This is a project aimed at making it easy to see who inspired the bands you love or even hate. For this I try not to use any influences that the band don’t claim themselves. There will be a focus on predecessors but successors will be added as they site the band. These trees become more and more interactive as new bands are added, allowing you to click any band that has a tree and jump to it.

We want our lists to be better. If you know something that belongs on this list, let us know. When in doubt we will leave it out, so we need reliable sources.

Carcass have evolved their sound over the years. Their first album is seen as a grindcore, more specifically goregrind album. Bassist/vocalist Jeff Walker said he’s never considered them grindcore and that what people call grindcore is just bad quality death metal. They went into more pure death metal direction and emerged out the other side as pioneers of melodic death metal. They would even do what is considered a Death ‘n’ Roll album with much more traditional and classic influences. The core line up consists of bassist/vocalist Jeff Walker, although Sanjiv was the vocalist for the first demo. On guitar, Bill Steers, formally of Napalm Death, and on drums Ken Owen. Michael Amott joined as lead guitarist for two albums and Carlo Regadas took his place for one album. Ken Owen suffered a brain hemorrhage in 1999 leaving him unable to drum for the band although he has remained close with them. Since that time they have released one album with Daniel Wilding on drums.

Writing has been primarily done by the core line up of the band, Jeff, Bill, and Ken with Daniel taking on Ken’s role on the most recent album. Michael and Carlo both co-wrote on some songs during their time with the band.

Jimi Hendrix was a revolutionary guitarist. Bill named him as an influence and said types of him from Woodstock was one of the reasons he started playing.

Ten Years After were a hard blues rock band. Bill said guitarist Alvin Lee was a big reason he wanted to play guitar.

Deep Purple are a very influential hard rock / early heavy metal band. Bill named them as an influence.

Status Quo were a hard rock with a more old rock ‘n’ roll sound. Bill named them as an early influence.

Jethro Tull were a progressive rock band, standing out with their front man also playing the flute. Bill said they were an early influence.

Led Zeppelin is one of the most influential hard rock bands. Bill named them as an influence.

Wishbone Ash were a progressive rock band known for their guitar harmonies. Bill is a fan.

Black Sabbath are the fathers of metal and doom. Bill named them as an influence. Michael named them as one of his favorite bands.

Rory Gallagher is an influential Irish blues / Rock guitarist. Bill named him as an influence.

ELO (Electric Light Orchestra) are a progressive rock / pop band. Jeff is a fan.

Thin Lizzy were an influential hard rock band known for their guitar harmonies. Bill named them as an influence. They were also an early influence on Jeff.

Budgie were a heavy rock band sounding like Sabbath while playing like Zeppelin. Bill named them as an influence.

Queen are one of the worlds biggest rock bands and bring an brought an arts approach to what they did. Bill named them as an early influence.

Judas Priest had a huge impact on metal as a genre. Bill named Glenn and K.K. as idols. Michael named them as some of his favorite guitar players.

Rainbow combined the legendary Ritchie Blackmore and Ronnie James Dio. They were one of Jeff’s early influences.

Motorhead are hard rock / heavy metal legends. Bill named them and Fast Eddie Clark as an influence.

Sex Pistols are one of the most important punk bands. Jeff named them and Steve Jones as an influence.

Angel Witch were an important NWOBHM band. Bill said their first album was meant a lot to him as a kid.

Saxon are one of the earliest and most important NWOBHM bands. Bill named them and Paul Quinn as an influence.

Yngwie Malmsteen is a very influential guitarist known for his neo-classical style. Bill named him as a musical idol.

Iron Maiden are easily the most influential band out of the NWOBHM. Bill named them and Adrian, Dave, and Dennis Straton as an influence. Michael named Adrian and Dave as some of his favorite guitar players.

Tygers of Pan Tang are another NWOBHM band. Bill is a fan.

Discharge are an influential hardcore band. Jeff named them as an influence.

Sisters of Mercy were an important goth rock band. Jeff named them as an influence.

MDC are a hardcore band known for their far left political messages. Jeff named them as an influence.

Tank were a NWOBHM band. Bill named them as an influence.

Mercyful Fate were on the technical side of traditional metal and have been influential. Bill named them as an influence.

Hüsker Dü were a hardcore punk band, later alt rock. Jeff named them as a favorite.

