Carcass is an English extreme metal band formed in Liverpool in 1985. Over the years, the band has undergone several lineup changes, with guitarist Bill Steer and bassist-vocalist Jeff Walker remaining the only consistent members. Carcass disbanded in 1996 but reunited in 2007, though original drummer Ken Owen was unable to return due to health issues. The band has released seven studio albums, two compilation albums, four EPs, two demos, one video album, and six music videos.

Carcass is widely recognized as a pioneering force in both grindcore and melodic death metal. Their early work was known for its morbid lyrical themes and graphic album art, which earned them labels like "splatter death metal" and "hardgore." Their 1993 album Heartwork is regarded as a milestone in the melodic death metal genre. Carcass was also one of the few death metal bands to sign with a major label, with Columbia Records distributing Heartwork in North America, while Earache handled international distribution. The band’s 1996 album, Swansong, was released shortly before their initial breakup.

In their early years, Carcass emerged from the remnants of the band Disattack and transitioned into their more extreme metal style with the release of their debut album, Reek of Putrefaction (1988). Despite its raw production, the album garnered attention, including from BBC DJ John Peel, which led to a Peel Session recording. The band’s sound evolved with albums like Symphonies of Sickness (1989) and Necroticism – Descanting the Insalubrious (1991), which featured increasingly intricate compositions and production.

Following their reunion in 2007, Carcass embarked on successful tours and released Surgical Steel in 2013, their first album in nearly two decades. The album was well-received and marked their return to the forefront of the metal scene. Carcass continued to tour extensively and released their latest album, Torn Arteries, in 2021.

Throughout their career, Carcass has influenced numerous bands and contributed significantly to the evolution of extreme metal genres, blending grindcore, death metal, and melodic elements.