Swansong
Swansong is the fifth studio album by Carcass, the English extreme metal band, and it came out in 1996 on Earache Records. It follows Heartwork and finds the group turning towards a death 'n' roll sound, a looser, more rock-leaning take on their death metal roots. It is the only Carcass record to feature guitarist Carlo Regadas, and the last with founding drummer Ken Owen.
The story behind it is a good one. After the success of Heartwork, Columbia Records signed the band, and Swansong was meant to be their major label debut. Disputes with the company sent them back to Earache instead. Critics were mixed on release, but it is a fascinating document of a band changing course. It was also their final studio album for over 17 years, until Surgical Steel arrived in 2013. A 2008 reissue added a bonus disc in dualdisc form.
Swansong: tracklist, credits and charts
12 tracks · 49:44Tracklist
- 1Keep On Rotting in the Free WorldJeff Walker3:42
- 2Tomorrow Belongs to NobodyBill Steer and Jeff Walker4:18
- 3Black StarCarlo Regadas and Jeff Walker3:29
- 4Cross My HeartBill Steer and Jeff Walker3:34
- 5Child’s PlayBill Steer and Jeff Walker5:42
- 6Room 101Bill Steer and Jeff Walker4:36
- 7PolarizedRegadas, Steer, Walker4:02
- 8Generation HexedBill Steer and Jeff Walker3:47
- 9Firm HandCarlo Regadas and Jeff Walker5:22
- 10R**k the VoteJeff Walker3:53
- 11Don’t Believe a WordBill Steer and Jeff Walker3:57
- 12Go to HellJeff Walker3:22
- Produced by
- Colin Richardson
- Recorded at
- Rockfield Studios (Battery Studios), Battery Studios
- Recorded
- February–April 1995
- Mixed at
- Battery Studios
- Engineered by
- Stephen Harris
- Labels
- Earache Records, Earache
- Length
- 49:44
Line-up
- Ken Owen · drums (drum set)
- Carlo Regadas · guitar
- Bill Steer · guitar
- Jeff Walker · bass guitar, vocals
Singles
- “Go to Hell” · 1996
Peak chart positions
| Chart | Peak |
|---|---|
| Finnish Albums · 1996 | 33 |
| US Heatseekers · 1996 | 46 |
From MusicBrainz, Wikipedia and Wikidata. Only what the sources record is shown.
Released the same week
Also released on 10 June
Every year →
More from Carcass
Full discography →
The best of 1996
All of 1996 →
More on Earache Records
The label →Releases and pressings
How we know the release date sources disagree on the year (1995, 1996)
| Source | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| MusicBrainz | 1995 | |
| Wikipedia infobox | 10 June 1996 | |
| Wikidata | 1 June 1996 | |
| US release | 4 June 1996 | earliest US date |
| UK / Europe release | 10 June 1996 | earliest UK or European date |
17 editions
| Date | Country | Label | Barcode | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | AU | Earache Records | 5021456087334 | original |
| 1996 | US | Earache Records | 5055006516012 | other |
| June 1996 | GB | Earache Records | 5018615116011 | other |
| June 1996 | GB | Earache Records | 5018615116028 | other |
| 1 June 1996 | JP | TOY’S FACTORY | 4988061887890 | other |
| 4 June 1996 | US | Earache Records | 745316016023 | other |
| 10 June 1996 | GB | Earache Records | 5018615116028 | other |
| 24 June 2004 | GB | Earache Records | 5055006516012 | other |
| 28 June 2004 | GB | Earache Records | 5055006516043 | other |
| 7 September 2004 | US | Earache Records | 0745316160122 | other |
| 2006 | AR | Del Imaginario Discos | 3256981466497 | other |
| 21 July 2008 | XE | Earache Records | 5055006516067 | other |
| 2 September 2008 | US | Earache Records | 745316160221 | other |
| 25 October 2008 | JP | TOY’S FACTORY | 4988061874555 | other |
| 25 March 2009 | XW | Earache Records | 5055006516012 | other |
| 12 November 2013 | XW | Earache Records | 5055006516098 | other |
| 11 December 2020 | GB | Earache Records | 5055006516036 | 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) |
| fanarttv | 1000×1000 | upscaled |
| coverartarchive | 600×600 | upscaled |