• Remastered
• Full Dynamic Range pressing
• Pressed from original tapes
• Import
  
  

Carcass released Heartwork in 1993 as a watershed moment in their artistic trajectory. Having spent the previous decade establishing themselves as pioneers of grindcore's most technically uncompromising strain, the band shifted decidedly toward melodic death metal territory with this album, retaining their signature brutality while incorporating sweeping guitar harmonies and structured songwriting. Heartwork stands as their most accessible work without sacrificing the band's underlying ferocity, marking a deliberate evolution that would influence the melodic death metal landscape for years to come.

The record opens with "Buried Dreams," a track that immediately signals the band's new approach—intricate riffing paired with Jeff Walker's snarled vocals creating an aggressive yet memorable framework. Standouts like "Carnal Forge" and "No Love Lost" showcase the band's ability to balance technical precision with hooks that lodge themselves in the listener's mind. The title track "Heartwork" exemplifies their craft, building from grinding intensity into passages of genuine melodic invention. Throughout, Carcass maintains a atmosphere of controlled chaos—themes of mortality and bodily decay rendered with surgical clarity over instrumentation that's both punishing and unexpectedly elegant. "This Mortal Coil" and "Embodiment" further demonstrate the album's range, proving the band could expand their sonic palette without abandoning their core identity.

This 2017 reissue restores Heartwork to vinyl with remastered audio sourced from the original tapes, capturing the album's full dynamic range with clarity that honors both the songwriting and performances. The package includes printed inner sleeves with complete lyrics and credits, while H.R. Giger's original artwork—"Preserve Life" and "Life Support"—graces the cover and interior, reinforcing the album's thematic marriage of art and aggression. Essential for collectors and those seeking the optimal format for experiencing one of melodic death metal's pivotal statements.

Tracklist:

A1. Buried Dreams (3:59)
A2. Carnal Forge (3:55)
A3. No Love Lost (3:23)
A4. Heartwork (4:33)
A5. Embodiment (5:37)
B1. This Mortal Coil (3:50)
B2. Arbeit Macht Fleisch (4:22)
B3. Blind Bleeding The Blind (4:56)
B4. Doctrinal Expletives (3:39)
B5. Death Certificate (3:36)