"Flesh Ripping Sonic Torment" demo, "Dead Fly" studios, Birmingham, England - 1987:  Genital Grinder, Regurgitation of Giblets, Festerday, Limb For Limb, Pyosisified (Rotten to the Gore), Excreted Alive, Malignant Defecation, Fermenting Innards, Necrocannibal Bloodfeast, Psychopathologist, Die in Pain, Pungent Excruciation, Face Meltaaargh!!!!
"Symphonies Of Sickness" demo "Slaughterhouse" studio, UK- summer 1989:  Reek of Putrefaction, Slash Dementia, Embryonic Necropsy and Devourment, Cadaveric Incubator of Endoparasites, Ruptured in Purulence, Crepitating Bowel Erosion.
Planet X, Liverpool, UK - September 24th, 1988:  Fermenting Innards/Pungent Excrucitation, Microwaved Uterogestation/Oxidised Razor Masticator, Reek of Putrefaction, Feast on Dismembered Carnage.
Rehearsal, 1988:  Cadaveric Incubator of Endoparasites, Slash Dementia, Embryonic Necropsy and Devourment.

Flesh Ripping Symphony was released by a pre-Necroticism fan, collecting documents from the band's early years.  The first part of the tape contains Carcass' second demo from 1987 "Flesh Ripping Sonic Torment".  The bulk of this tape was re-recorded for their Earache debut Reek Of Putrefaction.  Some of the song titles are different then the released versions.  "Limb From Limb" became "Frenzied Detruncation", "Face Meltaaaargh!" became "Mucopurulence Excretor", and "Necrocannibal Bloodfeast" became "Feast on Dismembered Carnage".  The sound quality of the demo is actually better than the actual LP, with which the band were never happy.  The tape is further interesting since this is the only surviving document of Carcass with the mysterious Indian-born Sanjiv on vocals.  His vocals are adequate but ultimately the band made the right decision as the shared vocals between Jeff and Bill Steer work very well. 

The second demo on this release is the basis for their second LP Symphonies Of Sickness.  It sounds like it was recorded in the same studio as the LP and you can hear producer Colin Richardson giving instructions between takes.  The songs are as they appear on the LP but a bit more raw.  The live tape from Liverpool is the worst sounding part of this release.  It sounds distant and distorted and contains much audience noise.  The bulk of the set are numbers from Reek.  Jeff Walker tells a story before "Microwaved Uterogestation" about a bloke before a judge carving his guts out with a razor blade.  The band preview the song "Reek Of Putrefaction", introducing it as from their forthcoming 12".  It's played much faster than the version that would be recorded in the future and omits some of the lyrics and guitar solo. 

The final portion of this release contains an undated rehersal tape with straight instrumental run-throughs of three Symphonies of Sickness tracks.  This is an excellent compilation of the early grindcore Carcass before they really discovered melody and evolved to produce their later classic releases.  The manufacturer includes liner notes where he claims that their later releases (Necroticism, Heartwork & Swansong) "had the longtime fans wondering what the hell is going on.  After several attempts at attaining mainstream acceptability Carcass disbanded leaving behind two great albums and some other recordings that we all wish we could forget."  

As great and as important as their early releases are, this is a narrowminded view of the band.  Their vision on their later releases is fascinating and contain work that is much more interesting and as brutal as these.  Carcass wouldn't have achieved their legendary status by continually churning out Napalm Death inspired grindcore for years on end.  The change in their direction is even apparent on this release by contrasting the second album demos with the first.  One hopes that more live releases and rehearsals are discovered from their later period and make it to disc.