s MetalRulez Productions. Suitably entitled ‘Gods of Guts’ with equally tasteful artwork attached, this release is a fifteen track homage to ‘Carcass’ as performed by fifteen of Poland’s up and coming extreme metal acts.

You either have to be a local Polish native or an absolute underground metal aficionado to have even heard of these bands – still, not knowing 95% of these acts didn’t stop me from enjoying the splatter fest that has been captured here. Having said that, ‘GOG’ isn’t as ‘gore’ laden as it could have been, with 10 of the 15 tracks performed here are taken from Carcass’ last three albums – ‘Necroticism, Heartwork and Swan Song’. Perhaps their earlier work is just a tad too difficult to pull off with the same blood soaked, offal drenched attitude.

So who do we get ? Well, you’d be a better man than me to recognise anyone other than Polish deathsters ‘Devilyn’ from this line up. They throw up what appears to be a live version of ‘Heartwork’ (always one of my favourite metal riffs ever!) and whilst the sound quality isn’t quite there, they certainly churn out a fine rendition. And that’s the main problem with this release – the production values are not in what you would call ‘Andy Sneap’ territory – however, recognising that this is an underground release on a very small, obscure label without massive financial backing, the audio quality and individual track productions, as raw as they are, are quite acceptable. Looking for other highlights I’m quite partial to ‘Cremaster’s’ thrashed up version of ‘Rot ‘n’ Roll’, ‘Interior’ lay down a rather spiteful version of ‘Keep on Rotting in the Free World, ‘Mala Fides’ tear up ‘Incarnate Solvent Abuse’ and ‘Requiem’s’ take on ‘This Mortal Coil’ is quite enjoyable also.

There are better cover versions of these Carcass tracks out there somewhere, but as far as the Polish take is concerned, the perspective of ‘Gods of Guts’ is raw, ugly and sick as hell. Just like early Carcass really. I won’t say that this is essential listening, but ff you’re keen on investigating this release a little further (and you won’t find a copy anywhere in Australia), head on over to Metal Centre.com for ordering details. If you’re lucky the boys will even throw in a bag of stench reeking intestines for the full Carcass effect.

note: 7

Tracklist

Rot n Roll – CREMASTER
Corporal Jigsore Quandary – TURIN TURAMBAR
Die in Pain – THE DEAD
Black Star – FAECES
Death Certificate – HEATENIC NOIZ ARCHITECT
Psychopathologist – LUSTMORD
Keep on Rotting in the Free World – INTERIOR
Malignant Defacation – NEUROPATHIA
Polarised – SACRILEGE
Genital Grinder – PATOLOGICUM
Heartwork – DEVILYN
Incarnate Solvent Abuse – MALA FIDES
This Mortal Coil – REQUIEM
This is Your Life – MASTABAH
R**k the Vote – MANIPULATION