Certainly to be counted as originators of the gore-Death genre, CARCASS was a Liverpool based extreme Metal band formed in 1985 and masterminded by ex-NAPALM DEATH man Bill Steer and ex-ELECTRO HIPPIES vocalist / bassist JEFF WALKER, CARCASS' 1988 debut album, 'Reek Of Putrefaction', sparked immediate controversy with its cover depicting a collage of human flesh.

Bill Steer had first made his presence felt with DISATTACK, releasing a Hardcore / Punk "Dis-core" six song demo under that title, 'A Bomb Drops...', in March 1986. DISATTACK comprised Steer, vocalist Pek, bassist Paul and drummer Middie. The guitarist was an active promoter of extreme music, being co-publisher, alongside Middie and Pek, of the fanzine 'Phoenix From The Crypt'. Jeff Walker was to enroll, initially as bassist, and Ken Owen took over on drums as the transition to CARCASS was implemented. Steer and Walker's first musical experiences together were learning to play JUDAS PRIEST cover versions as a bedroom band, but this brand of traditional Metal soon gave way to something far more sinister.

The group's first set of CARCASS recordings came in 1987 with a thirteen track demo cassette entitled 'Flesh Ripping Sonic Torment'. Lead vocals on this session were provided by Sanjiv, this singer (the band never learned his surname), exited soon afterward. With Walker adopting the vocal role, a further five tracks were released in cassette form in 1988 dubbed 'Symphonies Of Sickness'. This set secured a recording contract with Nottingham's Earache Records.

Although CARCASS played intense Death Metal more than extreme enough to match the visuals, the group has since claimed that the whole point of 'Reek Of Putrefaction's sleeve art was in order to get it banned. Instead, it just sold more copies. Where CARCASS had scored a first was in their enthusiastic looting of medical text books in order to find inspiration. Previously the genre had stuck to hackneyed themes of Satanic practices, occult lore and historical brutality but CARCASS found richer, and far more realistic, realms to plunder. Due to 'Reek Of Putrefaction', fans discovered that words such as Uterogestation, Mucopurulence, Pyosisified and Detruncation, not previously deemed suitable for public consumption, were all too horrifyingly real. CARCASS went beyond mere shock value though, it soon being learned that behind the slabs of raw meat were a set of earnest vegetarians.

Radio One DJ John Peel, known for his adventurous tastes in music, pulled CARCASS into the BBC studios on December 13th, 1988 to record a session for his show. Produced by Dale Griffin these four tracks aired to the nation in January 1989 and would be followed up by a commercial release, 'The Peel Sessions EP', that same year. Band members notably credited themselves as W.G. Thorax Embalmer (Bill Steer), J. Offalmangler (Jeff Walker) and K. Grumegargler (Ken Owen).

Steer departed from NAPALM DEATH to concentrate fully on CARCASS just before recording of 1989's the 'Symphonies Of Sickness'. That same year the Mexican label Distorted Harmony issued a three track live EP, 'Live St. George's Hall, Bradford 15.11.89', comprising concert recordings from both the title's venue and London University. Although having the appearance of a budget bootleg, this 7" vinyl was originally authorised by the band, but would be heavily bootlegged in later years. On the live front, the group participated in the Earache organised "Grindcrusher" tour of Europe shoulder to shoulder with BOLT THROWER, MORBID ANGEL and NAPALM DEATH.

In an unexpected diversion, Bill Steer and Jeff Walker performed as fictional band SMEG AND THE HEADS in the 'Timelines' episode of TV comedy 'Red Dwarf' broadcast in December 1989.

CARCASS added Swedish guitarist Mike Amott, previously with CARNAGE, in March 1990 to thicken their live sound. That year, German shows saw ATROCITY as support act whilst Dutch gigs had ACROSTICHON opening. As the Grind wave peaked, February 1992's 'Necrotism - Descanting The Insalubrious' album, recorded at Amazon Studios in Simonswood with producer Colin Richardson, rapidly sold in excess of 100'000 copies. The combination of Colin Richardson behind the desk, Mike Amott on second guitar and a greater proficiency from the founding members took CARCASS to new heights of creativity and technical proficiency.

CARCASS played a brace of back to back Mexican gigs in March 1992 supported by CENOTAPH, DEADLY DARK and HARDWARE. Road work to promote the ensuing 'Necrotism' and the June 1992 'Tools Of The Trade' EP included last minute support dates alongside French Thrashers LOUDBLAST on DEATH's British tour when PESTILENCE pulled out. This was followed up by the epic Earache records 'Gods Of Grind' tour, featuring CARCASS, CATHEDRAL, ENTOMBED and CONFESSOR.

