Carcass "Heartwork"

Heartwork is the fourth album by British extreme metal band Carcass, and has been described as the band's "breakthrough" and "mid-period masterpiece." It was released through Earache Records on 18 October 1993. The album was recorded at Parr Street Studios, Liverpool from 18 May – 21 June 1993.

The sculpture depicted in the cover art, "Life Support 1993," was designed by H.R. Giger, and is an update of a sculpture he created in the late 1960s. The video for the song "Heartwork" features a real-life interpretation of the sculpture, including a human welded as a part of it. The album was reissued as a Dualdisc on 2 June 2008.

Michael Amott left the band after the recording of the album before founding Spiritual Beggars, and was temporarily replaced by Mike Hickey. In The Pathologist's Report, Bill Steer says Heartwork is his favourite Carcass album.

The band Carnal Forge named themselves after the song of the same name from this album.

Heartwork sold at least 81,000 units. It spawned one single under the same name that featured the title track and non-album tracks "This is Your Life" and "Rot 'n' Roll".

The album was re-released in 2008 as part of an ongoing series of Carcass reissues to tie in with their reunion. The main album is presented as one side of a Dualdisc, while the DVD side features the fourth part of an extended interview/documentary titled The Pathologist's Report Part IV: Epidemic. Also included in the reissue is a bonus disc including the entire album in demo form, something recorded by the band before recording the actual album in an effort to be better prepared. The demo features the same 10 songs in a slightly different order. Later editions have the DVD on a separate disc, bringing the total to 3 discs. The album is presented in a 12-panel digipak with full lyrics and artwork.

Track listing

All lyrics written by Jeff Walker.

1. "Buried Dreams" Bill Steer 3:58
2. "Carnal Forge" Bill Steer/Michael Amott 3:54
3. "No Love Lost" Bill Steer 3:22
4. "Heartwork" Bill Steer/Michael Amott 4:33
5. "Embodiment" Michael Amott/Bill Steer  5:36
6. "This Mortal Coil" Bill Steer/Michael Amott  3:49
7. "Arbeit Macht Fleisch" Bill Steer 4:21
8. "Blind Bleeding the Blind" Bill Steer 4:57
9. "Doctrinal Expletives" Bill Steer/Michael Amott  3:39
10. "Death Certificate"  Michael Amott/Bill Steer  3:38

Total length: 41:55

The Vinyl Solution and the Flametrader issues feature a slightly modified cover art design. The painting was made by Joseph Paul Pettit in 1852, and it's titled "Armageddon (Revelations 16:16)".

Recording information:

Recorded at The Windings, Wrexham, England.

Mastered at The Exchange, London, England.

Later versions come with a bonus track, "This Is Your Life" (04:08).

Video clips were made for "Heartwork" and "No Love Lost".

Recording information:

Recorded and mixed at Parr Street Studios between May 18th - June 21st 1993.