.

CARCASS

w/ Terrorust and Picture The End

Billboards – Melbourne, 13th October, 2008.

***View more gig photos by clicking here!***

I had never really listened to Carcass much before. Perhaps if I were born some years earlier, I might have grown up listening to them in my youth, but nonetheless I headed along to catch them live in Melbourne at the Billboards venue in the heart of the Melbourne CBD.

It was always billed to be a massive event. Even with my lack of knowledge about the band, I did know they were huge and deserved respect no matter what my opinion on them, and on arriving at the venue to see over 1100 metal heads packing into the sold out venue, met equally impressively with all but sold out merchandise early in the night, it was confirmed to me that this night would surely go off.

With the intro voice over/sample suggesting we all vomit over the pope or something equally as rancid, Carcass hit the stage in true grinding fashion to a rapturous response. This of course was no surprise given it had been so long since Carcass’ first Australian tour, a fact highlighted when front man Jeff Walker couldn’t recall exactly how many years (15!) it was since they first graced our shores. The band played songs off most albums, but mainly concentrated on ‘Heartwork-era’ material. Tracks such as Corporeal Jigsaw Quandary, This Mortal Coil and Heartwork so many a crowd surfing fan ripping forcefully out of the pit by the overzealous security on the barrier.

The technical quality of performance cannot go unmentioned. Still after so many years of inactivity and line-up changes, the band delivered a near flawless performance which had the full attention and enjoyment of everyone in the venue. The classic British wittiness of Walker between songs was entertaining, none more so when he had to call out a roadie to tie up his shoelace on stage. And with the next chapter for Carcass being a likely disbandment, the thousands of us lucky enough to catch their last ever Australian shows will all be left with a memory than none will ever forget.

CARCASS MELBOURNE SETLIST: Monday 13th October, 2008
Inpropagation
Buried Dreams
Incarnate Solvent Abuse
Corporeal Jigsaw Quandary
No Love Lost
Edge Of Darkness
This Mortal Coil
Embodiment
Reek Of Putrefaction
Keep On Rotting
Genital Grinder
Rotten To The Gore
Death Certificate
Exhume To Consume
Heartwork

Reviewed by Brendan Amos.
Photos by Scott Boelsen.

Thanks to Soundworks Touring.