British grindcore/death metal legends CARCASS will release their sixth full-length album, Surgical Steel, on September 16th (UK), September 13th (Rest of Europe) and September 17th (North America).

Prior to the album's release, Carcass will issue a 7" vinyl single, for the track 'Captive Bolt Pistol'. The single artwork can be seen below:

'Captive Bolt Pistol':

Surgical Steel, the band’s first studio release since their 1996 LP Swansong, was produced by Colin Richardson (NAPALM DEATH, BOLT THROWER, GOREFEST, CANNIBAL CORPSE, SINISTER, RODRIGO Y GABRIELA) and mixed/mastered by Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, ACCEPT, EXODUS, TESTAMENT). 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 worldwide.

About the album artwork, Jeff Walker states: "We went back to working with Ian Tilton, who is an iconic English photographer famous for working with THE STONE ROSES. He actually did the front cover for Necroticism... as well. We've deliberately tried to evoke the feeling of that album and Heartwork.”

Surgical Steel will feature the following 15 new songs:

'The Master Butcher’s Apron'

'The Granulating Dark Satanic Mills'

'A Congealed Clot Of Blood'

'A Wraith In The Apparatus'

'316l Grade Surgical Steel'

'Cadaver Pouch Conveyor System'

'Captive Bolt Pistol'

'Intensive Battery Brooding'

'None Compliance To Astm F899-12 Standard'

'Mount Of Execution'

'1985/Thrasher’s Abattoir'

'Unfit For Human Consumption'

'Zochrot'

'Livestock Marketplace'

Preview trailer:

Carcass has released several classic albums over the years, including Heartwork and Necroticism, 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.

AMON AMARTH, Carcass and HELL, comprise the fourth installment of the Defenders Of The Faith Tour, which runs throughout Europe and The UK in November and December; BLEED FROM WITHIN will join the package for The UK shows only.

Amon Amarth's Johan Hegg talks about their upcoming tour with Carcass: “We are excited to bring our Deceiver Of The Gods headline tour to Europe later this year. It is our first headline tour in a few years and we can't wait to give our fans a proper headline show. The tour is made extremely special with the amazing Carcass joining in the festivities, and our friends in Hell & Bleed From Within on the UK dates will help make this a night to remember for the fans. See you on the road.”

Carcass' Jeff Walker comments, “Carcass is extremely flattered & honoured having been press ganged by invitation into thralldom supporting everyone's favourite Nordic Musical Corsairs Amon Amarth. Lock up your daughters, your mothers, your grandmothers and in the case of Carcass your dead grandmothers - this tour is coming to rape & pillage your hearing... and leave you in the morning having made you breakfast in bed.”

Confirmed shows include:

November

7 - Oberhausen, Germany - Turbinen Halle
8 - Tilburg, Netherlands - O13
9 - Osnabrück, Germany - Hyde Park
10 - Brussels, Belgium - AB Hall
12 - Birmingham, UK - Academy
13 - Manchester, UK - Academy
14 - Glasgow, UK - Barrowland
15 - Bristol, UK - Academy
17 - London, UK - Forum
18 - Paris, France - Olympia
19 - Ludwigsburg, Germany - Arena
20 - Wiesbaden, Germany - Schlachthof
22 - Zürich, Switzerland - Komplex
23 - München, Germany - Kesselhaus
24 - Trezzo Sull'Adda (Milano), Italy - Live Club
25 - Wien, Austria - Gasometer
27 - Berlin, Germany - Columbiahalle
28 - Leipzig, Germany - Haus Auensee
29 - Hamburg, Germany - Docks

December

1 - Oslo, Norway - Rockefeller
3 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Tradgar'n
4 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Store Vega
6 - Malmo, Sweden - KB
7 - Stockholm, Sweden - Arenan
9 - Helsinki, Finland - Cable Factory

Heartwork, the classic album from Carcass, has been remastered with Full Dynamic Range audio and is available now on limited edition CD and LP.

Tracklisting:

'Buried Dreams'

'Carnal Forge'

'No Love Lost'

'Heartwork'

'Embodiment'

'This Mortal Coil'

'Arbeit Macht Fleisch'

'Blind Bleeding the Blind'

'Doctirnal Expletives'

'Death Certificate'

Bonus tracks:

'This Is Your Life'

'Rot ‘N’ Roll'

'Carnal Forge' (live in Tokyo)

'Heartwork' (live in Tokyo)

Originally released in 1993, Heartwork was Carcass' biggest-selling album, and their first to land in the top 50 of the UK charts. The album has been specially remastered from the original tapes using Full Dynamic Range (FDR) mastering, allowing the music's nuances to shine through and giving the whole album a more ferocious, immersive and dynamic sound than ever before.

The typical method of delivery for mastered audio involves using heavy limiting to restrict the dynamic range and increase perceived loudness. However, this results in unwanted artifacts caused by the process, such as the increased likelihood of distortion. This led to what is known as "the loudness wars", with the dynamic range of music being restricted more and more in an effort to make it sound louder.

Full Dynamic Range, on the other hand, delivers music at its optimum sound level dynamically, leaving the listener to decide on the playback level. This means that the track is not heavily limited to increase perceived loudness - you hear the tracks as they were made and intended to sound, with no loss of quality.

The Heartwork Full Dynamic Range edition is available now on CD, including four bonus tracks and a limited edition slipcase sleeve, and is also available on limited edition coloured vinyl LP in the following quantities and colours:

100 - Desensitized White (SOLD OUT)
200 - Right Ventricle Blue (SOLD OUT)
300 - Left Ventricle Red (SOLD OUT)
400 - Perpetual Decay Green
900 - Bleeding Dark Black

Get the Heartwork Full Dynamic Range Edition now on CD and LP in Europe here, or in North America here.

The Heartwork Full Dynamic Range Edition is also available now on iTunes here.