Disinterred British extreme metal legends CARCASS scanned 8,422 copies of Surgical Steel in its first week of sales in the United States according to Nielson Soundscan. The record came in at #41 on the US Billboard Top 200 Chart, making it their highest first week sales ever and their highest charting release to date! In contrast, their last full-length release 1996’s Swansong sold just under 2,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release.
Commented the band:
"Wow! Well we had every faith in the fact that we've recorded a very strong album and we had every faith in our label Nuclear Blast that they would work their asses off - but this is AMAZING news!!! This even more impressive when you consider that our album leaked a month before
the release date AND that we didn't target the charts in the Summer when it was ‘soft’ and easier to chart high. CARCASS was up against some strong mainstream releases this past week! Thanks to all the listeners who bought the album- it goes to prove to all the cynics out there wrong - people DO still buy albums -especially Metalheads! If you bought the album you should be proud of yourselves! Again thanks from us!"
Surgical Steel first-week chart positions around the globe:
USA: #41
Finland: #6
Germany: #10
Austria: #24
Sweden: #42 (Sweden Rock/Metal #4)
UK: #47 (UK Indie #13, UK Rock #4)
Australia: #59
Netherlands: #73
France: #80
Ireland: #84 (Ireland Indie: #15)
Belgium: #117 (Flanders #130, Walloonia #87)
The long-awaited sixth full-length album by CARCASS, is available on several collectible formats and can now be ordered with or without an exclusive t-shirt design here http://smarturl.it/SurgicalSteelCD.
Surgical Steel was produced by Colin Richardson (NAPALM DEATH, BOLT THROWER, GOREFEST, CANNIBALCORPSE, SINISTER, RODRIGO Y GABRIELA) and mixed/mastered by Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, ACCEPT, EXODUS, TESTAMENT). “We went back to working with Ian Tilton, who is an iconic English photographer famous for working with THE STONE ROSES,” stated frontman Jeff Walker regarding the cover artwork. “He actually did the front cover for Necroticism... as well. We've deliberately tried to evoke the feeling of that album and Heartwork.” Joining guitarist Bill Steer and bassist/vocalist Jeff Walker in the band's current incarnation are new drummer Dan Wilding (ABORTED, TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED) and guitarist Ben Ash (PIG IRON, DESOLATION, LIQUEFIED SKELETON). Expect some guest vocals from original sticksman Ken Owen as well, when Surgical Steel is finally released this Fall.
CARCASS has released several classic albums over the years, including Decibel Magazine “Hall of Fame” inductees Heartwork and Necroticism – Descanting the Insalubrious, and their influence has changed the face of extreme metal with every consecutive release. Whether it was inventing gore-grind (i.e. Reek of Putrefaction, Symphonies of Sickness) or creating the template for melodic death metal (i.e. Heartwork), CARCASS has always made records by which bars were set and rules were broken. Upon the band’s dismantling in 1996, fans mourned the loss of the seminal act and longed that the group would return again one day. In 2007, the metal world got its wish as CARCASS reformed to play several sold-out reunion shows around the globe. Once again re-motivated to administer a shot of cynicism and infectious riffs into the arm of a sickly metal scene, founding members Bill Steer and Jeff Walker began writing what would become the latest output of their highly influential career, Surgical Steel. Only the choicest of cuts were made, and blood sweat and tears were shed to bring us a record worthy of the CARCASS legacy. In short, Surgical Steel is just what the doctor ordered.
More on Surgical Steel:
Track-by-track part 1: http://youtu.be/SeRzsl6C67M
Track-by-track part 2: http://youtu.be/nLFFvsT9xAc
Track-by-track part 3: http://youtu.be/QNvzrOurFHA
“Captive Bolt Pistol” lyric video: http://goo.gl/X
