Chris Reifert (born February 23, 1968) is an American

death metal Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniques such as palm muting and tremolo picking; deep growling vocals; aggressive, powerful drumming, feat ...

musician, and one of the pioneers of the death/doom genre. Although his music is more

than

doom metal Doom metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other heavy metal genres.K. Kahn-Harris, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'' ...

, he is one of the first musicians that blended the two styles. He played drums on the

Death Death is the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain an organism. For organisms with a brain, death can also be defined as the irreversible cessation of functioning of the whole brain, including brainstem, and brain ...

debut album, ''

Scream Bloody Gore ''Scream Bloody Gore'' is the first studio album by American death metal band Death, released on May 25, 1987, by Combat Records. It is considered by many to be "the first true death metal record". Chuck Schuldiner, the band’s founder and lead ...

''. Since he parted ways with

Chuck Schuldiner Charles Schuldiner (born May 13, 1967 – December 13, 2001) was an American musician. He founded the death metal band Death in 1983, in which he was the lead vocalist, guitarist, primary songwriter and only consistent member until his death in ...

in 1987 after Schuldiner moved back to

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

, Reifert decided to stay in the

San Francisco Bay Area The San Francisco Bay Area, often referred to as simply the Bay Area, is a populous region surrounding the San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun Bay estuaries in Northern California. The Bay Area is defined by the Association of Bay Area Go ...

, and in 1987 he formed his own band,

Autopsy An autopsy (post-mortem examination, obduction, necropsy, or autopsia cadaverum) is a surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse by dissection to determine the cause, mode, and manner of death or to evaluate any di ...

. In this band, he played not only drums but handled the

vocals Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...

as well. After several albums, Autopsy split up in 1995 and Reifert and bandmate

Danny Coralles Danny Coralles is one of the current guitarists in the band Autopsy and was co-founder with drummer Chris Reifert of Abscess. Autopsy is back again and have been so since 2009 which is currently producing new material and is actively playing sele ...

began playing in their side-project,

Abscess An abscess is a collection of pus that has built up within the tissue of the body. Signs and symptoms of abscesses include redness, pain, warmth, and swelling. The swelling may feel fluid-filled when pressed. The area of redness often extends b ...

, full-time. After Abscess dissolved in 2010, Autopsy reformed and is currently planning to tour and record new material. Chris Reifert is also known for his many side-projects, including

the Ravenous ''The Ravenous'' is a 2003 horror novel Horror is a genre of fiction which is intended to frighten, scare, or disgust. Horror is often divided into the sub-genres of psychological horror and supernatural horror, which is in the realm of ...

, Doomed, Eat My Fuk, and Violation Wound. He has also performed guest vocals on

Machetazo Machetazo was a grindcore/goregrind band from A Coruña, Spain formed in 1994. They were one of the few surviving bands from the Spanish underground extreme music scene of the nineties. History Machetazo were formed in A Coruña, Spain in 1994 ...

's ''Sinfonias del Terror Ciego'' and the Autopsy-inspired

Murder Squad Major Investigation Teams (MIT) are the specialised homicide squads of the Metropolitan Police in London, England. Forming part of the Homicide and Major Crime Command, there are 24 MITs within the Met. MITs investigate cases of murder, mansla ...

's ''Ravenous, Murderous'', with further guest appearances for Immortal Fate, Nuclear Death, and "Cathedral of the Damned" on

Cathedral A cathedral is a church that contains the '' cathedra'' () of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually specific to those Christian denomination ...

's final album, ''

The Last Spire ''The Last Spire'' is the tenth and final studio album by the British doom metal band Cathedral. Intended by the band as their farewell album, it was released in April 2013 on Rise Above Records and Metal Blade Records. The album was praised ...

''. He is also known for his album cover art. His interviews are noted for his sharp wit and off-the-wall humor.

Bands

* Burnt Offering – ( Drums ) *

– drums *

– drums, vocals, bass *

The Ravenous ''The Ravenous'' is a 2003 horror novel Horror is a genre of fiction which is intended to frighten, scare, or disgust. Horror is often divided into the sub-genres of psychological horror and supernatural horror, which is in the realm of ...

– drums, guitar, vocals * Eat My Fuk – drums, vocals * Doomed – drums * Violation Wound – guitar, vocals * Painted Doll – drums, guitar, bass

Discography

Burnt Offering

* ''Demo 1'' (1985) * ''Frightmare'' (1985)

Death

* ''Mutilation'' (1986) * ''

'' (1987)

Autopsy

* ''1987 Demo'' (1987) * ''Critical Madness'' (1988) * ''

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. Lyrically the band thrives heavily on horror, death and gore concepts; nevertheless these are not in ...

'' (1989) * ''

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 Peaceville Records is a British independent heavy metal record label. The label was founded by Paul "Hammy" Halms ...

'' (1991) * ''

Mental Funeral ''Mental Funeral'' is the second album by Autopsy, released in 1991 by Peaceville Records. Track listing *All music by Autopsy. Lyrics by Chris Reifert – except track 5, Eric Cutler Personnel ;Autopsy * Chris Reifert – vocals, drums *D ...

'' (1991) * '' Fiend for Blood'' (1992) * '' Acts of the Unspeakable'' (1992) * ''

Shitfun ''Shitfun'' is the fourth studio album by Autopsy (band), Autopsy, released in 1995. In 2003, it was re-released with ten bonus live tracks. Track listing Personnel

;Autopsy *Chris Reifert - Vocals, Drums, Bass on 3,5,7,10,13,18,19 *Dan ...

'' (1995) * ''Ridden with Disease'' (2000) * ''Torn from the Grave'' (2001) * ''Dead as Fuck'' (2004) * ''Horrific Obsession'' (2009) * ''

The Tomb Within ''The Tomb Within'' is an EP by the American death metal band Autopsy, released September 13, 2010, through Peaceville Records on CD and 12" vinyl. The 12" vinyl edition of ''The Tomb Within'', limited to 1000 numbered copies, came with a free ...

'' (2010) * ''

Macabre Eternal ''Macabre Eternal'' is the fifth album by the American death metal band Autopsy, released on May 16, 2011, on the label Peaceville Records. It is the first studio album Autopsy have released after their 1995 disbandment and 2009 reunion. The first ...

'' (2011) * '' All Tomorrow's Funerals'' (2012) * '' The Headless Ritual'' (2013) * '' Tourniquets, Hacksaws & Graves'' (2014) * '' Skull Grinder'' (2015)

Doomed

* ''Haematomania'' (1991) * ''Broken'' (1993)

Abscess

* ''Abscess'' (1994) * '' Raw, Sick, and Brutal Noize'' (1994) * '' Crawled Up from the Sewer'' (1995) * '' Filthy Fucking Freaks'' (1995) * ''

Urine Junkies ''Urine Junkies'' is a compilation album by the death metal band Abscess featuring tracks from various demos and EPs. It was released by Relapse Records in 1995. Track listing # "Aching Meat" (4:44) # "Urine Junkies" (1:56) # "Crawled U ...

'' (1995) * ''

Seminal Vampires and Maggot Men ''Seminal Vampires and Maggot Men'' is an album by the death metal band Abscess. It was released by Relapse Records in 1996. Track listing # "Naked Freak Show" (1:15) # "Freak Fuck Fest (Naked FreakShow II: Orgy of the Gaffed)" (1:39) # ...

'' (1996) * ''

Open Wound A wound is a rapid onset of injury that involves lacerated or punctured skin (an ''open'' wound), or a contusion (a ''closed'' wound) from blunt force trauma or compression. In pathology, a ''wound'' is an acute injury that damages the epide ...

'' (1998) * ''

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