Autopsy (band)
Encyclopedia
Autopsy is a death metal
band, founded in 1987 in the United States by Chris Reifert
. They disbanded in 1995, but have reunited as of July 2009.
and Eric Cutler, shortly after Reifert's departure from Death. Danny Coralles
joined in 1988 and, along with Reifert and Cutler, would be a constant in the band's lineup. The band recorded two demos, Demo '87 (1987) and Critical Madness (1988) before signing to Peaceville Records
and releasing their 1989 debut album, Severed Survival
. These early recordings featured a straightforward thrash-influenced death metal style in a similar vein to Scream Bloody Gore
era Death (Reifert was Death's drummer on that album), but the band adopted a slower, doom metal
influenced sound for their next release, the 1990 Retribution for the Dead
EP. The next full-length, Mental Funeral
, continued in this style and has since been cited by many other death metal musicians (particularly in the Swedish scene) as particularly influential. Having completed a successful European tour soon after Mental Funeral, the band reentered the studio to record the Fiend for Blood
EP, which was followed by their third full-length, Acts of the Unspeakable
, which featured shorter songs and a more grindcore
influenced sound. A difficult US tour in 1993 led to the decision to disband Autopsy after the recording of a final album. Shitfun
, released in early 1995, was heavily influenced by hardcore punk
and would prepare fans for Abscess
, previously a side project of Danny Coralles and Chris Reifert which would become their main band after Autopsy's demise.
Autopsy was featured in the 2005 music documentary Metal: A Headbanger's Journey
when the film's narrator and star, Sam Dunn read aloud a verse from the band's song "Charred Remains".
Frontman Chris Reifert contributed a recipe for Mummified Jalapeño Bacon Bombs to Hellbent for Cooking: The Heavy Metal Cookbook, by Annick Giroux (Bazillion Points Books, ISBN 978-1935950004).
. They later reconvened to the Maryland Deathfest in 2009. Following Abscess splitting up in June 2010, Autopsy immediately announced that they had permanently reunited. They released a new EP, The Tomb Within
, in September 2010 and Macabre Eternal
, their first studio album in 16 years, in 2011.
band Possessed
and Reifert's previous group Death (which Chuck Schuldiner
relocated to Reifert's Bay Area hometown of Concord in 1986), Autopsy have been considered a pioneering band in the death metal
genre. Early genre stalwarts like Entombed
, Dismember
, Gorefest
, Immolation
, Cannibal Corpse
and Deicide
have all credited Autopsy as an influence in their sound.
EPs/Singles
Live albums
Demos
Compilations
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
band, founded in 1987 in the United States by Chris Reifert
Chris Reifert
Chris Reifert is an American musician, and one of the pioneers of the death/doom genre. Although his music is more death metal than doom metal, he is one of the first musicians that blended the two styles. He played drums on the Death debut album, Scream Bloody Gore...
. They disbanded in 1995, but have reunited as of July 2009.
Biography
Autopsy was formed in August 1987 by Chris ReifertChris Reifert
Chris Reifert is an American musician, and one of the pioneers of the death/doom genre. Although his music is more death metal than doom metal, he is one of the first musicians that blended the two styles. He played drums on the Death debut album, Scream Bloody Gore...
and Eric Cutler, shortly after Reifert's departure from Death. Danny Coralles
Danny Coralles
Danny Coralles is the guitarist and co-founder, with drummer Chris Reifert, of Abscess. Prior to forming Abscess Coralles and Reifert were also bandmates in Autopsy, The Ravenous, Eat My Fuk and Doomed.-Discography:* Critical Madness...
joined in 1988 and, along with Reifert and Cutler, would be a constant in the band's lineup. The band recorded two demos, Demo '87 (1987) and Critical Madness (1988) before signing to Peaceville Records
Peaceville Records
Peaceville Records is a British independent metal-oriented record label. The label was founded by Paul "Hammy" Halmshaw in 1987, in Dewsbury, England...
and releasing their 1989 debut album, Severed Survival
Severed Survival
Severed Survival is the debut album by Autopsy released in 1989. This album somewhat continues in the style of Reifert's former band Death, blended with odd drum fills and breaks, more extreme vocals and the technical bass playing of Steve DiGiorgio. Lyrically the band thrives heavily on horror and...
. These early recordings featured a straightforward thrash-influenced death metal style in a similar vein to Scream Bloody Gore
Scream Bloody Gore
Scream Bloody Gore is the debut album by American band Death, released in 1987 and considered "the first true death metal record". Chuck Schuldiner plays bass, wrote all the songs on the album and provides vocals in addition to guitar for the album...
era Death (Reifert was Death's drummer on that album), but the band adopted a slower, doom metal
Doom metal
Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...
influenced sound for their next release, the 1990 Retribution for the Dead
Retribution for the Dead
Retribution for the Dead is an EP by the American death metal band Autopsy. It was released in 1991 by Peaceville Records. It features two songs which were re-recorded for the Mental Funeral album - the title song is exclusive to this EP....
