It’s nothing new at this point for a legend of yore to reemerge from the murk of ancient history and release an album of considerable artistic value. But Carcass’s first new album in 17 years came as a shock just the same. There were so many hurdles to clear: The band’s last album, 1996’s Swan Song, was a largely reviled work that has been disowned by the band. Their founding guitarist, Bill Steer, long ago declared himself done with metal, and went on to play generic blues-based rock with an outfit called Firebird, while their second guitarist, Mike Amott, quit Carcass prior to Swan Song to form melodic death metal pioneers Arch Enemy. Carcass’s founding drummer, Ken Owen, quit music entirely after suffering a brain hemorrhage in 1999. But after spending six years on the festival circuit, a reunited Carcass — built around Steer and bassist/vocalist Jeff Walker — went into the studio, dug up some old unused riffs, and produced, perhaps, the best album of their career. Surgical Steel operates as though Swan Song never existed, and instead, acts as the album the band should have released after 1993’s legit classic Heartwork. Surgical Steel sinks anthemic, indelible melodies deep into songs built of caustic elements — primarily Walker’s vocals and new drummer Dan Wilding’s ferocious, superhuman foot- and stick-work. Steer is the band’s euphonic center, and he’s never sounded better. Masterfully produced by Colin Richardson, much of the album feels European in style, the way the hard, pugilistic elements combine with sweeping melody. These songs could’ve been written 30 years ago — or at any time over the last 30 years — but their clarity, precision, and full-bodied sound are distinctly of the moment. –Michael [LISTEN]