Autopsy 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 ...

band formed in

Contra Costa County ) of the San Francisco Bay , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = United States , subdivision_type1 = State , subdivision_name1 = California , subdivision_type2 ...

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

in 1987 by

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

and Eric Cutler. The group disbanded in 1995 and reunited in 2009.

History

Initial career

Autopsy was formed in August 1987 by

and Eric Cutler, shortly after Reifert's departure from

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 ...

. The band recorded a demo that year, ''Demo '87'', before Danny Coralles joined in 1988 immediately prior to the recording of their second demo, ''Critical Madness'', and along with Reifert and Cutler, would be a constant in the band's lineup. The band signed to

Peaceville Records Peaceville Records is a British independent heavy metal record label. The label was founded by Paul "Hammy" Halmshaw (of the bands Instigators and Civilised Society) in Dewsbury, England in 1987, who was also a one-time drummer of Sore Throat ...

and released their debut album, ''

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 ...

'' in 1989. These early recordings featured a pioneering death metal style that adopted a slower,

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'' ...

influenced sound. The next full-length, ''

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 ...

'', continued in this style and has since been cited by many other death metal musicians 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'' 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''. It is also included on the 2012 compilation album ''All To ...

'' EP, which was followed by their third full-length, ''

Acts of the Unspeakable ''Acts of the Unspeakable'' is the third album by the American death metal band Autopsy. It was the only album to feature Josh Barohn on bass. Track listing Credits *Chris Reifert – vocals, drums *Danny Coralles – guitar *Eric ...

'', which featured shorter songs and a more

grindcore Grindcore is an extreme fusion genre of heavy metal and hardcore punk that originated in the mid-1980s, drawing inspiration from abrasive-sounding musical styles, such as thrashcore, crust punk, hardcore punk, extreme metal, and industrial. G ...

influenced sound. A difficult US tour in 1993 led to the decision to disband Autopsy after the recording of a final album. ''

Shitfun ''Shitfun'' is the fourth studio album by 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 *Danny Coralles Danny ...

'', released in early 1995, was heavily influenced by

hardcore punk Hardcore punk (also known as simply hardcore) is a punk rock music genre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots can be traced to earlier punk ...

and would prepare fans for

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 ...

, 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".

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 ''

''. They later reconvened to the Maryland Deathfest in 2009. After Abscess broke up in June 2010, Autopsy immediately announced that they had permanently reunited. They released ''

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 ...

'' EP in September 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 ...

'' in 2011, ''Born Undead'' DVD in 2012, ''

The Headless Ritual The Headless Ritual is the sixth studio album by Autopsy, released in 2013 through Peaceville Records. It is the second album since the band's 2009 reunion. Background Autopsy reunited in 2009, and released Macabre Eternal in May 2011, toured an ...

'' in 2013 and ''

Tourniquets, Hacksaws and Graves ''Tourniquets, Hacksaws and Graves'' is the seventh studio album by American death metal band Autopsy. It was released in April 2014. As with all Autopsy albums, it was released through Peaceville Records, and as with all albums since the band's 20 ...

'' in 2014. Autopsy released the EP ''Skullgrinder'' on November 27, 2015. They released the EP ''Puncturing the Grotesque'' on December 15, 2017. In December 2021, the band announced they were working on a new album, which was tentatively due for release in 2022. On July 27, 2022, the band revealed their new album, ''Morbidity Triumphant'', would be released on September 30.

Legacy

Along with fellow

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 Gov ...

band

Possessed Possessed may refer to: Possession * Possession (disambiguation), having some degree of control over something else ** Spirit possession, whereby gods, demons, animas, or other disincarnate entities may temporarily take control of a human body *** ...

and Reifert's previous group

, Autopsy have been considered a pioneering band in the

genre. Early bands such as Entombed,

Dismember Dismemberment is the act of cutting, ripping, tearing, pulling, wrenching or otherwise disconnecting the limbs from a living or dead being. It has been practiced upon human beings as a form of capital punishment, especially in connection with ...

, Gorefest,

Immolation Immolation may refer to: *Death by burning *Self-immolation, the act of burning oneself *Immolation (band), a death metal band from Yonkers, New York *''The Immolation'', a 1977 novel by Goh Poh Seng *''Dance Dance Immolation'', an interactive per ...

Cannibal Corpse Cannibal Corpse is an American death metal band formed in Buffalo, New York in 1988, now based out of Tampa, Florida. The band has released fifteen studio albums, two box sets, four video albums, and two live albums. The band has had little radi ...

and

Deicide Deicide is the killing (or the killer) of a god. The concept may be used for any act of killing a god, including a life-death-rebirth deity who is killed and then resurrected. Etymology The term deicide was coined in the 17th century from m ...

have all credited Autopsy as an influence in their sound. In addition, Autopsy have helped to pioneer

death-doom Death-doom is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It combines the slow tempos and pessimistic or depressive mood of doom metal with the deep growling vocals and double kick drumming of death metal. The genre emerged in the late-1980s and gained ...

Band members

Current members

– drums, lead vocals , bass *Eric Cutler – guitars, backing and lead vocals , bass * Danny Coralles – guitars , bass *Greg Wilkinson – bass

Former members

*Eric Eigard – bass *Ken Sorvari – bass *Steve Cutler – bass *Josh Barohn – bass *Freeway Migliore – bass * Joe Trevisano – bass

Session musicians

Steve Di Giorgio Steve Di Giorgio (born November 7, 1967) is an American bass guitarist. He is known for working with numerous heavy metal bands such as Sadus (of whom he was one of the co-founders), Death (metal band), Death, Testament (band), Testament, Megade ...

– bass *Clint Bower – bass

Live members

* Dan Lilker – bass

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

* ''

'' (1989) * ''

'' (1991) * ''

'' (1992) * ''

'' (1995) * ''

'' (2011) * ''

'' (2013) * ''

'' (2014) * ''Morbidity Triumphant'' (2022)

EPs/Singles

* ''

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) * ''

'' (1991) * ''Horrific Obsession'' (2009) * ''

'' (2010) * ''Skull Grinder'' (2015) * ''Puncturing the Grotesque'' (2017)

Live albums

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

Demos

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

Compilations

* ''Ridden with Disease'' (2000) * ''

Torn from the Grave ''Torn from the Grave'' is a compilation album by death metal band Autopsy. Track listing ;From ''Severed Survival'' :1. "Charred Remains" - 3:38 :2. "Disembowel" - 4:03 :3. "Gasping for Air" - 3:18 :4. "Severed Survival" - 3:26 ;From '' Critica ...

'' (2001) * ''All Tomorrow's Funerals'' (2012) * ''Introducing Autopsy'' (2013)

Re-releases

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

Filmography

* ''Dark Crusades'' (with

liner notes Liner notes (also sleeve notes or album notes) are the writings found on the sleeves of LP record albums and in booklets that come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for cassettes. Origin Liner notes are desce ...

and band interview by Joel McIver; Peaceville Records, 2006) * ''Born Undead'' (produced by Jesse Davis; Peaceville Records, 2012)

References

External links

Official Autopsy page
at Myspace {{DEFAULTSORT:Autopsy 1987 establishments in California Death metal musical groups from California Musical groups established in 1987 Musical groups disestablished in 1995 Musical groups reestablished in 2009 Musical quartets