Napalm Death are pioneers of grindcore and Bill’s first band. Jeff named them as an influence.

Slayer were perhaps the most aggressive of the early thrash bands. Bill and Jeff named them as an influence. Michael is also a fan and names Kerry and Jeff as an influence.

D.R.I. are an important crossover thrash band. Jeff named them as an influence.

Queensryche are important for the development of progressive metal. Jeff is a big fan and said they have influenced carcass.

Death are considered the fathers of death metal by many and are at least among the earliest. Bill named them as an influence from the tape trading days. He said that they liked the first album but was more inspired by the Mutilated demo. Bill sai… — Death are considered the fathers of death metal by many and are at least among the earliest. Bill named them as an influence from the tape trading days. He said that they liked the first album but was more inspired by the Mutilated demo. Bill said after touring with them they was inspired to be better musicians. Michael named *Leprosy* as an influence.

Repulsion are among the earliest of the grindcore bands. Bill named them as an influence from the tape trading days. Jeff also named them as an influence.

Siege were an extreme hardcore punk band and many consider them pioneers of grindcore. Jeff named them as an influence.

Sacrifice are a lesser known Canadian thrash band that influenced many death metal bands. Jeff named them as an influence.

Insanity are a bay area death/thrash band. Bill named them as a later influence. Jeff also named them as an influence.

Death Strike were an early death metal band. Bill named them as a later influence.

NYC Mayhem (currently known as Strait Ahead) are a hardcore punk band. Jeff named them as an influence.

Master are an early death metal band, members of which were also in Death Strike. Bill named them as an influence in the tape trading days. Jeff also named them as an influence.

Cryptic Slaughter were a crossover thrash band. Jeff named them as an influence.

Vinnie Moore

Wargasm are Boston thrash band. Bill named them as a later influence.

King Diamond is known for his falsettos and concept albums. Bill named them as a later influence.

Racer X was a speed metal band with Paul Gilbert on guitar. Bill named both Paul and second guitarist Bruce Bouillet as musical idols.

Morbid Angel are an important death metal band. Interestingly, Trey named Carcass as an influence on their first album. Jeff named them as an influence on the first Carcass album which would have been from their demos. Michael named Alters of Madness as an influence. — Morbid Angel are an important death metal band. Interestingly, Trey named Carcass as an influence on their first album. Jeff named them as an influence on the first Carcass album which would have been from their demos. Michael named *Alters of Madness* as an influence.

Macabre are a death/thrash/grind band. Bill named them as a later influence. Jeff also named them.

Cacophony were the shred band of Jason Becker and Mary Friedman. Bill named them as a later influence.

Atheist were very important for progressive death metal, bringing a jazz influence. Bill named them as a later influence.

Greg Howe

Bill said he was influenced by a lot of NWOBHM and that Jeff came more from punk.

Bill pulled influence from bands like The Sweet and Slade in his other band Gentleman’s Pistols, but he hasn’t named them as an influence used in Carcass. With his other band Firebird he said he pulled influence from Rory Gallagher, and Jimi Hendrix. As a kid he said some of the first music he got into was Deep Purple, Rory Gallagher, Led Zeppelin, and Jethro Tull. He says he let these more traditional and rock influence come out on Swansong. When asked about Bathory, Bill said he liked the first two albums but overall thought they were overrated. When asked about mainstream thrash, he said he liked Exodus and Slayer. He also said he liked the first coupe heavy Pantera albums.

Jeff said early on he was listening to classic rock before getting into punk and later more into metal. He said he also likes some folk.

Jeff attributes Carcass’s sound change to… “Growing older, branching out musically...we couldn't listen to Repulsion etc. all our lives!!! Having said that, the main reason for the 'change' over all the albums is probably due to an ever changing writing situation. Reek was written equally between me, Bill and Ken, tho' Ken probably wrote more riffs and me more lyrics, Symphonies was mostly Ken's riffs/my lyrics, Necroticism was Ken/Bill and Mike Amott who had joined the band/my lyrics, Heartwork was just Bill/Mike's riffs/my lyrics and finally Swansong was mostly Bill's riffs, with a few songs written by me/Carlo Regadas who had joined/my lyrics again.”

In a 1995 interview with Jeff, when asked about what he currently liked he stated “All sorts, from the Four Horsemen, to The Clash, to Mott The Hoople, to Iron Monkey, to Spiritual Beggars, etc. I like other stuff besides guitar stuff...”

