Carcass - Swansong
Review: When direction is lost, the only option besides quitting while you're ahead is to form a tight circle and follow it until it becomes a vortex leading downward. A steady gradient of speed/heavy metal admixture into the grindcore/death metal of Carcass occurs from Necroticism: Descanting the Insalubrious through Heartwork, but on Swansong, all connection to the past is pitched and the band launches into Led Zeppelin imitation with accoutrements from heavy metal, hard rock, grindcore, death metal and shredder rock from the 1980s.
The band seemed determined to bash its legacy with a very standard album that showcases the playing ability of individuals, but also illustrates how the band as a collective can no longer produce interesting music. Fans agreed, and this album zipped to used racks across the nation while the members who used Carcass as a jumping-off-point went on to promote their own acts which somehow took this style further. The pomposity of the lyrics, and the "in your face" departure from metal, suggests the band became bitter at its fans (and the members probably at each other) and decided to burn some bridges and burn them good.
1. Keep On Rotting In The Free World (3:39)
2. Tomorrow Belongs To Nobody (4:15)
3. Black Star (3:27) 
4. Cross My Heart (3:30)
5. Childs Play (5:39)
6. Room 101 (4:31)
7. Polarized (4:00)
8. Generation Hexed (3:46)
9. Firm Hand (5:20)
10. R**k The Vote (3:50)
11. Don't Believe A Word (3:56)
12. Go To Hell (3:18)
I think they like to pretend a superiority in knowledge and imply it ironically in case they get called on it, but as the clueless reversion to standard topics (Orwell, cliche politics) demonstrates, this is more a pose than a new direction or wisdom. It's wise for anyone who likes good music to avoid this album, but if you did not notice or mind on Heartwork you'll appreciate this hard rock version of that album.