Autopsy (band)

Autopsy

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	August 1, 1987 (1987-08-01) in Contra Costa County, California, United States
Founder	Eric Cutler, Chris Reifert
Defunct	1995
Fate	Reunited in 2009
Headquarters	Concord, California , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Eric Cutler, Chris Reifert, Danny Coralles, Greg Wilkinson
Products	Nine studio albums, EPs, live recordings, demo tapes, compilation albums, DVDs
Website	www.autopsybandofficial.com

Autopsy is a death metal band from the United States, established in 1987 in Contra Costa County, California by Eric Cutler and Chris Reifert. The group initially disbanded in 1995 but reunited in 2009. Their origins trace back to Concord, California. To date, they have produced nine studio albums.

Early Years

The band was created in August 1987 by Eric Cutler and Chris Reifert, shortly after Reifert left Death. That same year, they recorded their first demo titled Demo '87. In 1988, Danny Coralles joined just before they recorded their second demo, Critical Madness. Coralles, alongside Cutler and Reifert, remained a consistent member throughout the band’s existence. They signed with Peaceville Records and released their debut album, Severed Survival, in 1989. The initial recordings showcased a groundbreaking death metal style characterized by slower tempos and influences from doom metal.

In 1990, Autopsy took part in the European "Blood Brothers tour" alongside Bolt Thrower and Pestilence, with the bands alternating as headliners. Reifert later described the tour’s name and merchandise as somewhat ill-conceived and revealed that the band did not receive payment because the promoter absconded with the earnings.

Their sophomore album, Mental Funeral, further refined their sound and has been recognized as a significant influence within the death metal genre. Following a successful tour across Europe, they released the Fiend for Blood EP and then their third studio album, Acts of the Unspeakable, which displayed shorter compositions incorporating elements of grindcore. After enduring a difficult US tour in 1993, the band decided to part ways following the recording of one last album. Released in early 1995, Shitfun demonstrated notable hardcore punk elements and anticipated Abscess—a side project formed by Coralles and Reifert that later became their primary focus after Autopsy's split.

Autopsy also appeared in the 2005 documentary Metal: A Headbanger's Journey, where narrator Sam Dunn recited lyrics from their track "Charred Remains".

Reunion

Following years of rumors and initial refusals, Autopsy briefly came back together in September 2008 to record two fresh songs for the special edition release of their 1989 debut Severed Survival. They appeared live at Maryland Deathfest in 2009. After Abscess disbanded in June 2010, Autopsy declared a lasting reunion. This led to the release of the EP The Tomb Within (2010), full-length albums Macabre Eternal (2011), The Headless Ritual (2013), and Tourniquets, Hacksaws and Graves (2014), along with the DVD Born Undead (2012). They also issued further EPs, including Skullgrinder (2015) and Puncturing the Grotesque (2017).

In December 2021, Autopsy revealed they were working on a new album, initially expected in 2022. On July 27, 2022, they announced Morbidity Triumphant, which was released on September 30. Most recently, on August 31, 2023, the band unveiled their ninth studio album, Ashes, Organs, Blood and Crypts, scheduled for release on October 27.

Musical style and influences

Eduardo Rivadavia from AllMusic identified Autopsy as a death metal band exhibiting "grindcore tendencies," characterizing their sound as a "caustic" blend of thrash, doom, and death metal elements. Their music shifts between fast-paced and slow sections, setting them apart from conventional death metal during its formative years. As Chris Krovatin of Kerrang explains: "The group’s persistent oscillation between noisy traditional chaos and dissonant doom steered clear of metal's tempo competition and embraced the visceral oddities central to the genre’s evolution throughout the '90s."

Drummer Chris Reifert’s style has been described as "clunky," comparable to "the noise of a garbage bag striking a dumpster." Vocally, Reifert utilizes both screams and death growls.

Autopsy acknowledges Trouble and Saint Vitus as significant influences. Brandon Corsair of Invisible Oranges highlights that this explicit inspiration sets Autopsy apart from other death metal acts incorporating slower passages, amplifying the impact of their heavier segments. The band also draws from punk rock, noted for its "brutal simplicity" within the rhythm section.

The members are enthusiastic cinephiles with a preference for dark and graphic films, which substantially shape their lyrical themes. Guitarist Eric Cutler describes their sound as "akin to a soundtrack for a horror film." Chris Reifert recalled frequently renting extremely gory movies that influenced much of their thematic material. Among their cinematic inspirations are Truth or Dare, Gates of Hell, Rawhead Rex, Hellraiser, and From Beyond.

Legacy

Together with fellow Bay Area pioneers Possessed and Chris Reifert’s former band Death, Autopsy is regarded as one of the foundational acts in shaping death metal. Early influential groups such as Entombed, Dismember, Gorefest, Immolation, Cannibal Corpse, and Deicide have acknowledged Autopsy as a major inspiration behind their musical direction. Furthermore, Autopsy was instrumental in advancing the death-doom subgenre.

Current lineup

• Chris Reifert – drums, lead vocals, bass guitar
• Eric Cutler – guitar, backing and lead vocals, bass guitar
• Danny Coralles – guitar, bass guitar
• Greg Wilkinson – bass guitar

Past members

• Steve Cutler – bass guitar
• Josh Barohn – bass guitar
• Freeway Migliore – bass guitar
• Joe Trevisano – bass guitar

Guest musicians

• Steve Di Giorgio – bass guitar
• Clint Bower – bass guitar

Touring members

• Dan Lilker – bass guitar

Full-length albums

• Severed Survival (1989)
• Mental Funeral (1991)
• Acts of the Unspeakable (1992)
• Shitfun (1995)
• Macabre Eternal (2011)
• The Headless Ritual (2013)
• Tourniquets, Hacksaws and Graves (2014)
• Morbidity Triumphant (2022)
• Ashes, Organs, Blood and Crypts (2023)

EPs and singles

• Retribution for the Dead (1990)
• Fiend for Blood (1991)
• The Tomb Within (2010)
• Skull Grinder (2015)
• Puncturing the Grotesque (2017)

Live recordings

• Tortured Moans of Agony (1998)
• Dead as Fuck (2004)
• Dark Crusades (2010)
• Live in Chicago (2020)

Demo tapes

• 1987 Demo (1987)
• Critical Madness (1988)

Compilation albums

• Ridden with Disease (2000)
• Torn from the Grave (2001)
• All Tomorrow's Funerals (2012)
• Introducing Autopsy (2013)

Reissued releases

• Severed Survival/Retribution for the Dead (1994)
• Acts of the Unspeakable/Fiend for Blood (2003)

Filmography

• Dark Crusades (featuring liner notes and band interview; Peaceville Records, 2006)
• Born Undead (produced by Jesse Davis; Peaceville Records, 2012)