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Released by: Relapse Records
Released on: 6/21/2011
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When I was a young metalhead, I took a lot of risks. Whether it was shooting myself because Judas Priest said so or practicing necrophilia like my pals in Cannibal Corpse, I made sure to live on the edge...FOR METAL! One of the biggest risks I used to take was spending my money on some band I had never heard. As a thirteen or fourteen year old, I didn't have a steady source of income (my gigolo years weren't until high school when I "volunteered" at the nursing home). Finding new bands wasn't really a problem, but finding bands that I liked was something else all together. While listening to albums, I would look through the "Thanks" lists at the back for bands to check out. I would also flip through all the cds at my local store and look for logos that I couldn't read. It wasn't til around 94-95 that I started getting the Relapse catalog. They had descriptions of bands' sounds, so I wasn't entirely in the dark (though, I'm still really pissed at the description they had for Ethereal - Om Santhi...dickbags). Before this, though (learn how to write coherent paragraphs, dildo), I used to read Metal Maniacs. Every twenty pages or so, there'd be a full page ad for a t-shirt company. This was where I first saw General Surgery. The name was written grossly, but legibly. There were weird dudes in wild hats using a torturous device on it. I needed to hear this band! I was able to find it at a store and bought it without hesitation. That was about seventeen years ago. I still have it, but, to be honest, haven't listened to it in a few years. This 20th anniversary reissue was just the kick to the stinkbag that I needed.
What can I say about this album that hasn't already been said in the past score years? Who cares, 'cause I can't remember anything I've read about it anyway. This is gory early Carcass worship, plain and simple. Don't get me wrong, though, these Swedes mean business (Matti Karki from Dismember is on this EP). They blast out seven sickening goregrind tracks in just under seventeen minutes (well, six...the first is just a metal intro). Like their predecessors in Carcass, General Surgery uses wild medical terminology and violence in their song titles and lyrics (e.g. "Slithering Maceration of Ulcerous Facial Tissue,"The Succulent Aftermath of a Subdural Hemorrhage, and "Grotesque Laceration of Mortified Flesh"). They also offer up a pretty cool dueling vocal approach. Whether they're trading off verses/lines or doubling up on each other, they always keep it interesting. Musically, they're not breaking any new ground. However, they're really good at what they do. I'd say this is Symphonies of Sickness through a Swedish filter. I'm not trying to sell them short, but whatever. Eat me.
Topping this EP reissue off are three bonus tracks. They're different versions of "Slithering Maceration [...]," "The Succulent Aftermath [...]," and "Grotesque Laceration [...]." Are they demo versions? Fucked if I know. I don't have the packaging and they made no mention on the download site. Poor decision, Relapse. Anyway, the music is cool, a little less muddy and heavy. The vocals are neat, but different. Less barfy, which kinda stinks. If you're a fan of this cd, the re-issue can be had for short money. The songs still hold up, which is nice. I don't know if there's anything special in the liner notes or anything (how to make cadaver chili or some shit), but, it's a fuckin' 20 year old EP...what do you think you're gonna get?
