Album
Reek of Putrefaction
Reek of Putrefaction is the debut album from Carcass, the English extreme metal band. It came out on Earache Records on 28 July 1988, and it is regarded as the first goregrind release, a style the band pioneered. That alone gives it a place in the story of extreme metal, as the point where a whole sub-genre begins.
For anyone following the band's path, this is the starting line. Carcass would go on to make Symphonies of Sickness in 1989, Necroticism: Descanting the Insalubrious in 1991 and Heartwork in 1993, before Swansong in 1996. Hearing the first record first shows just how far they travelled from this raw, grinding beginning. It is essential listening for anyone curious about where goregrind started.
Reek of Putrefaction: tracklist and credits
22 tracks · 39:48Tracklist
- 1Genital GrinderOwen, Steer, Walker1:32
- 2Regurgitation of GibletsOwen, Steer, Walker1:24
- 3Maggot ColonyOwen, Steer, Walker1:38
- 4Pyosisified (Rotten to the Gore)Bill Steer and Jeff Walker2:55
- 5Carbonized Eye SocketsOwen, Steer, Walker1:11
- 6Frenzied DetruncationOwen, Steer, Walker0:59
- 7Vomited Anal TractOwen, Steer, Walker1:45
- 8FesterdayOwen, Steer, Walker0:22
- 9Fermenting InnardsOwen, Steer, Walker2:35
- 10Excreted AliveOwen, Steer, Walker1:21
- 11SuppurationOwen, Steer, Walker2:19
- 12FoeticideOwen, Steer, Walker2:46
- 13Microwaved UterogestationOwen, Steer, Walker1:24
- 14Feast on Dismembered CarnageOwen, Steer, Walker1:27
- 15Splattered CavitiesOwen, Steer, Walker1:54
- 16PsychopathologistOwen, Steer, Walker1:18
- 17Burnt to a CrispOwen, Steer, Walker2:43
- 18Pungent ExcruciationOwen, Steer, Walker2:31
- 19Manifestation of Verrucose UrethraOwen, Steer, Walker1:02
- 20Oxidised Razor MasticatorOwen, Steer, Walker3:12
- 21Mucopurulence ExcretorOwen, Steer, Walker1:10
- 22Malignant DefecationOwen, Steer, Walker2:15
- Produced by
- Carcass, Paul Talbot
- Executive producer
- Digby Pearson
- Recorded at
- Rich Bitch Studios
- Recorded
- December 1987–March 1988
- Mixed by
- Paul Talbot
- Mixed at
- Rich Bitch Studios
- Engineered by
- Mike Ivory, Paul Talbot
- Labels
- Earache Records, Earache, Combat (US)
- Length
- 39:48
Line-up
- Ken Owen · drums (drum set)
- Bill Steer · electric guitar
- Jeff Walker · bass
From MusicBrainz and Wikipedia. Only what the sources record is shown.
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Also released on 28 July
Every year →
More from Carcass
Full discography →
Peel Sessions
1989
Symphonies of Sickness
1989
Necroticism: Descanting the Insalubrious
1991
Tools of the Trade
1992
Buried Dreams
1993
Heartwork
1993
The Heartwork EP
1993
Swansong
1996
Wake Up and Smell the… Carcass
1996
Best of Carcass
1997
Choice Cuts
2004
Surgical Steel
2013
Carcass / Cerebral Bore
2014
Surgical Remission / Surplus Steel EP
2014
Despicable
2020
Torn Arteries
2021
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EP
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More on Earache Records
The label →Heartwork
Carcass · 1993
Necroticism: Descanting the Insalubrious
Carcass · 1991
Swansong
Carcass · 1996
Symphonies of Sickness
Carcass · 1989
Tools of the Trade
Carcass · 1992
Choice Cuts
Carcass · 2004
Wake Up and Smell the… Carcass
Carcass · 1996
Buried Dreams
Carcass · 1993
Carcass / Cerebral Bore
Carcass · 2014
The Heartwork EP
Carcass · 1993
Releases and pressings
How we know the release date wikipedia + wikidata
| Source | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| MusicBrainz | June 1988 | |
| Wikipedia infobox | 28 July 1988 | |
| Wikidata | 28 July 1988 | |
| UK / Europe release | June 1988 | earliest UK or European date |
15 editions
| Date | Country | Label | Barcode | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 1988 | GB | Earache Records | original | |
| 1994 | GB | Earache Records | 5018615100621 | other |
| 10 January 1995 | US | Earache Records | 745316000626 | other |
| 1 July 1996 | JP | TOY’S FACTORY | 4988061887470 | other |
| 29 July 2002 | XE | Earache Records | 5055006500653 | other |
| 20 August 2002 | US | Earache Records | 745316000619 | other |
| 2003 | RU | Earache Records | 4601250320397 | other |
| 24 March 2003 | GB | Earache Records | 5055006500615 | other |
| 22 September 2008 | GB | Earache Records | 5055006500646 | other |
| 28 October 2008 | US | Earache Records | 745316600123 | other |
| 9 September 2013 | GB | Earache Records | 5055006500639 | other |
| 25 October 2013 | XW | Earache Records | 5055006500639 | other |
| 11 December 2020 | XE | Earache Records | 5055006500653 | other |
| 2025 | GB | Earache Records | other | |
| 21 November 2025 | — | Earache Records | 5055006500684 | other |
Cover art sources
deezer · upscaled: major: best source 1200x1200, upscaled to 1500 (x1.25)
| Source | Size | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| deezer ✓ | 1200×1200 | upscaled: major: best source 1200x1200, upscaled to 1500 (x1.25) |
| coverartarchive | 1000×1000 | upscaled |
| fanarttv | 1000×1000 | upscaled |