EP. The next full-length, Mental Funeral
Mental Funeral
Mental Funeral is the second album by Autopsy, released in 1991 by Peaceville Records. It marks Autopsy's incorporation of slower-tempo doom metal influences, particularly from the American doom metal band Trouble.-Track listing:*All music by Autopsy...
, continued in this style and has since been cited by many other death metal musicians (particularly in the Swedish scene) as particularly influential. Having completed a successful European tour soon after Mental Funeral, the band reentered the studio to record the Fiend for Blood
Fiend for Blood
Fiend for Blood is an EP by Autopsy released in 1991 on Peaceville Records. The whole of this release is available as bonus tracks on the 2003 version of Acts of the Unspeakable.-Track listing:# "Fiend for Blood" – 0:28...
EP, which was followed by their third full-length, Acts of the Unspeakable
Acts of the Unspeakable
Acts of the Unspeakable is the third album by the American death metal band Autopsy. It saw a progression into punk-inspired death metal.-Track listing:# "Meat" – 2:38# "Necrocannibalistic Vomitorium" – 2:11# "Your Rotting Face" – 3:55...
, which featured shorter songs and a more grindcore
Grindcore
Grindcore is an extreme genre of music that started in the early- to mid-1980s. It draws inspiration from some of the most abrasive music genres – including death metal, industrial music, noise and the more extreme varieties of hardcore punk....
influenced sound. A difficult US tour in 1993 led to the decision to disband Autopsy after the recording of a final album. Shitfun
Shitfun
Shitfun is the fourth studio album by Autopsy released in 1995. It was their last album before their fourteen year break up from 1995 to 2009...
, released in early 1995, was heavily influenced by hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
and would prepare fans for Abscess
Abscess (band)
Abscess was a hardcore punk-influenced death metal band from Oakland, California. The band was formed in 1994 by Chris Reifert and Danny Coralles, both former members of Autopsy....
, previously a side project of Danny Coralles and Chris Reifert which would become their main band after Autopsy's demise.
Autopsy was featured in the 2005 music documentary Metal: A Headbanger's Journey
Metal: A Headbanger's Journey
Metal: A Headbanger's Journey is a 2005 documentary directed by Sam Dunn with Scot McFadyen and Jessica Wise. The film follows 31-year-old Dunn, a Canadian anthropologist, who has been a heavy metal fan since the age of 12...
when the film's narrator and star, Sam Dunn read aloud a verse from the band's song "Charred Remains".
Frontman Chris Reifert contributed a recipe for Mummified Jalapeño Bacon Bombs to Hellbent for Cooking: The Heavy Metal Cookbook, by Annick Giroux (Bazillion Points Books, ISBN 978-1935950004).
Reunion
After several years of speculation regarding an Autopsy reunion, and denial of the possibility, the band members briefly reunited in September 2008 to record two new tracks for the special edition of their 1989 debut Severed SurvivalSevered Survival
Severed Survival is the debut album by Autopsy released in 1989. This album somewhat continues in the style of Reifert's former band Death, blended with odd drum fills and breaks, more extreme vocals and the technical bass playing of Steve DiGiorgio. Lyrically the band thrives heavily on horror and...
. They later reconvened to the Maryland Deathfest in 2009. Following Abscess splitting up in June 2010, Autopsy immediately announced that they had permanently reunited. They released a new EP, The Tomb Within
The Tomb Within
The Tomb Within is an EP by the American death metal band Autopsy, released September 13, 2010 on Peaceville Records on CD and 12” vinyl. This is the first recording Autopsy made after their split-up in 1995 and reunion in 2010...
, in September 2010 and Macabre Eternal
Macabre Eternal
Macabre Eternal is the fifth album by the American death metal band Autopsy, released in early 2011, on the label Peaceville Records. It will be the first studio album Autopsy have released after their 1995 disbandment and 2009 reunion.-Background:...
, their first studio album in 16 years, in 2011.
Legacy
Along with fellow Bay AreaSan Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
band Possessed
Possessed (band)
Possessed is an American death metal band, originally formed in 1983. Noted for their fast style of playing and Jeff Becerra's guttural vocals, they are routinely called the first band in the death metal genre...
and Reifert's previous group Death (which Chuck Schuldiner
Chuck Schuldiner
Charles Michael "Chuck" Schuldiner was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist.Schuldiner was the singer, songwriter, and guitarist of the band Death, which he founded in 1983, initially under the name Mantas. He also recorded as guitarist and songwriter with his other band, Control Denied...
relocated to Reifert's Bay Area hometown of Concord in 1986), Autopsy have been considered a pioneering band in the death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
genre. Early genre stalwarts like Entombed
Entombed (band)
Entombed is a Swedish death metal band which formed in 1987 under the name of Nihilist. Though Entombed began their career as an early pioneer of Scandinavian death metal which initially differed itself from its American counterpart with its distinct guitar tone, by the early 1990s their sound had...
, Dismember
Dismember (band)
Dismember was a Swedish death metal band that formed in 1988. They are well known in the death metal underground. They split up in October 2011.-History:...
, Gorefest
Gorefest
Gorefest was a Dutch band from the Zeeland region of the Netherlands which was founded in 1988 as a death metal outfit by De Koeyer, Harthoorn, van Schaik and Hoogendoorn.-History:...
