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Carcass is a British extreme metal band formed in 1985 in Liverpool. The band is widely recognized as one of the pioneers of the grindcore and melodic death metal subgenres, exerting a significant influence on the development of both styles. The original line-up included guitarist Bill Steer and vocalist and bassist Jeff Walker, and was later completed by Ken Owen on drums.

Carcass began his career in the underground metal scene with a brutal and raw sound. The band's first album, Reek of Putrefaction (1988), is known for its lo-fi production and grotesque, macabre lyrics, which address themes of necrophilia, pathology, and other topics related to the decomposing human body. This album is often cited as one of the founding milestones of grindcore, characterized by its extreme speed, shocking lyrics, and short, intense songs.

On the second album, Symphonies of Sickness (1989), Carcass began to incorporate more death metal elements into his sound, retaining the brutality but introducing more complex riffs and more developed song structures. This album is seen as a breakthrough in terms of production and songwriting, solidifying Carcass' status in the extreme metal scene.

In 1991, the band released Necroticism – Descanting the Insalubrious, which represented a significant evolution in Carcass' sound. The album showed a more technical and complex approach, with longer and more intricate compositions, highlighting the musical ability of the band members. This album is considered one of the band's best works and is often cited as a death metal classic.

The biggest change in Carcass's sound came with the release of Heartwork in 1993. This album is widely credited as one of the first and most influential melodic death metal albums. Heartwork combined the intensity of death metal with harmonious melodies, more elaborate guitar solos, and more polished production. Tracks such as "Heartwork" and "No Love Lost" became emblematic of the band's new style, which would inspire countless other bands in the melodic metal scene.

After the release of Swansong (1996), which presented an even more accessible and melodic sound, the band broke up. However, Carcass reunited in 2007 and has since released new albums, including Surgical Steel (2013), which was well-received by fans and critics alike, and Torn Arteries (2021), which saw the band continuing to explore their roots in extreme metal while incorporating new influences.

Carcass continues to be one of the most influential bands in extreme metal, both for its impact on the creation of grindcore and the development of melodic death metal. The band is revered for its ability to evolve and innovate over the years, while remaining relevant and respected in the global metal scene.