As CARCASS, the originators of Gore Metal, gradually evolved into a more traditional Hard Rock outfit the band's later works, such as 'Heartworks' and 'Swansong', found the band so distanced from the original concept that a split was inevitable. Founder member and vocalist Jeff Walker resurfaced in 1996 with BLACKSTAR, an act very much musically akin to latter day CARCASS. BLACKSTAR, titled after a song on the final CARCASS album 'Heartwork', also featured two fellow erstwhile CARCASS members, guitarist Carlo Regadas and drummer Ken Owen, together with former CATHEDRAL guitarist Mark Griffiths. First product was a 1996 demo. Peaceville Records took the band on to issue a 1997 album 'Barbed Wire Soul'.

BLACKSTAR cut cover versions of HÜSKER DÜ's 'The Girl Who Lives On Heaven Hill' and THIN LIZZY's 'Running Back' for the 1998 Peaceville compilation 'X'.

In February of 1999, Ken Owen suffered from a brain haemorrhage at home and spent 10 months in hospital slowly emerging from a coma. His disability made it impossible for him to continue playing the drums and BLACKSTAR duly disbanded.

Jeff Walker, billed as JEFF WALKER UND DIE FLUFFERS, re-emerged with a solo album entitled 'Welcome To Carcass Cuntry', released on 9th May 2006 through Fractured Transmitter Records.He also toured with BRUJERIA under the pseudonym 'El Cynico'. In September 2007 Walker joined Bill Steer in a CARCASS reunion.