Carcass is an English death metal band hailing from Liverpool, established … Read Full Bio ↴Carcass is an English death metal band hailing from Liverpool, established in 1985. Over the years, the band has experienced several changes in its lineup, with guitarist Bill Steer and bassist/vocalist Jeff Walker being the consistent members. After disbanding in 1996, they regrouped in 2007. To date, Carcass has released six studio albums, two compilation albums, four EPs, two demo albums, one video album, and six music videos.

Carcass is recognized as pioneers in the grindcore genre. Their early work was also associated with tags like "splatter death metal" and "hardgore," owing to their macabre lyrics and gruesome album covers. Moreover, their 1993 album Heartwork contributed to their status as pioneers of melodic death metal.

The band frequently explores animal rights issues in their lyrics, and some members follow vegetarian or vegan lifestyles.

Studio albums
Reek of Putrefaction (1988)
Symphonies of Sickness (1989)
Necroticism - Descanting the Insalubrious (1991)
Heartwork (1993)
Swansong (1996)
Surgical Steel (2013)
Torn Arteries (2021)

Doctrinal Expletives
Carcass Lyrics

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A play on words, or words on play
Last chapter, verse in the final act
Words well scripted, each sentence choking
Inaudible gag, blanket which suffocates
As you eat another's words
Malnourished, you starve

Silence has a definition

Vocabulary of muted diction
Precise thought to mis-comprehend
Ambiguity in high resolution
Articulate expletive fiction
Open to misinterpretation - so precise
(Silence has a definition
A vocabulary of muted diction
Articulate, expletive)

Condensed meaning, making no sense
Open mouth the lines
In stressed expression, understand the silence
The piercing calm, sour music to your ears
As you regurgitate another's words
In their shallowness you drown

A play on words, making no sense

Which makes no sense
Which makes nonsense

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Carcass's song "Doctrinal Expletives" discuss the power of language and its ability to oppress and manipulate. The first few lines suggest that language is both a clever tool and also one that can be suffocating. The words are "well-scripted" and "each sentence choking," which can be interpreted to mean that language can be used to box people into certain ideas or ways of thinking. When you "eat" another's words, you starve and become malnourished, suggesting a loss of individuality.

The second set of lyrics highlights the importance of silence and the way it can be just as powerful as words. Silence has a "vocabulary of muted diction" and is "open to misinterpretation." This suggests that sometimes not saying anything can send a powerful message. The song suggests that language is complex, and "articulate expletive fiction" can easily be misinterpreted. The final lines of the song repeat the phrase "a play on words, making no sense," which reinforces the idea that language can be used to manipulate and confuse.

Overall, "Doctrinal Expletives" is a commentary on the power of language and its ability to be used for good or evil. The song suggests that language can be suffocating or liberating depending on how it is used.

Line by Line Meaning

A play on words, or words on play
Playing with words or playing with the meaning of words

Last chapter, verse in the final act
Final words in a concluding chapter

Words well scripted, each sentence choking
Intentional words aimed at suffocating the listener

Inaudible gag, blanket which suffocates
The artist is silenced with no voice left

As you eat another's words
One is swallowing another person's language

Malnourished, you starve
The emptiness caused by regurgitating others’ words

Silence has a definition
The definition of silence exists

Vocabulary of muted diction
The language of quiet speech

Precise thought to miscomprehend
Clear thinking that can be misunderstood

Ambiguity in high resolution
Uncertainty is well-defined

Articulate expletive fiction
Swearing in a sophisticated manner