, Immolation
Immolation (band)
-History:The band formed in May 1986 by Andrew Sakowicz and Dave Wilkinson under the name Rigor Mortis . The name was changed to Immolation in April 1988, after the Warriors of Doom demo which was recorded as Rigor Mortis and Demo I which was recorded as Immolation...
, Cannibal Corpse
Cannibal Corpse
Cannibal Corpse is an American death metal band from Buffalo, New York. Formed in 1988, the band has released eleven studio albums, one box set, and one live album...
and Deicide
Deicide (band)
Deicide is an American death metal band formed in 1987. Their first two albums, Deicide and Legion, are ranked second and third place in best-selling death metal albums of the SoundScan era.-As Amon/Carnage :...
have all credited Autopsy as an influence in their sound.
Current members
- Chris ReifertChris ReifertChris Reifert is an American musician, and one of the pioneers of the death/doom genre. Although his music is more death metal than doom metal, he is one of the first musicians that blended the two styles. He played drums on the Death debut album, Scream Bloody Gore...
– drums/vocals (1987–present) - Danny CorallesDanny CorallesDanny Coralles is the guitarist and co-founder, with drummer Chris Reifert, of Abscess. Prior to forming Abscess Coralles and Reifert were also bandmates in Autopsy, The Ravenous, Eat My Fuk and Doomed.-Discography:* Critical Madness...
– guitar (1987–present) - Eric Cutler – guitar (1987–present)
- Joe Trevisano - bass (2010–present)
Former members
- Eric Eigard – bass (1987–1988)
- Ken Sorvari – bass (1988)
- Steve Cutler – bass (1990–1991)
- Josh Barohn – bass (1991–1993)
- Freeway Migliore – bass (1993–1995)
- Dan LilkerDan LilkerDan Lilker is a musician from the United States, most known as a bass player, but also guitarist, pianist, drummer and vocalist...
- bass (2010 Maryland Deathfest Show)
Discography
Studio albums- Severed SurvivalSevered SurvivalSevered Survival is the debut album by Autopsy released in 1989. This album somewhat continues in the style of Reifert's former band Death, blended with odd drum fills and breaks, more extreme vocals and the technical bass playing of Steve DiGiorgio. Lyrically the band thrives heavily on horror and...
(1989) - Mental FuneralMental FuneralMental Funeral is the second album by Autopsy, released in 1991 by Peaceville Records. It marks Autopsy's incorporation of slower-tempo doom metal influences, particularly from the American doom metal band Trouble.-Track listing:*All music by Autopsy...
(1991) - Acts of the UnspeakableActs of the UnspeakableActs of the Unspeakable is the third album by the American death metal band Autopsy. It saw a progression into punk-inspired death metal.-Track listing:# "Meat" – 2:38# "Necrocannibalistic Vomitorium" – 2:11# "Your Rotting Face" – 3:55...
(1992) - ShitfunShitfunShitfun is the fourth studio album by Autopsy released in 1995. It was their last album before their fourteen year break up from 1995 to 2009...
(1995) - Macabre EternalMacabre EternalMacabre Eternal is the fifth album by the American death metal band Autopsy, released in early 2011, on the label Peaceville Records. It will be the first studio album Autopsy have released after their 1995 disbandment and 2009 reunion.-Background:...
(2011)
EPs/Singles
- Retribution for the DeadRetribution for the DeadRetribution for the Dead is an EP by the American death metal band Autopsy. It was released in 1991 by Peaceville Records. It features two songs which were re-recorded for the Mental Funeral album - the title song is exclusive to this EP....
(1990) - Fiend for BloodFiend for BloodFiend for Blood is an EP by Autopsy released in 1991 on Peaceville Records. The whole of this release is available as bonus tracks on the 2003 version of Acts of the Unspeakable.-Track listing:# "Fiend for Blood" – 0:28...
(1991) - Horrific Obsession (2009)
- The Tomb WithinThe Tomb WithinThe Tomb Within is an EP by the American death metal band Autopsy, released September 13, 2010 on Peaceville Records on CD and 12” vinyl. This is the first recording Autopsy made after their split-up in 1995 and reunion in 2010...
(2010) - All Tomorrow's Funerals (2012)
Live albums
- Dead as Fuck (2004)
Demos
- 1987 Demo (1987)
- Critical Madness (1988)
Compilations
- Ridden with Disease (2000)
- Torn from the GraveTorn from the GraveTorn from the Grave is a compilation album by death metal band Autopsy.-Track listing:From Severed SurvivalTorn from the Grave is a compilation album by death metal band Autopsy.-Track listing:From Severed Survival...
(2001)
Filmography
- Dark Crusades (with liner notes and band interview by Joel McIverJoel McIverJoel McIver is a British author. The best-known of his 20 books to date is the bestselling Justice For All: The Truth About Metallica, first published in 2004 and selling close to 50,000 copies in nine languages since then. McIver's other works include biographies of Black Sabbath, Slayer, Ice...
; Peaceville Records, 2006)