Amott departed after October 1993 album's 'Heartwork's completion in order to return to Sweden to form the highly rated SPIRITUAL BEGGERS and ARCH ENEMY. CARCASS, meantime, had endeavoured to mature in order to rid themselves of the Death Metal tag and progress musically. 'Heartwork', laid down that summer at Parr Street Studios with Colin Richardson, displayed a far greater degree of musicianship than its predecessors with classic Heavy Metal influences very much on display, especially on the guitar solos. The album also benefited from an HR Giger photographed sculpture, entitled 'Preserve Life', as its cover, as opposed to the expected dead meat.

In order to replace Amott CARCASS recruited ex VENOM guitarist, American born Mike Hickey for live work. The band toured Britain in December 1993 as guests alongside HEADSWIM to Rap Metallers BODY COUNT before a mammoth European and American tour. Sales of 'Heartwork' were strong, over 50'000 in America alone, and towards the end of the American dates the band were signed to Columbia Records. In June Hickey was replaced (later turning up in CATHEDRAL and CRONOS), by ex DEVOID guitarist Carlo Regadas.

In late 1995 Walker opted to tour with YEAR ZERO on a temporary basis whilst CARCASS waited for Columbia Records to release the new album. However, Columbia in America dropped the band during November resulting in the departure of Steer.

Although CARCASS regrouped and resigned the already recorded album to previous label Earache, Steer's departure left his former colleagues to carry on under the new banner of BLACKSTAR adding ex-CATHEDRAL and YEAR ZERO guitarist Mark Griffiths to the cause.

Ken Owen suffered a brain haemorrhage in his sleep in February 1999. This illness was to put the drummer into a coma for ten months and following surgery, in March 2000, Owen only left hospital in February 2001.

Steer had re-emerged in 1999 fronting BLACKSMITH. By the following year he had created FIREBIRD with CATHEDRAL's Leo Smee and SPIRITUAL BEGGERS Ludwig Witt. The CARCASS brand was kept in the public eye in 2001 with the issue of 'Requiems Of Revulsion' by Deathvomit Records, this being a tribute collection witnessing homage by such acts as REGURGITATE, PIG DESTROYER, DISGORGE, GENERAL SURGERY, DEAD INFECTION, AVULSED, IMPALED, VULGAR PIGEONS, NASUM, CATTLE DECAPITATION, ROTTEN SOUND, HAEMORRHAGE and ENGORGED.

Earache Records re-issued the first two CARCASS albums 'Reek Of Putrefaction' and 'Symphonies Of Sickness' in late 2002, restored with the banned sleeve art. Both albums had previously been unavailable with the original covers since 1992. Jeff Walker made a return to action in 2004, producing an album for Liverpool's DIAMANTHIAN. In October, Walker would act as guest vocalist on the NAPALM DEATH album 'The Code Is Red...Long Live The Code', featuring on the track 'Pledge Yourself To You'.

CARCASS frontman JEFF WALKER surprised many in October when he revealed he recorded a solo album comprising exclusively of Country and Blues covers ranging across such artists as SKEETER DAVIS, HANK WILLIAMS, JOHNNY CASH, CONNIE SMITH, and JOHN DENVER. Conducted naturally with an extreme Metal angle, the record, 'Welcome To Carcass Cuntry', besides including CARCASS colleagues Bill Steer and Ken Owen, featured a whole host of guest contributors including former CARCASS colleague Bill Steer, the H.I.M. duo of frontman Ville Valo, ex-FAITH NO MORE bassist Bill Gould and drummer Gas Lipstick and the AMORPHIS collective of guitarists Esa Holopainen and Tomi Koivusaari, bassist Niclas Etelävuori and keyboard player Santeri Kallio. Repaying the favour, Walker acted as studio guest for the AMORPHIS / H.I.M. side project TO SEPARATE THE FLESH FROM THE BONES debut album 'Utopia Sadistica'. Walker also contributed to the 'No End In Sight' album from THIS IS MENACE, a collaborative project of PITCHSHIFTER members bassist Mark Clayden and drummer Jason Bowld.

January 2006 found Walker joining infamous "Mexican" Death Metal band BRUJERIA for South American dates.

A re-activated CARCASS debuted on 6th June 2008 at the 'Sweden Rock' festival in Sölvesborg, Sweden. The group subsequently performed at the 'Hellfest' event in Clisson, France on 20th June 2008 and on 27th June at the 'Tuska' festival in Helsinki, Finland. The reunion line-up involved vocalist / guitarist Bill Steer, vocalist / bassist Jeff Walker, guitarist Michael Amott and ARCH ENEMY drummer Daniel Erlandsson. CARCASS announced North American concerts for September supported by ABORTED and NECROPHAGIST. In October the group hit Australia, performing in Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. CARCASS played their only UK date as the headliner of the 'Damnation' festival on Saturday, 22nd November at Leeds University. This marked the band's first show on home soil in 14 years.