Ken had a big part in the band, but I’m unsure of his influences.

Phase Two and Beyond

Phase two dives into new influence brought to the band by members beyond the original core line up.

Mountain are an important early hard rock band. Michael named Leslie West as an influence.

UFO are an influential hard rock band. Michael named Michael Schenker as an influence.

Frank Marino lead Mahogany Rush as well as having solo albums and working with other bands. Michael named him as an influence.

Scorpions are an influential hard rock / heavy metal band. Michael named them as an influence and names Michael Schenker and Uli Jon Roth.

Kiss are one of the biggest American hard rock bands. Michael said they was one of the first bands he got into as a kid, specifically he names Destroyer. — Kiss are one of the biggest American hard rock bands. Michael said they was one of the first bands he got into as a kid, specifically he names *Destroyer*.

Electric Sun was formed by Uli Jon Roth after he left the Scorpions. Michael names him as an influence.

After leaving UFO, Michael Schenker formed MSG. Amott names his as an influence.

Metallica are the fathers of thrash. Michael named them as an influence and said after hearing Kill ‘em All he got more serious into guitar. — Metallica are the fathers of thrash. Michael named them as an influence and said after hearing *Kill ‘em All* he got more serious into guitar.

Megadeth was formed by thrash father Dave Mustaine after him being kicked out Metallica. Michael named Megadeth and Dave as an influence. Jeff however has said he is not a fan.

Michael said he grew up with his mom listening to jazz and classical and that classical music makes up his earliest memories. He says he also got into some punk and hardcore but didn’t name specific bands.

Carlo said he came from “NWOBHM, classic ’80s metal and shred, punk and hardcore. I’ve never moved on and stayed stuck in that magical window from 1985-1992.” I haven’t found him name any specifics.

Daniel named influences as: Travis Barker, Andols Herrick, Joey Jordison, Lars Ulrich and Dave Grohl. He named favorites as “Dirk Verbeuren, Gil Sharone, Brann Dailor, Kevin Talley, Kai Hahto, Taylor Hawkins, Benny Grebb and John Boecklin.”

Bands influenced by Carcass!

As this project advances, bands will be added here… there are many!

Sources:

https://www.moshville.co.uk/interview/2015/10/interview-bill-steer-of-carcass/
https://echoesanddust.com/2015/10/interview-bill-steer-from-gentlemans-pistols/
https://www.vice.com/en/article/64yqvm/carcass-guitarist-bill-steer-discusses-scottish-seperatism-yorkshire-swagger-and-his-rock-band-gentlemans-pistols
https://crypticrock.com/interview-bill-steer-of-carcass/
http://www.goddamnbastard.org/carcass/interviews/nucleargore.html
http://guitariste-metal.fr/interview-with-bill-steer-carcass-firebird/
https://www.invisibleoranges.com/interview-bill-steer-firebird-carcass/
https://www.yellmagazine.com/2014/04/04/carcass-bill-steer-interview-surgical-steel-decibel-tour/
https://crypticrock.com/interview-jeff-walker-of-carcass/
https://www.westword.com/music/carcass-bassist-jeff-walker-every-bass-player-is-just-a-failed-guitar-player-5684861
https://www.invisibleoranges.com/interview-jeff-walker-of-carcass/
http://www.goddamnbastard.org/carcass/interviews/mindrot.html
http://www.radiometal.com/article/jeff-walker-isn%E2%80%99t-done-gnawing-on-his-good-old-carcass,120610
https://exclaim.ca/music/article/carcass_jeff_walker
https://www.wikimetal.com.br/interview-with-michael-amott-arch-enemy/
https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2018/07/09/carlo-regadas-monstrance-ex-carcass-overcomes-necrotized-organs-cheats-death/
https://sickdrummermagazine.com/the-drummers/death-grind/daniel-wilding/
https://crypticrock.com/interview-michael-amott-of-arch-enemy-2/
https://search.blabbermouth.net/news/arch-enemy-guitarist-is-looking-forward-to-carcass-reunion/
https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/arch-enemy-guitarist-nobody-really-sounds-like-us/
https://www.ghostcultmag.com/guitar-gods-michael-amott-talks-hero-worship/
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bel-35SlR7v/