According to Nuclear Blast Records, CARCASS, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, GORGUTS, and NOISEM headline renowned metal mag’s latest national tour this March!

With two triumphant star-studded national tours under our bullet belt, Decibel Magazine is raising the (bloody) stakes on our hotly anticipated third cross-country domination. This spring, we’re proud to bring you the reanimation of death metal demigods CARCASS alongside melodeath powerhouse THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, technical death metal heroes GORGUTS and emerging death/thrash squad NOISEM.

The third time’s the harm, as CARCASS —the Liverpool legends responsible for Surgical Steel, our number one album of 2013—embark upon their first sustained domestic tour in five years. Presented by Nuclear Blast, Peavey, Metal Blade, IndieMerchstore.com, Season of Mist and Lace Music, the 2014 Decibel Magazine Tour will fester across North America for 21 putrefying dates, once again seamlessly integrating the past, present and future of extreme music.

Ever-acerbic CARCASS frontman Jeff Walker finds it difficult to contain his enthusiasm. “This is possibly the unsexiest Decibel Tour lineup yet,” he quips. “We’re all bringing the ‘girth’ back to the U.S., along with gray hair and sensible footwear. But it’s the music that matters, right? Just close your eyes and think of England. If that fails, think of Tampa.”

Black Dahlia Murder frontman Trevor Strand is a longtime CARCASS superfan, so much so that he has the coolest tattoo ever: surgical instruments from the cover of the 1992 Tools of the Trade EP: “We are absolutely thrilled to be a part of this amazing tour. I will do my best to play it cool in the presence of such great and influential musicians who I have worshipped since the seventh grade—but I can’t guarantee anything. We in the Dahlia camp are elated to have been considered, and vow to do our best to impress. Nothing less for the combined might of CARCASS and GORGUTS!”

Luc Lemay of Canadian technical death metal institution GORGUTS can’t wait to bring songs from 2013 comeback sensation Colored Sands to the stage. “Since the first day I discovered Decibel, I always saw them like an institution,” he enthuses. “So, when I got the news that we were offered to be part of their annual tour, I felt totally honored and excited as hell! It will be amazing to share the stage with CARCASS, the Black Dahlia Murder and Noisem to perform our new music every night!”

As for Baltimore death-thrash upstarts NOISEM —who blew minds with brutal-beyond-their-years debut Agony Defined—guitarist Sebastian Phillips keeps his thoughts on the tour perfectly succinct: “Dream come true. Period.”

We know you can’t wait for these symphonies of sickness to be conducted either, so here’s your chance to score a great deal AND avoid standing in line. There will be a number of VIP premium packages available in each market, providing you with a T-shirt, poster, “Skip the Line” pass and free digital sampler from Nuclear Blast. The price of this package is less than you would spend on a ticket and a tour shirt at the show! More details, including ticket info, are announced at http://www.decibelmagazinetour.com

Decibel Magazine Tour 2014
CARCASS, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, GORGUTS, NOISEM
03/18/14 The Beacham Theater – Orlando, FL
03/19/14 Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
03/21/14 Prophet Bar – Dallas, TX
03/22/14 Mohawk – Austin, TX
03/24/14 The Press Room – Phoenix, AZ
03/25/14 The Observatory – Santa Ana, CA
03/26/14 The Regency Ballroom – San Francisco, CA *WITH REPULSION
03/28/14 Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, BC CANADA
03/29/14 Showbox at the Market – Seattle, WA
03/30/14 Roseland Theater – Portland, OR
04/02/14 Summit Music Hall – Denver, CO
04/04/14 Mill City Nights – Minneapolis, MN
04/05/14 House of Blues – Chicago, IL
04/06/14 Newport Music Hall – Columbus, OH
04/07/14 Stage AE – Pittsburgh, PA
04/08/14 Sound Academy – Toronto, ON CANADA
04/09/14 Metropolis – Montreal, QC CANADA
04/10/14 Paradise Rock Club – Boston, MA
04/11/14 Best Buy Theater – New York, NY
04/12/14 Trocadero Theatre – Philadelphia, PA
04/13/14 The Fillmore – Silver Spring, MD

CARCASS has been dominating the “album of the year” spot in several publications including, as previously mentioned, the latest issue of Decibel Magazine. But that’s just one of several victories as of late! Upon its release Surgical Steel came in at #41 on the US Billboard Top 200 Chart, just narrowly avoiding the dreaded “top 40 band” moniker. Even with their impressive back catalogue, Surgical Steel has given the band their highest charting and possibly most critically acclaimed record to date.
Surgical Steel was produced by Colin Richardson (NAPALM DEATH, BOLT THROWER, GOREFEST, CANNIBALCORPSE, SINISTER, RODRIGO Y GABRIELA) and mixed/mastered by Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, ACCEPT, EXODUS, TESTAMENT). “We went back to working with Ian Tilton, who is an iconic English photographer famous for working with THE STONE ROSES,” stated frontman Jeff Walker regarding the cover artwork. “He actually did the front cover for Necroticism… as well. We’ve deliberately tried to evoke the feeling of that album and Heartwork.” Joining guitarist Bill Steer and bassist/vocalist Jeff Walker in the band’s current incarnation are new drummer Dan Wilding (ABORTED, TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED) and guitarist Ben Ash (PIG IRON, DESOLATION, LIQUEFIED SKELETON). Original sticksman Ken Owen contributed guest vocals as well.

CARCASS has released several classic albums over the years, including Decibel Magazine “Hall of Fame” inductees Heartwork and Necroticism – Descanting the Insalubrious, and their influence has changed the face of extreme metal with every consecutive release. Whether it was inventing gore-grind (i.e. Reek of Putrefaction, Symphonies of Sickness) or creating the template for melodic death metal (i.e. Heartwork), CARCASS has always made records by which bars were set and rules were broken. Upon the band’s dismantling in 1996, fans mourned the loss of the seminal act and longed that the group would return again one day. In 2007, the metal world got its wish as CARCASS reformed to play several sold-out reunion shows around the globe. Once again re-motivated to administer a shot of cynicism and infectious riffs into the arm of a sickly metal scene, founding members Bill Steer and Jeff Walker began writing what would become the latest output of their highly influential career, Surgical Steel. Only the choicest of cuts were made, and blood sweat and tears were shed to bring us a record worthy of the CARCASS legacy. In short, Surgical Steel is just what the doctor ordered.