Fans might have been wondering why Michael Amott, the guitarist for Carcass for their two of their most influential albums (Necroticism and Heartwork), wasn't on the band's latest effort Surgical Steel. Now there are answers!
In speaking with Metal Injection previously, shortly after the Carcass 2008 live reunion, Amott said didn't know how to write a Carcass song anymore, as all his efforts and style has gone to forming Arch Enemy. Michael had told Decibel magazine over the phone when asked about the issue:
"Nothing happened, per se. In 2010, after two years of reunion shows and tours with Carcass, I started working on a new Arch Enemy record and touring cycle. In the meantime, I guess Bill and Jeff started making new Carcass music, which to me makes a lot of sense, actually. It's what they should be doing. Anything else would be a terrible waste of talent and opportunity, in my opinion. I am very happy for them and the fans of the band. I've not heard any of the new music yet, but there is no doubt in my mind that they can still deliver."
While guitarist Bill Steer told the magazine in their October issue:
"In all honesty, once Michael had stepped out of Carcass again, that's when we could entertain the idea of doing the new record," Steer revealed. "He'd made it very clear from the outset that he'd no interest or belief in there being a new Carcass record. It's really hard to tell if maybe he felt we were incapable of doing it, or if maybe he was just speaking out of loyalty to [his main band] Arch Enemy. I don't know. But once the reunion shows were over, Michael basically said, 'Look, I'm gonna be busy for a few years — you guys do whatever you're gonna do. That meant Jeff and I could talk seriously about doing new material, because neither of us were being pulled in another direction like Michael was. Carcass had become our main band and had priority treatment."
And on the reunion, according to bassist Jeff Walker:
"The reality is that Mike was very keen, more than anyone, for Carcass to reunite. A few years later. he wasn't keen for the reunion to continue, and he wasn't keen on the idea of Carcass doing a new album. This is despite the fact that he contacted me, after we were a year into the songwriting, because he heard we were doing a new album, and indicated that he wanted to be involved. I think Bill had an exchange with Mike about this and gave Mike an opportunity to put his cards on the table, [but] it became clear that Mike wasn't really interested enough to walk away from any of the projects that he's involved in . And don't get me wrong — we've never expected that of anyone .
So I guess Amott felt like this was more of a one off thing and tried to overfill his schedule? That's what I'm gathering, and it doesn't seem like anyone is really angry about the whole situation, though it could be construed that Steer might be a bit pissed given what he said above. I'm not able to find the quote or context either, but Amott freely admits that Steer wrote a lot of the Heartwork guitar stuff, and that fans thinking Amott was behind it all and the new stuff wouldn't be the same are… well, maybe a little crazy.
Also, and I'm not sure if anyone else gets this, but it seems like Amott knew the whole thing was doomer from the start and that he'd be going back to Arch Enemy as his priority anyway… interesting.
[via Blabbermouth]
